Enter India correctly. Once.
Entering the Indian market? We are your single point of coordination for India market entry — on the ground in India — planning the entry, coordinating the right professionals, and keeping every workstream moving. You keep control and choose your own specialists; we make the India side easier to run.
The most expensive way to enter India is to enter it twice.
Most India entries stall not for lack of capability, but because too many parallel decisions — structure, registrations, tax, hiring, premises — arrive at once, across advisers in two countries. We bring one accountable India-side partner to that process, so leadership keeps visibility and momentum without building a local team on day one.
Why India, and why now
India is the fastest-growing major economy, and two shifts have widened the door for UK, US, Canadian and Australian firms: a maturing bilateral trade framework, and a decade of domestic investment policy. The headline numbers are worth understanding before you commit.
| Indicator | Current / target | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| GDP | ~US$3.9 trillion (2025) | Among the world’s largest economies |
| GDP growth | 6.5–7.0% a year | Fastest-growing major economy |
| FDI inflows | ~US$71 billion (FY2024) | A leading destination for foreign capital in Asia |
| Middle-class consumers | ~580 million by 2030 | One of the largest addressable markets anywhere |
| Digital economy | ~US$1 trillion by 2030 | Third-largest startup ecosystem globally |
| Infrastructure pipeline | ~US$1.4 trillion to 2030 | Sustained public–private investment |
The UK–India trade agreement
The UK–India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement — signed in 2025 and entering into force in 2026 — reshapes the commercial case for entering via a UK entity. In practical terms it points to:
- Lower tariffs across manufacturing, medical devices, textiles, spirits and automotive lines.
- Simpler mobility for senior professionals and intra-company transfers.
- IP protections closer to international norms, easing risk for technology and life-sciences firms.
- Greater certainty for UK capital deployed in India.
The EU–India track
The EU–India Trade & Partnership Agreement, in advanced negotiation, is set to deepen capital flows and lower barriers in sectors such as electronics, machinery and clean energy. UK firms with EU subsidiaries or supply chains, and other international firms with European operations, can position early to benefit.
Figures are indicative and drawn from public sources; trade-agreement provisions and timelines continue to evolve. We help you interpret what they mean commercially — the regulated legal, tax and FEMA/FDI advice comes from qualified professionals you appoint or we coordinate.
Five ways to start
Whether you are testing the idea or already setting up, there is an entry point sized to the decision in front of you. Indicative fees for each are set out on the pricing page. Blueprints start at £2,500 / $3,150.
1. India Entry Clarity Call
A focused session for firms exploring India. We review your model, target sector, goals and the likely India-side workstreams, then outline the pathway — before you commit time or resources to implementation.
Best for: early exploration, board-level discussion, feasibility checks.
2. India Entry Readiness Assessment
The step after your Clarity Call: a fixed-fee written assessment — a clear go/no-go recommendation, the entry route we would take and why, costed next steps and the advisers you will need. £1,500 / $1,875, customised to your specific business requirement.
Best for: decision-makers who want written clarity and confidence before committing to a full entry plan.
3. India Market Entry Blueprint
A structured plan that maps your entry route, likely entity structure, key registrations, adviser needs, compliance touchpoints and execution sequence — so you brief specialists with clarity and control.
Best for: firms preparing to move, before instructing multiple advisers.
4. India Liaison & Setup Desk
Hands-on coordination during implementation. We manage the interaction with your Indian advisers and providers, keep timelines moving, help organise documentation, and represent you locally.
Best for: companies actively setting up and managing several firms at once.
5. India Expansion Partner
An ongoing retainer for continuing India-side support — the central coordination layer across setup, advisers, compliance workstreams and stakeholder communication as your presence grows.
Best for: firms building a lasting India presence who want a flexible alternative to an immediate local hire.
Sectors we go deep on
We concentrate where UK–India opportunity is strongest and where coordination adds the most value: technology & digital; infrastructure & energy; manufacturing & defence; life sciences; financial services; and consumer, retail & FMCG. Each carries its own regulatory and operational nuance — we help you read it commercially and sequence the work.
How the model works
You keep the freedom to appoint the lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, company secretaries and payroll providers you prefer. We are the coordination layer that keeps them aligned to your commercial objectives, timelines and priorities — so the work moves and nothing falls between advisers.
Goals, decisions, control
One accountable partner — plan, coordinate, report
Lawyers · Accountants · Company secretaries · Payroll · Banks
- One accountable India-side point of contact.
- Adviser and provider coordination, end to end.
- Meeting support, follow-ups and issue escalation.
- Regular reporting and planning back to leadership.
- A named senior partner on every engagement.
What we are — and what we are not
We are your commercial coordination and liaison partner in India. We are not a law firm, accountancy or company secretary, and we do not provide regulated legal, tax, accounting, secretarial or FEMA/FDI advice. That work stays with appropriately qualified professionals you appoint or we coordinate through our network. Our role is to make the whole process easier to execute — with one accountable partner on the ground.
Go deeper
Questions about entity types, timelines or likely costs? See our India entry FAQs →
Take the research with you
Monthly corridor intelligence, free: subscribe to the Vrkan Briefing.
Your first 90 days
Engagements are sequenced, not open-ended. A typical start looks like this.
Weeks 1–2 · Clarity
A senior-led scoping conversation: your model, target sector and goals — ending in an honest go/no-go view.
Weeks 3–6 · Blueprint
A costed entry plan: likely structure, key registrations, the advisers you will need, sequence and budget.
Weeks 7–12 · Build begins
Incorporation and registrations underway, banking and providers coordinated, first India-side meetings held — with weekly reporting back to leadership.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to enter the Indian market?
It depends on your sector and goals: most foreign companies enter India through a wholly-owned subsidiary, a joint venture, or a branch or liaison office. Our Market Entry Blueprint settles the structure question early — with the regulated advice and filings executed by qualified professionals.
Who is India Market Entry for?
UK, US and Western mid-market firms entering or scaling in India who want presence and control without building a full local team on day one.
How do we get started with India market entry?
Through a ladder: an India Entry Clarity Call, a fixed-fee India Entry Readiness Assessment, a Market Entry Blueprint, a hands-on Liaison & Setup Desk, and an ongoing Expansion Partner retainer — with Vrkan as your India-side representative throughout.
How long does India market entry take?
A well-scoped entry usually takes several months from clarity call to first revenue; licence-heavy or manufacturing entries take longer. We tell you honestly which one you are in at the blueprint stage.
Do you handle FEMA, FDI, DPIIT and GST filings?
We coordinate them — the filings themselves are executed by the qualified professionals you appoint or we introduce. Our value is one accountable India-side partner keeping it all moving.
Can you support us after we have entered India?
Yes. Ongoing Representation keeps a senior India-side partner on your account after entry — meetings, follow-ups, document coordination and issue resolution — so the India side keeps moving between your visits.
More questions? See the full FAQ.
Considering India? Talk to a senior adviser first.
Our first conversation is always with the Director or a named senior partner — no graduate funnels. Book a 30-minute discovery call: no obligation, no proposal pressure.
