FAQ
Questions, answered.
Straight answers on how we work and what each service involves. Jump to a topic below, or browse the sections.
Browse by topic
Working with Vrkan
What exactly does Vrkan Ventures do?
We are a single point of coordination for UK–India and India–UK expansion. We help you plan and execute, coordinate the right specialists, manage timelines, attend meetings and keep the work moving — while you retain control.
Are you a law firm or an accounting firm?
No. We are a coordination and representation partner, not a regulated firm. Legal filings, tax, accounting, secretarial and FEMA/FDI-related work are handled by appropriately qualified professionals you appoint or we coordinate.
Who will I actually work with?
A named senior partner, accountable from the first call to delivery — not a graduate on a template. We bring in vetted specialists by name, per project.
How do you typically engage — project or retainer?
Start with a fixed-fee first step (a clarity call or blueprint), move to a project fee for defined work, and settle into a monthly retainer for ongoing coordination.
How is my data handled — are you GDPR and DPDP compliant?
Yes. We follow a two-layer approach aligned to UK GDPR and India’s DPDP Act, use essential and analytics cookies only, and never sell or trade your data.
India Market Entry
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.
What does the process look like?
A ladder: an India Entry Clarity Call, a Market Entry Blueprint, a hands-on Liaison & Setup Desk, and an ongoing Expansion Partner retainer — with Vrkan as your India-side representative throughout.
Which structures can we use to enter India?
Typically a wholly-owned subsidiary, joint venture, branch or liaison office. The right choice depends on your sector and goals; the regulated advice and filings are executed by qualified professionals.
How long does India 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.
UK Market Entry
Who is UK Market Entry for?
Indian firms expanding into the UK and, from there, into Europe — who want a dependable UK-side representative rather than an immediate local hire.
Why is the UK a natural first international market?
Shared language and legal heritage, the Living Bridge of some 1.8 million British Indians, a deepening trade relationship and a gateway onward into Europe.
What do you coordinate on the UK side?
UK entity setup, Companies House and HMRC, VAT, FCA where relevant, banking and payroll, plus access to UK government and NHS supplier registration.
Which visa and mobility routes apply?
Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker, Global Business Mobility and the FTA Mobility Chapter — always coordinated with regulated immigration advisers.
Do we need to hire a UK country manager first?
No. Our representation and expansion-desk models give you presence and continuity without the cost of a permanent local team from day one.
IN-Accelerator (India Partnership Accelerator)
What is the India Market Partnership Accelerator?
A partnership-, channel- and pilot-led programme that helps UK firms build commercial traction in India — through positioning, partner development, JV exploration and hands-on local execution.
How is it different from India Market Entry?
India Market Entry focuses on setup, structure and compliance. The Accelerator focuses on winning commercial traction through partnerships, outreach and pilots.
Who is it best suited to?
UK EdTech, technology and SaaS, and professional-services firms — and specialist providers wanting a lower-risk, partnership-led route into India.
What are the phases?
Opportunity & fit, partner and channel mapping, a pilot or entry programme, then scale or structure once traction is proven.
What does it cost?
Four tiers — Discovery Sprint, Partnership Accelerator, JV & Alliance Support and an India Execution Retainer — all quoted in GBP and USD on the Accelerator page.
UK-Accelerator (UK Partnership Accelerator)
What is the UK Market Partnership Accelerator?
A partnership- and channel-led programme helping India-based firms build a UK foothold through positioning, partner development, JV exploration and local execution.
Who is it for?
Indian exporters and manufacturers, IT and business-services firms, and professional-services firms seeking practical UK traction without a large local team.
Which UK sectors does it target?
Consumer and retail, food and agri, engineering and components, pharma and life sciences, IT and business services, and professional services.
How does it differ from UK Market Entry?
UK Market Entry handles setup and compliance; the Accelerator focuses on partnerships, outreach and pilots that create commercial activity.
What does it cost?
Five tiers — UK Opportunity Sprint, Partner Mapping & Outreach, UK Market Entry Pilot, JV & Alliance Support and a Liaison & Representation Retainer — in GBP and USD.
Ongoing Representation
What is Ongoing Representation?
A monthly coordination layer that keeps your advisers aligned, compliance on track and stakeholders informed — and that grows with you into M&A, JV and scaling support.
Who is it for?
Firms building a continuing presence in India or the UK, businesses needing recurring representation, and clients wanting a flexible alternative to an immediate local hire.
What does it include?
Ongoing adviser coordination and oversight, compliance-support oversight on both sides, relationship and meeting representation, and regular reporting, planning and escalation.
Is it India-only?
No — we provide both India-side and UK-side ongoing representation.
How is it priced?
As a monthly retainer scoped to your stage and level of involvement; indicative ranges are on the pricing page.
Board Compliance & Resident Director
Is a resident director required for an Indian company?
Indian company law requires at least one director who is resident in India. Whether our support is the right way to meet that depends on your structure — we help you assess it with qualified professionals.
Is this a passive or nominee-only arrangement?
No. It is an active, managed governance-support model built around documented approvals, defined scope, escalation and oversight — not name-lending.
Does this service remove all director liability?
No. No service can lawfully eliminate all legal exposure. The aim is a more controlled governance structure that reduces unmanaged risk, supported by indemnity where legally permitted and D&O insurance coordination.
Will the resident director control bank accounts or operations?
Only where expressly required and approved. The role is defined by scope and documented authority limits, with the company retaining responsibility for its decisions and disclosures.
Does it replace legal or company-secretarial advice?
No. Specialist legal, tax, accounting and secretarial advice is provided by appropriately qualified professionals; we coordinate them and keep governance disciplined.
Sectors & the UK–India FTA
When does the UK–India Free Trade Agreement take effect?
It comes into force on 15 July 2026, lowering tariffs, opening services and easing business mobility across a range of sectors.
Which sectors benefit most for UK firms entering India?
Healthcare and pharma, advanced manufacturing, food and beverage, EdTech, financial and professional services, clean energy and EV, logistics, consumer and retail, and technology.
Which sectors benefit most for Indian firms entering the UK?
Textiles and apparel, footwear and leather, gems and jewellery, food and agri, engineering goods, pharma and life sciences, IT and business services, and professional services.
Are the tariff benefits automatic?
No. Preferential treatment depends on product-level schedules and strict rules-of-origin compliance, and some lines are phased or subject to safeguards — we check this before you commit.
Do you only work in these sectors?
No. These are where the FTA case is strongest, but we advise across most cross-border sectors — tell us what you do and we’ll tell you honestly whether the corridor works for you.
What must UK exporters do to claim the lower India tariffs?
Check your product’s tariff line and its phasing, confirm the goods meet the rules of origin, register with HMRC before your first origin declaration, and make the origin declaration on your commercial documents so your Indian importer can claim the preferential rate at customs.
How do Indian exporters claim duty-free access to the UK?
Confirm your product is covered and use the correct UK commodity code, meet the rules of origin, complete the proof of origin under India’s Rules of Origin (2026), and make sure the UK importer claims preference at the border. Keep records in case of verification.
What is the Double Contributions Convention (DCC)?
It lets employees on temporary cross-border postings pay social security in only one country. Detached workers can be exempt in the host country for up to 60 months with a valid Certificate of Coverage — relevant for IT, engineering, consulting and financial-services secondments.
Can Vrkan handle the customs, origin and mobility filings?
We coordinate them. We interpret the schedule and sequence the work; the regulated customs, tax, immigration and legal steps are handled by qualified professionals you appoint or we coordinate.
Key Indian Cities
Which cities do you cover?
India’s eight Tier-1 cities: Mumbai, Delhi/NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and Ahmedabad.
How do you help us choose a city?
We map each city’s advantages by sector, then support a formal site-selection evaluation — coordinating the specialists who verify incentives, land, licensing and talent.
Are detailed city profiles available?
Detailed, paid city profiles — with sites, cost benchmarks, incentives, talent and regulatory specifics — are in development. You can register your interest on the Key Indian Cities page.
What about emerging hubs beyond the Tier-1 eight?
We can also profile Gurugram and Noida, Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Kochi, Visakhapatnam and the planned Dholera smart city on request.
Global Subcontractor Search
Do you provide the subcontractor, or help us find one?
We identify, fit-screen, shortlist and introduce credible local firms. Your team retains full control of final selection and engagement.
Do you carry out the legal and financial due diligence?
No. We shortlist on practical fit and public credibility. Formal legal, financial, sanctions and background due diligence is done by you, or by specialist firms we appoint and coordinate on your behalf on request.
Do you stay involved after the subcontractor is appointed?
Yes, if you want us to. Our Oversight & Assurance retainer keeps us on the ground as your coordination and quality-assurance layer — with quarterly on-site audits and site visits and a written quarterly report — so implementation goes to plan and operations run smoothly. It is priced per country, from $2,500/month (coordination) or $5,000/month (with quarterly audits and site visits).
How are your search fees calculated?
By the number of countries covered. A single-country Search & Introduce is $8,500–$12,000; each additional concurrent country is $5,000–$6,500; programmes of three or more countries are priced on a custom, volume basis.
What if the country we need is not on your list?
Our methodology is geography-agnostic. Tell us the market and the requirement and we’ll run a bespoke search built around your specific ask — anywhere a US contract requires local delivery.
Can this help if we have no overseas office?
Yes — that is a core use case, including US commercial companies with no international presence at all.
Does FAR Part 44 apply to us, and do you handle consent filings?
FAR Part 44 applies in the federal contracting context and depends on your contract type, clauses and purchasing-system status — not every contract triggers the same obligations. We support the search and introductions; consent to subcontract and compliance decisions remain with your contracts and legal teams.
Are you affiliated with the subcontractors you introduce?
No. We are an independent, conflict-free intermediary and take no fees from the firms we introduce. Our fee is paid by you.
Where are you based — do you have a US office?
We do not have a US office. US clients are supported by liaison from our London and New Delhi teams, coordinating the overseas market where delivery happens.
How long does it take?
A standard Search & Introduce engagement typically takes 4–8 weeks from mandate to facilitated introductions; complex or multi-country searches take 8–12 weeks.
Vrkan:AI
What is Vrkan:AI?
Our bespoke cross-border intelligence service. We combine AI-assisted research with senior analyst judgment to deliver custom reports, corridor monitoring and decision-ready briefings on a paid, confidential basis.
What can it produce?
Custom intelligence reports, ongoing corridor monitoring, the proprietary GeoPolitical Risk Index, and executive briefings — each tailored to your company, market or specific decision.
How do you use AI, and is it reliable?
AI tools handle fast, wide-coverage extraction and structuring; a senior analyst then validates, interprets and approves every output before delivery. We do not publish automated predictions — human judgment stays central.
How is Vrkan:AI priced?
Every report is bespoke and produced on demand. Indicative from-prices in USD: Custom Intelligence Report from $1,500, Corridor / Market-Entry Pack from $3,500, Executive Briefing from $10,000. Broader bespoke mandates are scoped to your requirement.
How fast can you turn a report around?
Standard turnaround depends on scope, with express options — 72-hour (+25%) and 24-hour (+50–100%) — plus weekend or incident response at a premium.
Is my request confidential?
Yes. Every engagement is bespoke and confidential; your questions, data and outputs are not resold or shared.
Is it standalone or part of advisory?
Both. Vrkan:AI can be commissioned on its own or alongside our market-entry and representation work. It provides intelligence and decision support — not regulated legal or financial advice.
Any fees quoted here are indicative guidance only and are confirmed in your written proposal; Vrkan Ventures reserves the right to determine the price for each project. See our Legal Disclaimer.
Pricing & How We Work
How do you price your services?
We price on access, complexity and business impact — not discounted hours. Start with a fixed-fee first step, move to project fees, and settle into a monthly retainer for ongoing coordination.
Which currencies do you quote in?
All fees are quoted in GBP and USD.
Do you take introduction fees from the specialists you coordinate?
No. We take no introduction or referral fees from the professionals we coordinate — our only interest is your outcome.
What is the cheapest way to start?
A fixed-fee clarity call — the cheapest, best first decision before you commit to implementation.
Are your prices fixed?
The ranges shown are indicative and confirmed in your proposal; where work falls outside the standard packages, we provide a tailored quote after a scoping call.
Still have a question?
Our first conversation is always with a senior adviser — no obligation, no proposal pressure.