A startup is a newly established business, usually small, started by 1 or a group of individuals. What differentiates it from other new businesses is that a startup offers a new product or service that is not being given elsewhere in the same way. The keyword is innovation. The business either develops a new product/ service or redevelops a current product/service into something better.
Startups are becoming very popular in India. In order to develop the Indian economy and attract talented entrepreneurs, the Government of India, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, has started and promoted the Startup India initiative to recognize and promote startups.
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An entity incorporated as a Private Limited Company, Partnership Firm or a Limited Liability Partnership can register themselves under the startup India scheme. The annual turnover of these business entities should not exceed 100 crores, and they should have been in existence for up to ten years from the date of its incorporation/ registration. Such an entity should be working towards innovation, development or improvement of products or services or processes.
There are a number of benefits startups receive by the Startup India Scheme. Nevertheless, in order to avail of these benefits, an entity is needed to be set up by the DPIIT as a startup.
Startups are allowed to self certify their compliance for six labor laws and three environment laws. This is allowed for a total period of five years from the date of incorporation/registration of the entity. Startups are allowed a three-year tax exemption and the best intellectual property services and resources solely built to help startups protect and commercialize their IPRs.
The most preferred business structures for a startup are Private Limited companies and LLPs. A Private Limited company is legally recognized and generally favored by investors. However, it has stricter compliance and may have a higher cost of incorporation.
Whereas incorporation cost is lower for LLPs and they tend to have relaxed compliance in comparison to Pvt. Ltd. Co. In addition to that, LLPs have limited liabilities and are equally recognized by investors and all over the world.