Private Limited Company VS LLP



Private Limited Company VS LLP

Introduction

Generally there is a confusion among the startups in India about the nature of the entity to start their business with. In order to solve their confusion, they do lots of research online to select the best suitable nature of entity for their type of business and scale of business. Generally due to lack of knowledge, they opt for a less suitable type of entity and later it creates more problems for them. In order to sort out this issue, we have already done our extensive research on Private limited company VS LLP.

So, now you concentrate on your business operations and let us take care of your compliances and regulatory requirements.

Basics

In a nut shell, if you are into a small or mid-size business and you don’t seek any funding, you should preferably opt for an LLP.

Both LLPs and Private limited companies are to be registered with the ministry of corporate affairs. And both has almost similar process for registration.

Now let’s see a comparison between both of them:



Basis

LLP

Private Limited company

Number of members

Min - 2, Max - no cap

Min - 2, Max – 200

Taxes

Income tax @ 30%

[email protected]%

No requirement for

Dividend distribution tax

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Income tax @ 30 %

MAT @ 18.5 %

Dividend distribution

tax @ 20.4746%

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Capital Contribution

Not specified

Private company should have a minimum paid up capital of Rs. 1 lakh

Personal Liability

Limited to the extent of the contribution to the LLP

Limited to the extent of the unpaid capital

Foreign Nationals as shareholder / Partner

A foreign national can be a partner

A foreign national can be a shareholder

Meetings

No such requirement

4 Board of directors meetings a year and an annual general meeting is compulsory



Annual Returns

Annual statement of accounts and solvency & Annual Return has to be filed with ROC.

Annual Accounts and Annual Return to be filed with ROC.

Audit

Required only in case contribution is above 25L or if annual turnover is above 40L

Compulsory

Dissolution

Less procedural

Very procedural

Venture capitalists preference

Low

High

Credibility

Low

High due to strict compliance

Conversion

Cannot be converted to a private limited company

Can be converted to an LLP

Cost of registration

Low

High

Annual ROC cost

Low

High

Esops

Not possible

Possible

Conclusion

Private limited companies are well established in India, and has a wide spread recognition, whereas LLP being a relatively new concept in India, Investors prefer investing in Companies rather than LLPs.

Now in case you are looking to raise fund or offer ESOPs to your employees, private limited company is the way to go. In case you don’t have any such requirement you should probably go for an LLP. However, do take some time to think over it, as if you get an LLP registered you need to get all other registrations done on its name. And in future you think to switch from an LLP to a Company, considerable efforts would be required.

 
The article effectively addresses a common dilemma for startups in India: choosing between a Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd Co) and a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). It provides a clear, concise comparison of these two popular business structures, emphasizing their suitability based on business scale, funding needs, and compliance appetite.
Here's a breakdown of the key points and an updated perspective based on current Indian regulations (as of mid-2025):
Introduction & Basic Understanding:
The core advice given - "if you are into a small or mid-size business and you don’t seek any funding, you should preferably opt for an LLP" - remains largely valid. Both entities offer limited liability and are registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) through similar online processes.
Comparison Table (with some updates/clarifications):
BasisLLPPrivate Limited Company
[td]
Number of Members
[/td][td]
Min - 2, Max - no cap​
[/td][td]
Min - 2, Max – 200​
[/td]​
[td]
Taxes
[/td][td]
Income tax @ 30% (plus surcharge if income > ₹1 Cr) <br> No Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT)​
[/td][td]
Income tax @ 22% (for companies opting for Section 115BAA) or 25%/30% (depending on turnover, plus surcharge) <br> No Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) from April 1, 2020 (dividends are taxed in the hands of shareholders)​
[/td]​
[td]
Capital Contribution
[/td][td]
Not specified​
[/td][td]
No minimum paid-up capital requirement (earlier ₹1 lakh)​
[/td]​
[td]
Personal Liability
[/td][td]
Limited to the extent of the contribution to the LLP​
[/td][td]
Limited to the extent of the unpaid capital on shares​
[/td]​
[td]
Foreign Nationals
[/td][td]
Can be a partner​
[/td][td]
Can be a shareholder​
[/td]​
[td]
Meetings
[/td][td]
No mandatory board meetings​
[/td][td]
Minimum 4 Board Meetings a year (max gap 120 days) and an Annual General Meeting (AGM) is compulsory​
[/td]​
[td]
Annual Returns
[/td][td]
Annual Statement of Accounts & Solvency (Form 8) & Annual Return (Form 11) to be filed with ROC.​
[/td][td]
Annual Accounts (Form AOC-4) and Annual Return (Form MGT-7) to be filed with ROC.​
[/td]​
[td]
Audit
[/td][td]
Required only if contribution is above ₹25 Lakh or if annual turnover is above ₹40 Lakh.​
[/td][td]
Compulsory for all private limited companies.​
[/td]​
[td]
Dissolution
[/td][td]
Less procedural​
[/td][td]
Very procedural​
[/td]​
[td]
Venture Capitalists Preference
[/td][td]
Low​
[/td][td]
High​
[/td]​
[td]
Credibility
[/td][td]
Low​
[/td][td]
High due to stricter compliance​
[/td]​
[td]
Conversion
[/td][td]
Can be converted to a Private Limited Company (procedural, requires at least 7 partners for seamless conversion, public notices, etc.)​
[/td][td]
Can be converted to an LLP (requires shareholder consent, board resolution, ROC filings)​
[/td]​
[td]
Cost of Registration
[/td][td]
Low​
[/td][td]
High​
[/td]​
[td]
Annual ROC Cost
[/td][td]
Low​
[/td][td]
High​
[/td]​
[td]
ESOPs
[/td][td]
Not possible (as they don't have shares)​
[/td][td]
Possible (governed by Companies Act, 2013 and rules)​
[/td]​
Key Updates and Additional Points:
  • Minimum Paid-up Capital: The requirement for a minimum paid-up capital of ₹1 lakh for private limited companies was removed by the Companies Act, 2013. Companies can now be incorporated with any amount of capital.
  • Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT): The DDT was abolished in India from April 1, 2020. Dividends are now taxable in the hands of the shareholders at their applicable income tax slab rates. This changes the tax landscape significantly for private limited companies compared to the article's stated 20.4746% DDT.
  • Taxation of Private Limited Companies: While the general corporate tax rate is 30%, there are concessional rates. For instance, domestic companies with turnover up to ₹400 crore in the preceding financial year can opt for a 25% tax rate. Companies can also opt for a lower tax regime under Section 115BAA (22% plus surcharge and cess) or Section 115BAB (15% for new manufacturing companies plus surcharge and cess), provided they forgo certain deductions and exemptions.
  • Conversion of LLP to Private Limited Company: While the article states it "cannot be converted," this is incorrect. LLPs can indeed be converted into Private Limited Companies under the Companies Act, 2013, by following a prescribed procedure (e.g., obtaining name approval, filing URC-1, having at least 7 partners if directly converting, public advertisements, etc.). However, it is a more involved process than converting a Private Limited Company to an LLP.
  • ESOPs in LLPs: As LLPs do not have a share capital structure, ESOPs (Employee Stock Option Plans) in the traditional sense are not possible. However, LLPs can structure profit-sharing arrangements or "phantom stock" schemes to incentivize employees, mimicking some aspects of ESOPs.
Conclusion:
The article's conclusion remains pertinent:
  • Private Limited Companies have higher credibility and are preferred by investors (especially VCs) due to their structured governance, mandatory audits, and ability to issue shares (essential for equity funding and ESOPs).
  • LLPs offer simpler compliance and lower costs, making them ideal for small to mid-sized businesses, professional firms, or ventures not seeking external equity funding or aiming to offer ESOPs.
The advice to "think over it" and consider future plans is crucial, as converting an LLP to a Private Limited Company can be a "considerable effort," involving more procedural steps and costs than initially forming a Private Limited Company. It is essential to choose an entity type that aligns not just with the current business operations but also with its long-term growth, funding, and talent retention strategies.
 
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