With AU Corporate, incorporating an Indian subsidiary costs USD 750 to 1,000 all-inclusive for INR 10 lakh share capital, covering the Indian government fees and our professional fees up to the FC-GPR filing. A German parent adds its own costs in Germany: a certified commercial register extract, notarisation at fees fixed by the German notary fee law (GNotKG), an apostille from the competent court, and sworn English translations of any German documents. Euro remittances above EUR 12,500 also trigger a payment report to the Bundesbank under the AWV. Running costs after incorporation are quoted separately as a fixed package.
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Key facts
| AU Corporate setup fee | USD 750 to 1,000 all-inclusive, for INR 10 lakh share capital |
|---|---|
| German notary fees | Fixed by law under the Gerichts- und Notarkostengesetz (GNotKG), not negotiable |
| Apostille | Issued by the president of the Landgericht for documents notarised in its district |
| Translations | German-language documents need English translations by a sworn translator |
| Bundesbank reporting | Payments to or from abroad above EUR 12,500 are reported under the AWV |
| Direct investment report | An annual Bundesbank report on foreign holdings of 10% or more, above the size thresholds |
| German VAT on Indian services | Usually reverse charge for a German business recipient |
| Running costs | Quoted separately as a fixed monthly or annual package |
AU Corporate's fee
Our fee for incorporating the subsidiary is USD 750 to 1,000 all-inclusive for INR 10 lakh share capital, fixed in writing before work starts. It includes the Indian government fees and our work on the FDI check, digital signatures and DINs, name approval, SPICe+ incorporation with PAN and TAN, bank account support, the share issue to the German parent and the FC-GPR filing. Higher capital, or a registered office in a state with higher stamp duty, increases the government part, and we show the effect before you decide.
German-side costs, item by item
| Item | Who charges | Cost driver |
|---|---|---|
| Certified extract from the commercial register (Handelsregisterauszug) | Register court or the online register portal | A small official fee per extract |
| Shareholder or management resolution approving the investment | Internal, or drafted by us | Internal time |
| Notarisation of signatures and copies | A German notary (Notar) | Statutory fees under the GNotKG, based on the type and value of the act |
| Apostille | The president of the Landgericht for the notary's district | A statutory fee per document |
| Sworn translation into English | A sworn or authorised translator (beeidigter Übersetzer) | Charged per line or page |
| Courier to India | Courier company | International express delivery |
Because notary fees in Germany are set by statute, quotes from different notaries for the same act should match; the variable is how many documents you ask them to certify.
Translation: the cost German groups underestimate
Indian authorities and banks work in English. The commercial register extract, the articles (Gesellschaftsvertrag) and any resolution written in German all need an English translation by a sworn translator, and the Indian bank may want the translation itself certified. Two choices save money:
- Draft the shareholder resolution in English, or bilingually, from the start, so it needs no translation.
- Translate only the documents India actually requires; we send the list before anything goes to a translator.
Funding in euros and the AWV reports
The subsidiary's capital is usually sent in euros from the German parent's bank to the Indian company's account and converted into rupees on arrival. Two German reporting duties come with it:
- Payment reports: under the Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance (AWV), German residents report payments to or from non-residents above EUR 12,500 to the Deutsche Bundesbank, typically within days of the payment month ending. The capital remittance, and later dividends and service fees, are covered.
- Direct investment report: a German company holding 10% or more of a foreign company reports the holding to the Bundesbank each year, once the foreign company's balance sheet exceeds the reporting threshold.
- On the Indian side, the bank issues a foreign inward remittance certificate and obtains KYC on the German remitter for the FC-GPR filing.
Costs for the German parent after setup
- German VAT: services the Indian subsidiary supplies to the German parent are generally subject to the reverse charge, so the German parent accounts for VAT and recovers it if fully taxable.
- Transfer pricing documentation: German rules require documentation of intercompany transactions, which must match the Indian Form 48 report for the same dealings.
- Controlled foreign company rules: Germany's low-tax threshold is 15%, so an Indian subsidiary taxed at about 25.17% is not low-taxed.
- Dividends: dividends from the Indian subsidiary are 95% exempt from German corporate tax for the parent company.
See German parent obligations.
Running the Indian company
After incorporation the subsidiary needs bookkeeping, GST and TDS returns, payroll and provident fund once it hires, a statutory audit, the income tax return, Form 48 for dealings with the German parent, the FLA return to the RBI and annual ROC filings. German groups usually close on 31 December while the Indian year ends on 31 March, so the Indian team prepares a December reporting pack as well as the March statutory accounts. We quote this as one fixed package.
Keeping the bill down
- Write resolutions in English to avoid translation.
- Certify all documents at one notary appointment, with spare copies for the Indian bank.
- Limit the first board to the directors who really need to sign.
- Remit enough capital at the start, so one AWV report and one FC-GPR cover it.
- Agree the intercompany agreement early, so VAT, transfer pricing and AWV reporting line up.
How AU Corporate handles this
AU Corporate quotes a fixed all-inclusive price for the Indian incorporation, sends a German document checklist with notes on translation, and can run the subsidiary's accounting, tax, payroll and ROC compliance afterwards, including a December reporting pack for the German group.
Related services: India subsidiary registration and accounting, reporting and audit support.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost a German company to set up an Indian subsidiary?
With AU Corporate, USD 750 to 1,000 all-inclusive for INR 10 lakh share capital, plus German notary, apostille, translation and courier costs.
Are German notary fees negotiable?
No. They are set by the Gerichts- und Notarkostengesetz (GNotKG), so they depend on the act and its value, not the notary.
Who issues the apostille for German documents?
The president of the Landgericht for documents notarised in its district.
Do German documents need translating?
Yes, into English by a sworn translator, unless they are already in English or bilingual.
Does sending the capital trigger German reporting?
Yes. Payments to non-residents above EUR 12,500 are reported to the Bundesbank under the AWV, and larger foreign holdings are reported annually.
Are running costs included in the setup fee?
No. Accounting, audit, tax and ROC compliance are quoted separately as a fixed package.
Related guides
How Long It Takes from Germany
The timeline from documents to FC-GPR.
Read the guide →Documents and Apostille
Handelsregister, notary and court apostille.
Read the guide →Funding and FEMA
Sending euros and reporting them.
Read the guide →German Parent Obligations
German tax and reporting on the Indian company.
Read the guide →Sources
Last updated 3 November 2026. General information only, not legal or tax advice. Indian rules change often; confirm current requirements before acting.