Here is step-by-step guide for starting your company individually — the understanding of an OPC, the benefits of incorporating it and the legal formalities in its formation.
As per the Companies Act,1956, a Public Ltd Company requires at least 7 members or shareholders wherein a Pvt Ltd Co requires to have at least 2 members. Hence, a One Person Company was never allowed to be formed in our country earlier. However, under the provisions of the Companies Act 2013, Sec 2(62), One Person Company (OPC) is being allowed to form.
One Person Company means a company which has only one member. It is important to note that Section 3 classifies OPC as a Private Company for all the legal purposes with only one member. All the provisions related to the private company are applicable to an OPC, unless otherwise expressly excluded. In case of OPC, though it is true that the One Person appears to be like sole proprietor his liability to the debtors of the Company is limited to the shareholding of the company and his personal assets are never attached for payment of the company’s liability, which in case of Proprietorship never happens.
Things you should keep in mind before forming an OPC:
Only a natural person who was a resident of India in the previous year (i.e. he has stayed in India for more than 182 days in that year) shall be eligible to form an OPC. This means that any association of persons or body of individuals or company or any other entity cannot form OPC. A minor is also not eligible to be a member or nominee in an OPC.
You cannot incorporate more than one OPC at a time.
An OPC can either be a company limited by share or limited by guarantee or an unlimited company.
Once an OPC is formed, you will still have to follow the minimum requirement i.e. the company must have an average annual turnover of Rs. 2 crore in the immediately preceding three financial years, failing which the company will lose its status.
An OPC cannot carry out Non- Banking Financial Investment activities including investment in securities of any body corporate.
Steps to be followed to Incorporate One Person Company (OPC)
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