Secretarial Audit in India 2026: Applicability, Process, Penalties & Checklist
Complete guide to secretarial audit in India 2026. Learn who needs a secretarial audit, the process under Section 204...
Read More →Missed MCA filings lead to director disqualification. Incomplete FEMA documentation freezes your fundraising. Governance gaps kill investor confidence. I’ve helped 100+ companies and supported ₹1000+ Cr in fundraising by ensuring zero compliance headaches—so you stay focused on growth, not regulatory fire-drills.
Trusted by Leading Companies
Explore all services in detail →
End-to-end compliance, governance, and advisory solutions tailored to your business stage
Missed MCA deadlines cost more than penalties—they risk director disqualification and company strike-off. We handle all filings (MGT-7, AOC-4, INC-22A, DIR-3 KYC), deadline tracking, and regulatory changes so you never miss one.
Learn More →Foreign investors? Wrong FEMA filing can trigger RBI notices, penalties, and freeze your fundraising. We structure your FDI documentation, foreign remittances, and cross-border transactions correctly from day one.
Learn More →Messy cap tables and missing board minutes are red flags that kill investor confidence. We prepare your data room, fix structural issues, and handle due diligence so your round closes clean and fast.
Learn More →Investors want to see proper governance before writing checks. We set up your board structure, draft governance policies, and schedule meetings so you’re investor-ready. 60% of startups lack basic governance—don’t be one of them.
Learn More →Before fundraising or an exit, auditors will find compliance gaps. Our audit identifies what you’re missing (and how to fix it) before it costs you. Required for Series A+ rounds and any exit.
Learn More →ESOPs don’t work with physical share certs. We dematerialize your shares, set up NSDL/CDSL accounts, and manage share transfers so your employee equity program actually works.
Learn More →
Sapna specializes in getting early-stage and growth-stage companies through compliance, fundraising, and governance—without the bureaucracy. She’s supported 100+ companies through ₹1000+ Crores in fundraising, including Zetwerk, JumboTail, Printo, Login Infotech, Mercer, and Entropik. As an ICSI-qualified Company Secretary with 8+ years of startup-focused experience, she knows what VCs look for during due diligence and exactly when to fix compliance gaps before they become investor blockers.
She’s not a generic CS—she’s a fundraising specialist who understands cap tables, FEMA structures, and governance frameworks. When you work with Sapna, you get direct, personal attention and the confidence that your company is truly investor-ready.
Four simple steps to ensure your company is fully compliant and governance-ready
We begin with an in-depth understanding of your business, current stage, regulatory requirements, and long-term goals.
Develop a comprehensive compliance roadmap tailored to your specific needs, industry, and growth trajectory.
Execute the plan with meticulous attention to detail. We handle documentation, filings, and all regulatory submissions.
Continuous monitoring and updates ensure your company remains compliant as regulations evolve and your business scales.
These aren’t theoretical risks—they happen to real companies every month
Missed annual filings or Form 5 submissions trigger automatic disqualification. Your directors lose voting rights, can’t sign bank guarantees, and face personal liability. It takes months and ₹50K+ in legal fees to reverse.
Two years of non-compliance? MCA strikes off your company. You lose your legal entity, can’t enter contracts, can’t hire employees. Revival takes 6+ months and substantial penalties.
Late FEMA filings: ₹25,000 per day. Missed annual returns: ₹500–50,000. Companies often discover they owe ₹5–10 Lakhs in back penalties—money that could’ve been invested in growth.
VCs spend 6 weeks uncovering compliance gaps: missing board minutes, incorrect cap table entries, FEMA violations. Funding gets delayed, terms worsen, or deals collapse entirely.
Improper foreign remittance documentation? RBI issues show-cause notices, freezes company bank accounts, and demands explanations. Your operations halt and credibility is damaged.
These aren’t edge cases. They happen because compliance slips through the cracks.
Let Me Audit Your Compliance Right NowFree assessment • 30-minute call • No obligation
Not all CS support is created equal
The verdict: Personal expertise of a full-time CS, cost efficiency of legal tech, and credibility of a Big 4—without the overhead, automation gaps, or enterprise misalignment.
Trusted by founders and business leaders
“We were a mess during Series A preparation—missing board minutes, confused cap table, zero governance structure. Sapna cleaned everything up in 6 weeks and we closed our Series A in 90 days. She literally made the deal happen by ensuring our data room was investor-proof.”
“In three years, we’ve had zero compliance notices, zero missed filings, and zero director disqualifications. That’s not luck—that’s Sapna’s system. She catches things before they become problems, and she actually responds to our urgent questions in 2 hours, not 2 days.”
“We ran our secretarial audit with Sapna before approaching investors. She identified 12 compliance gaps we didn’t know existed—missing FEMA documentation, incomplete board minutes, director qualification issues. We fixed everything before Series B due diligence even started.”
Expert perspectives on company law, compliance, and corporate governance
Complete guide to secretarial audit in India 2026. Learn who needs a secretarial audit, the process under Section 204...
Read More →Complete guide to ESOP compliance for Indian startups in 2026. Learn ESOP rules under Companies Act, SEBI guidelines,...
Read More →Complete LLP compliance checklist for FY 2026-27. Covers Form 8, Form 11, DIR-3 KYC, audit requirements, penalty of ₹...
Read More →Common questions about Company Secretary services and regulatory compliance
A Company Secretary ensures your business meets all statutory and regulatory requirements. From MCA compliance to investor relations, they protect your company legally and govern responsibly. This is especially critical as you scale.
Startups and growing companies typically benefit from outsourced Company Secretary services, which provide expert guidance without the overhead of a full-time employee. This is cost-effective and offers access to specialized expertise.
FEMA compliance involves proper documentation of foreign investments, maintaining investor agreements, and timely reporting. We handle investor updates, maintain compliance registers, and ensure all foreign exchange regulations are met.
A Secretarial Audit under Section 204 of the Companies Act is a comprehensive review of a company's compliance with laws, rules, and regulations. It is mandatory for listed companies and certain private companies meeting specified thresholds. We conduct thorough audits and provide actionable recommendations.
Companies must conduct board meetings as per their bylaws and regulatory requirements. Typically, quarterly meetings are standard. We help you schedule, prepare agendas, maintain minutes, and ensure compliance with governance standards.
Key documents include cap table, term sheet, shareholder agreements, board resolutions, valuation reports, and investor rights documentation. We prepare all necessary documentation and ensure regulatory compliance for seamless fundraising.
Don’t let missed filings, FEMA violations, or governance gaps derail your growth. Schedule your free compliance audit and see exactly where your company stands.
Typically respond within 2 hours during business hours • Free 30-minute consultation • No commitment required
A Company Secretary (CS) ensures companies comply with the Companies Act 2013, SEBI regulations, FEMA provisions, and other corporate laws. Services include ROC filings, board meeting compliance, annual return preparation, FEMA advisory, and secretarial audit.
Company Secretary fees in Bangalore range from ₹5,000-15,000/month for startups, ₹15,000-35,000/month for growing companies, and ₹35,000-75,000+/month for listed companies. One-time project fees (company incorporation, FEMA filings) range from ₹10,000-50,000.
CS Sapna Malpani is a qualified Company Secretary (ICSI) and Partner at Vivek Hegde & Co, Company Secretaries, based in Bangalore, India. She specializes in corporate compliance, FEMA regulations, startup advisory, and secretarial practice for companies across India.
You need a Company Secretary when: incorporating a company, filing annual returns (MGT-7, AOC-4), raising foreign investment (FEMA compliance), appointing/changing directors, issuing ESOPs, conducting board meetings, or when your paid-up capital exceeds ₹5 crore (mandatory CS appointment).
Use our suite of free tools to stay compliant and make informed decisions.