Money, pricing & model

What taxes and compliance do I need to handle as an Indian startup?

The short answer

At minimum: register the entity correctly, get GST registration once you cross the threshold, deduct and deposit TDS, and file income tax and ROC returns on time. Penalties for missed compliance are brutal and entirely avoidable. Hire a competent CA early, this is not the place to save money by winging it.

Go deeper, your way

2 hand-picked resources. Pick how you want to dig in.

📄 Article
India Free Beginner

Why we picked it A practical India-specific reference on GST, TDS, ROC filings, and startup tax compliance, the stuff Indian founders most often get wrong. Written for founders navigating Indian regulation, not US incorporation.

ClearTax / Razorpay Rize, GST, TDS & Compliance for Indian Startups

From cleartax.in by ClearTax guide hub

  • Register the entity correctly and get GST registration once you cross the threshold
  • Deduct and deposit TDS and file returns on time to avoid steep penalties
  • Engage a competent CA early for compliance rather than DIY-ing filings
Open cleartax.in →
📖 Book
Paid Intermediate

Why we picked it The most accessible book for non-finance founders on reading a P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. It demystifies the three core statements without requiring an accounting background.

Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs

From hbr.org by Karen Berman & Joe Knight book (~304 pages)

  • The three statements each answer a different question, read them together
  • A profitable company can still go broke on cash flow
  • Founders should be able to interpret their own numbers, not just delegate them
Open store.hbr.org →

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The same ground, over in Money, pricing & unit economics, our D2C track.

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Also in How Founders Use AI

How founders actually use AI for this, over in Finance & Accounting.

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Also in GTM

The same ground, over in Close deals and price right, our GTM track.

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