One Person Company (OPC)

 

MEMORANDUM TO THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

Subject: Revitalising the “One Person Company (OPC)” framework to unleash solo entrepreneurship in India

Submitted by: Mr Hemen Parekh
Founder, www.IndiaAGI.ai | Policy Thinker | Technology Entrepreneur
Date: October 2025

1. Executive Summary

The “One Person Company” (OPC) structure—introduced with vision and optimism—was meant to formalize India’s growing community of independent professionals, freelancers, consultants, and solo innovators. Three years on, OPC adoption remains disappointingly low, despite regulatory relaxations.

As of April 2025, only 67,168 active OPCs existed across India (with ≈ 1,500 new registrations per month), a small fraction of the > 20 lakh active private limited companies. This memorandum analyses (A) intended advantages, (B) reasons for limited traction, and (C) proposes pragmatic Budget 2026 reforms to transform OPCs into the nucleus of Solo Entrepreneur India.

2. Intended Purpose and Advantages

The OPC model sought to combine the limited liability and credibility of a company with the simplicity of a proprietorship, especially for:

Target Beneficiary	Illustrative Examples	Key Advantage
Freelancers / Consultants	Designers, coders, content creators	Legal identity, contracts in own name
Early-stage innovators / solopreneurs	Founders before team formation	Limited liability + brand credibility
Professional service providers	CAs, architects, coaches	Continuity, banking legitimacy
Micro-manufacturers / traders	Local entrepreneurs	Easier GST & tender participation
Digital-first creators	YouTubers, influencers	Protects personal assets, formal accounts

3. Why the Model Has Not Taken Off

Quantitative under-performance:
2022 → ≈ 22k new OPCs
2023 → ≈ 26k new OPCs
2024 → ≈ 18k new OPCs (decline despite digital incorporation ease). Source: MCA dashboard & Corporate-Cases compilation, 2025.

Structural bottlenecks include one-OPC-per-person limit, nominee documentation, tax mismatch, and lack of awareness among entrepreneurs.

4. Recommended Reforms for Budget 2026

A. Legal & Structural:
• Permit multiple OPCs per individual (aggregate turnover ≤ ₹25 Cr)
• Simplify nominee mechanism
• Enable auto-approval OPC → LLP/Pvt Ltd conversion
• Allow OPCs limited equity expansion

B. Taxation & Incentives:
• Introduce concessional tax slabs (15%-20%)
• Optional pass-through taxation
• 3-year Startup India tax holiday

C. Credit & Finance:
• Launch OPC Credit Guarantee Fund (CGFO)
• Priority sector classification
• Interest-subvention (2%) for 3 years

D. Compliance & Ease of Doing Business:
• OPC Dashboard 2.0 on MCA portal
• Cap annual filing penalty at ₹5,000
• Grace-period amnesty once per year

E. Awareness & Capacity Building:
• National campaign: “Be Your Own Company”
• Incorporation voucher scheme (₹10,000)
• District-level help desks

5. Estimated Fiscal Impact (Illustrative)

Total estimated outlay ≈ ₹700 Cr across incorporation vouchers, credit guarantees, and digital infrastructure upgrades—less than 0.01% of Union Budget, but with high job creation potential.

6. Expected Outcomes (within 3 years)

Active OPCs: 67k → 5L+
Average jobs per OPC: 2 → 3–4
Direct employment: 1.3L → >15L
Formalisation of gig/solo businesses: +25%

7. Conclusion

The OPC framework can become a cornerstone of Atmanirbhar Bharat 2.0 — creating a seamless legal bridge between informal self-employment and formal corporate entrepreneurship. Through targeted tax relief, procedural simplification, and credit support, India can enable millions of individuals to 'incorporate themselves' securely, affordably, and ambitiously.

Respectfully submitted,

Hemen Parekh
Founder, www.IndiaAGI.ai

Visual Concept: The Power of One — From Idea to Incorporation