Starting business in India?

Hello,

I'm new in here, so hallo everyone.

Me and my girlfriend are moving to Kochi 02/02/2010. we want to live there not just on a turist visa. I have a business in Denmark, and is considering starting one in India, what are the rules for foreigner starting business in India? My business is all online so it would not be a procblem to move it to India.

Best Regards
Nis Jensen

Starting a business in India is insanely complicated.

I suggest you look at the many threads where this issue is already discussed. If you still think it is a good idea, come back with any specific questions you have after that.

In a way, I find the question quite shocking!

I would guess that there are entire text books on the subject of starting a business even in your own country --- so how could you ever expect any sort of useful answer on an internet travel forum?

I have accually been looking for other treads and could not find any.

insted of just insulting me and being so shocked maybe you could help me, and point me to the other threads.?

There are links to at least four relevant threads at the bottom of this very page!

Sorry if I didn't seem too helpful, but actually I am on holiday right now so you were lucky to get a reply at all. especially to such a broad question.

My reply is more helpful than it seemed, a foreigner starting a business in India is something that will take a LOT of research, resourcefulness and quick thinking. Good luck with that.

what kind of business are u planning to start?

it also depends on the type of the business and state were u do it.

Thanks, i will look at the treadsI hope you have a nice holiday.

I work with affiliate marketing. My market is Denmark, but it would not be a problem if the company was lokated India, everything is over the internet.

Good Day Nis,

You mention that you are going to live in India, Does that mean that you have allready been given permission to do this or do you still have to Apply?

From what very little I know on this subject, I however do know
that the first important step is finding a Reliable & Honest
Commercial Lawyer for getting into the Nitty Gritty of Legalities of Running a Business in Kerala.

I take it you have been to Kochi and liked what you saw.

You have got a reasonable amount of time to try and get some contacts happening.

All the very Best with your venture.

As you will allready know, EVERYTHING TAKES TIME IN INDIA.

vandy

<cross-posted with Vandy>

If you have no idea yet what is required of you, how precisely did you envisage this "moving" and "living there" thing?

I suppose this might be as good a start as any for the very very basics: http://immigrationindia.nic.in/. You'll find links to some more official Indian websites, ministries and stuff, in the "travel links" link in my signature.

I was planning going there on a business visa, and when i get there take contact to a lokal layer who could help me.

If it's too hard getting an Indian business startet I will just keep earning my money from Denmark, but living in India. I know this will require going back to Denmark to renew my visas every 180 days.

I am not insulting you, I am pointing out that you need proper professional help to do something like this, from square one.

If you already have some grounding in the professional side, you can get a lot of the human and experience side here, it will help fill in details for you --- but my earnest advice is do not start here!

Added to which, if I was qualified to answer your question, which I'm not... I'd be charging you for it.

By the way... You can not just live in India. The whole visa situation is something that, there is a lot of reliable information about here, and much of it is disappointing to the would-be India immigrant.

Personally I would go on a Tourist Visa rather that going through the Ringer getting a Business Visa.

You can still get the required INFO doing it this way and also
have a Holiday at the same time.

vandy

[QUOTE=Nick-H;842193]

If you already have some grounding in the professional side, you can get a lot of the human and experience side here, it will help fill in details for you --- but my earnest advice is do not start here!

QUOTE]

Why would you not start a business in India?

I'm being more and more convinced that i should not move my business from Denmark, I'm just so tired of paying 60 % of my earnings i taxes..

Your other thread now makes it clear you've never even been to India, let alone Kerala, let alone Cochin: Contacts in Kochi. As suggested there, would strongly suggest to go and check it out first, preferably for an extended or several visits even, before making any further plans. No matter where else you may have lived before.

And, get yourself well and duly informed by whatever means at your disposal in the meantime, then (and remember that just simply "liking" a place is never grounds to be allowed to stay anywhere in the world). Do be aware of the many both abroad and in India who will be making a living off telling you that it's all "no problem"; that is rather obviously not the way it is.

(What precisely made you pick India to set your marks on for this anyway?)

And nb

Do be aware, too, that even this procedure (the so-called "visa run," i.e., moving out of the country and back in all the time on tourist visas, so to effectively stay there indefinitely) is not reported to be at all straightforward anymore, and is reported to be getting harder all the time if anything. The Indian authorities seem to be clamping down on it, and have been for some years; not surprisingly perhaps, as it is, after all, an abuse of the purpose of the tourist visa.

You may have to count on not being allowed to apply for a new tourist visa at all for a period of some months. If you are still found to be abusing the system, you may well find yourself barred from ever visiting the country again, or at least for years to come. This is no moot threat; it is in fact what happens to people found to be in flagrant violation of any visa rules.

For current Indian official views regarding abuse of the business visa in the meantime, see also this thread: Foreigners on business visa must leave India!