Compliance Checklist for Indian Entrepreneurs in 2026
GST registration, MSME certification, digital records, and sector-specific licences — a practical checklist to stay compliant and avoid penalties.
Bzyness Team
January 18, 2026
6 min read
Compliance is not glamorous, but non-compliance is expensive. Late GST filings attract interest at 18% per annum. Operating without a valid trade licence can result in premises closure. Missing MSME registration means losing access to priority lending and government tender eligibility.
This checklist covers the core registrations and ongoing obligations every Indian entrepreneur should have in order. Bzyness tracks all of these in the Compliance module — but here is the plain-language guide to understand what each one is and why it matters.
Core Registrations
GST Registration
Mandatory if your annual revenue exceeds ₹40 lakh (₹20 lakh for services). Voluntary registration is advisable earlier for B2B sellers to enable input tax credit. File GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, and GSTR-9 on schedule.
Udyam (MSME) Registration
Free, online, and based on your Aadhaar. Qualifies your business for priority sector lending, government scheme eligibility, and a 1% interest subsidy on loans under CGTMSE.
PAN and TAN
PAN is required for all tax purposes. TAN (Tax Deduction Account Number) is needed if you deduct TDS — for example, on rent above ₹50,000/month or professional fees above ₹30,000.
Shop & Establishment Act
Required in most states for any commercial premises with employees. Issued by the local labour office or municipality. Renewal is typically annual.
Trademark Registration
Not mandatory but strongly recommended. Protects your brand name and logo from infringement. The process takes 18–24 months via the IP India portal.
Sector-Specific Licences
FSSAI
Mandatory for any food processing, manufacturing, or trading business. Registration for small operators, State licence for mid-size, Central licence for large operators or those with interstate operations.
Drug Licence
Required for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical sellers on any platform. Issued by the State Drug Controller.
BIS Certification
Required for specific product categories (electronics, toys, household appliances) sold on Indian market. Non-compliant products are being actively delisted by major platforms.
Import Export Code (IEC)
Required for any international trade. Issued by DGFT. Also required for some cross-border e-commerce categories on Amazon Global Selling.
Ongoing Filing Obligations
Registration is a one-time event; compliance is ongoing. The most common failure point is missing periodic filing deadlines. GST filings (GSTR-1 on the 11th, GSTR-3B on the 20th of each month) carry automatic late fees. TDS returns are due quarterly. Annual ROC filings for private limited companies are due within 60 days of the AGM.
The Bzyness Compliance module tracks all of these against your registration profile. Items due within 7 days appear in the AI Morning Brief automatically.
How Bzyness Automates Compliance Tracking
When you complete the business setup wizard, Bzyness generates a personalised compliance checklist based on your business type, state, and category. Each item has a status (Pending, In Progress, Done), a due date, and a direct link to the relevant portal or upload area.
Your compliance score — the percentage of required items completed — is visible on the Command Center dashboard. All team members with compliance permissions can see and update checklist items, and the system sends reminders at 30 days, 7 days, and 1 day before each deadline.
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Bzyness is built in India for Indian e-commerce founders who want to know, every day, whether their hard work is turning into real profit.
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