For most small businesses you need PAN, Aadhaar, a photo, proof of your business address, and bank proof. You apply on gst.gov.in, get an ARN to track it, and the GSTIN is usually issued in about 7 days. The portal charges no fee; a consultant charges only for doing it correctly. Before you start, if you have not done your Udyam registration yet, that one is worth getting too and it does not need GST.
If you have worked out that your business needs GST, this is the practical part: exactly what to keep ready, what happens on the portal, how long it takes, and what the fees really are. It also covers the handful of things that get a GST application stuck, so you can avoid them.
GST registration is done online at gst.gov.in. The application itself is not long, but it is unforgiving about matching details and clean document scans, which is where most delays come from. Get those right and a GSTIN is a week away.
For a proprietor or a small business, keep these ready:
• PAN of the business or the proprietor.
• Aadhaar of the proprietor or the authorised signatory.
• A recent passport-size photo.
• Proof of the place of business: a recent electricity bill or property tax receipt if owned, or a rent agreement plus a no-objection letter from the owner if rented.
• Bank proof: a cancelled cheque, a bank statement, or the first page of the passbook showing the name, account number and IFSC.
A company or an LLP also needs its incorporation certificate, the board resolution or authorisation letter, and the PAN and Aadhaar of the signatory. A partnership needs the partnership deed. The name and address across these must match, because a mismatch is the single most common cause of a query.
With correct documents and Aadhaar authentication, a GSTIN is usually issued within about 7 working days. If the officer raises a clarification, the clock effectively restarts until you respond, so a clean first submission is the difference between one week and three.
The government charges nothing for GST registration on the official portal. What you pay a consultant for is preparation and accuracy: picking the right HSN or SAC codes, matching every detail, uploading documents the way the portal wants, and handling any clarification the officer raises so it does not sit unanswered. We do the full GST registration end to end for ₹2,999, with money back if we cannot file.
The usual culprits are avoidable:
• Name or address mismatch between PAN, Aadhaar, bank and the address proof.
• Weak address proof, for example a rent agreement with no no-objection letter, or a bill that is not in the business or owner name.
• Wrong or missing HSN/SAC codes for the goods or services.
• Blurred or oversized document scans that the portal rejects.
Each of these turns a one-week registration into a back-and-forth. It is the same discipline that a wrong activity code causes on the Udyam side, and it is why careful filing is worth paying for.
A GSTIN comes with an ongoing duty: filing GST returns on time, monthly or quarterly depending on your scheme, even in periods with no sales. Factor that in before you register voluntarily. If you are still weighing whether you need GST at all, read do I need GST registration first, and if you also hold Udyam, keep the two records aligned to avoid a Udyam GST mismatch.
For most small businesses: PAN, Aadhaar, a photo, proof of the place of business (bill or rent agreement plus a no-objection letter), and bank proof such as a cancelled cheque. Companies and partnerships also need their incorporation or partnership documents and an authorisation letter.
Usually about 7 working days after a correct submission with Aadhaar authentication. A clarification from the officer extends it, which is why a clean first application matters.
The government portal is free. A consultant charges only for preparing and filing correctly and handling clarifications. We do the full GST registration for ₹2,999.
The Application Reference Number is generated when you submit. You track the status with it until the GSTIN is issued. An ARN means the application is in, not that it is approved.
No, they are independent, but Udyam is worth having and needs no GST. Many businesses get Udyam first for the MSME benefits, then add GST when they cross the threshold or start selling inter-state or online.
We handle the full GST registration for ₹2,999 and follow up until your GSTIN is issued. Not registered on Udyam yet? That one is ₹999 and unlocks MSME loans and the tender quota. Need a Udyam correction? ₹599.
Register on Udyam — ₹999 →