Shops & Establishment (S&E) Registration — All-India Guide & Requirement Checker
Almost every business with a physical place of work in India — shops, offices, and every proprietorship — must register under its state Shops & Establishment Act, usually from the first day of operations. Because each state has its own Act, the rules, fees, validity and timelines differ. Pick your state below to see exactly what applies to you.
This tool gives general guidance for FY 2026-27. Government fees are nominal and set by each state’s notified schedule, which is revised from time to time — always confirm the current fee, validity and forms on the official state portal linked in your result before applying. This is not legal advice.
State-wise Shops & Establishment registration
Choose your state for the applicable Act, government fee, validity, renewal, documents and official portal. Detailed state-by-state guides are being added — each link below opens the checker set to that state.
Shops & Establishment registration — the essentials
The Shops & Establishment Acts are state labour laws that regulate the conditions of work in shops, commercial establishments, offices, hotels, restaurants and theatres — working hours, weekly holidays, leave, wages and record-keeping. Registering your establishment under the applicable state Act is the first compliance step for almost any business with a physical place of work, including a one-person proprietorship, and in most states it is due from the very first day of operations.
Because there is no single central law, every state has its own Act with its own form, fee schedule (a small amount that usually rises with the number of workers), validity period and renewal cycle. A business with offices in more than one state needs a separate registration in each state. Some states, such as Maharashtra and Gujarat, only require an establishment to register once it employs 10 or more workers; smaller ones file an intimation. Others require every establishment to register regardless of size. The checker above shows the rule for your state.
Who needs to register
Registration applies to retail shops, commercial and professional offices (including IT firms, consultancies, CA and law offices and coworking spaces), restaurants, hotels and cloud kitchens, warehouses and godowns, theatres and cinemas, private hospitals and clinics, coaching centres and other establishments run for profit. Government offices, units already covered by the Factories Act, and (in most states) charitable and religious bodies are typically outside its scope. A home-based business generally needs registration once it employs anyone.
Why it matters beyond compliance
The certificate is widely used as basic proof that a business is recognised by the state. It is commonly asked for when opening a current account, is accepted as address proof during GST verification, supports FSSAI and MSME/Udyam applications, and is checked in bank loan and investor due diligence. It is also the document a labour inspector looks for first during an inspection.
Common rules across states (working conditions)
While the detail varies, most state Acts share a broadly similar set of working-condition rules:
- Working hours: generally up to 9 hours a day and 48 hours a week, with the daily spread-over capped at about 10.5 to 12 hours including breaks.
- Overtime: usually limited to about 2 hours a day, paid at roughly twice the ordinary wage, subject to an annual overtime cap.
- Weekly holiday: at least one day off each week; several newer Acts allow the establishment to stay open all week provided each worker still gets a weekly off.
- Leave: broadly, casual and sick leave of about 8 to 12 days a year, plus earned/privilege leave of roughly one day for every 20 days worked, along with national and festival holidays.
- Women working at night: increasingly permitted (for example in IT/ITeS) with safeguards such as transport, security and written consent; the exact conditions vary by state.
- Registers: establishments must keep basic records — a muster roll (attendance), wage register, leave register and, where applicable, an overtime register. See our HR & Labour Registers for ready formats.
Shop Act vs Trade Licence vs Professional Tax vs GST
These are separate registrations that many businesses need together. The Shops & Establishment registration is a labour-law registration for working conditions, issued by the state Labour Department. A trade licence is a municipal permission to carry on a particular trade at a location. Professional tax is a state tax on employment and trades — see our Professional Tax calculators. GST is a central tax registration based on turnover and activity.
Do the new Labour Codes remove this requirement?
No — not yet in practice. The four Labour Codes came into force on 21 November 2025, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code subsumes the state Shops & Establishment Acts at the central level. However, the state Acts and the registrations issued under them continue to apply until each state notifies rules to the contrary. Until then, continue to register and renew under your existing state Shops & Establishment Act.
State guides & related calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shops & Establishment registration mandatory for a proprietorship?
Yes. Any establishment with a physical place of work — including a sole proprietorship run by one person — must register under its state Shops & Establishment Act, generally from the first day of business. The certificate also serves as basic proof of business existence and is commonly asked for when opening a current account.
How much does the registration cost?
The government fee is nominal and set by each state on a slab that rises with the number of workers — from a few rupees or a few hundred in most states to a few thousand for large establishments. Several states charge no fee for very small establishments. Because the schedules are revised from time to time, confirm the current amount on your state’s official portal, which the checker links for you.
Does the certificate need to be renewed?
It depends on the state. Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh issue a multi-year certificate that is renewed before expiry; Telangana, West Bengal, Rajasthan and several others renew annually; while Maharashtra’s 2017 Act and Tamil Nadu do not require a periodic renewal — you simply update the record when details change. Use the checker with your registration date to see your next renewal-due date where a fixed period applies.
My business has offices in more than one state — how many registrations do I need?
One for each state (and sometimes each city or district) where you have an establishment. The Act is state legislation, so a registration under one state’s Act does not cover premises in another. A company with offices in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi needs three separate registrations.
What documents are required?
Typically the identity and PAN of the proprietor, partners or directors, a passport photograph, proof of the business premises (an electricity bill, property-tax receipt or registered rent agreement), the nature of business, the date of commencement and the number of workers. Companies and firms also submit their Certificate of Incorporation or Partnership Deed. States may ask for a little more, which the official portal lists.
Is this the same as a trade licence or professional tax registration?
No. Shops & Establishment registration is a labour-law registration for working conditions. A trade licence is a municipal permission to carry on a trade, and professional tax is a state tax on employment. Many businesses need all three; a few states loosely use the term trade licence for the Shops & Establishment registration. See our Professional Tax calculators for the PT position in your state.
What happens if I do not register on time?
Operating without the required registration is an offence under the state Act and attracts a fine, often with a further daily fine while the default continues, and can surface during GST verification, a bank current-account opening or a labour inspection. Registering within the state’s time limit (commonly 30 to 90 days of commencement) avoids this.
Do the 2025 Labour Codes remove Shops & Establishment registration?
Not in practice yet. The Labour Codes took effect on 21 November 2025 and the OSH Code subsumes these Acts at the central level, but the state Acts and their registrations remain in force until each state notifies rules to the contrary. Continue to comply under your existing state Act for now.