How to Register a Beverage Business in India – Guide by Tax Esquire

India’s beverage market is growing rapidly – from packaged drinking water and soft drinks to juices, milk–based drinks, energy drinks, tea/coffee brands and even craft beverages. Whether you want to start a small juice brand, a bottled cold-brew line or a full-scale manufacturing unit, you must treat beverages as food products and follow India’s food, company and tax laws carefully.

In this detailed guide, Tax Esquire explains in simple English:

• What a beverage business actually does
• All major licenses and documents you will need
• Step-by-step process to register your company
• A cost & documents table for the main registrations
• Why a Chartered Accountant (CA) is essential
• 5 FAQs with image ideas for your blog layout

Throughout the guide, where law is involved, we rely on government rules such as the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 and official notifications. FSSAI

What Is a Beverage Business? Key Functions

A beverage business is any enterprise that manufactures, processes, bottles, stores, distributes or sells drinks meant for human consumption. That includes:

• Packaged non-alcoholic drinks – fruit juices, soft drinks, flavoured water, iced tea, cold coffee, energy drinks, health drinks, etc.
• Milk & dairy beverages – flavoured milk, lassi, buttermilk, milkshakes.
• Ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages – cold coffee cans, protein shakes, herbal drinks.
• Hot & cold beverage outlets – juice bars, cafes, bubble-tea outlets, beverage kiosks.
• Alcoholic beverages (if you enter this segment, strict State Excise rules apply in addition to food regulations).

Under Indian law, all of these are considered food businesses, and therefore must obtain FSSAI registration or licence depending on scale and turnover. FSSAI

Main Functions of a Beverage Business

1. Product development – designing recipes, deciding sugar content, flavours, preservatives, packaging.
2. Procurement & production – sourcing ingredients, water treatment, mixing, pasteurisation, carbonation, bottling or canning.
3. Quality & food safety – complying with FSSAI standards, lab tests, shelf-life studies, hygiene and HACCP systems. FSSAI
4. Branding & packaging – label design, mandatory declarations (FSSAI logo & licence number, nutritional info, batch, MRP, etc.). FSSAI
5. Distribution & sales – selling to distributors, retail shops, cafés, supermarkets or directly online (where other e-commerce rules may apply).
6. Compliance & taxation – maintaining accounts, filing GST returns (if registered), renewing licences and responding to inspections.

Legal Structures for a Beverage Business

You can technically start as a sole proprietor, partnership, LLP or company. But for most packaged beverage brands, a Private Limited Company is ideal because:

• It offers limited liability protection.
• It looks more credible to distributors, supermarkets and investors.
• It is easier to bring in new shareholders or raise funds.

Company incorporation in India is now done through the SPICe+ web form on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal, which provides on-screen filing and real-time validation and integrates multiple registrations in one step.

Licences & Registrations Required for a Beverage Business

Exact requirements vary by scale and location, but most beverage businesses will typically need:

1. Company Registration (Private Limited Company) – under the Companies Act, 2013
2. FSSAI Registration / Licence – compulsory for all food business operators including beverage manufacturing, storage and sale.
• Basic Registration (small turnover)
• State Licence
• Central Licence for larger units or multi-state operations
3. GST Registration – mandatory once you cross the turnover thresholds (usually ₹40 lakh for goods and ₹20 lakh for services; lower in special category states).
4. Trade / Health Trade Licence – from the local municipal corporation for running a food/beverage business in commercial premises.
5. Shops & Establishments Registration – under state labour laws (may be waived in future in some cities, but still common).
6. Fire NOC, Pollution Board consent, Building approvals – particularly for medium or large plants using boilers or handling high volumes.
7. State Excise Licence – only if you are dealing with alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits, RTD alcoholic drinks). Rules and fees are state-specific and often high.
8. BIS Certification – mandatory for packaged drinking water and mineral water under Bureau of Indian Standards norms (if you enter that line). FSSAI

Because there are several overlapping departments, coordinating all of this is where a CA from Tax Esquire becomes crucial.

Below is a consolidated list of documents generally required. Exact checklists depend on state notifications and your chosen structure.

4.1 For Directors / Proprietor / Partners

• PAN card
• Aadhaar / Passport / Voter ID / Driving licence
• Recent passport-size colour photographs
• Address proof – latest bank statement / utility bill (2–3 months)

4.2 For Company Registration (Private Limited)

• KYC of all directors/shareholders (as above)
• Proof of registered office – electricity bill / property tax / water bill
• Rent agreement (if rented) and NOC from owner
• Draft MoA & AoA with beverage-related objects
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) details

4.3 For FSSAI Registration / Licence

As per FSSAI documentation guidelines:

• Identity & address proof of the food business operator
• Proof of possession of premises (sale deed / rent agreement / NOC)
• Layout plan or blueprint of the processing unit
• List of equipment and machinery
• Product details and category (e.g., carbonated drink, juice, dairy beverage)
• Water analysis report from a recognised lab (if using ground or tanker water)
• List of responsible technical personnel (for manufacturing units)

4.4 For GST Registration

• PAN of business and proprietor/company
• Aadhaar authentication
• Company incorporation certificate and MoA/AoA (for company)
• Principal place of business proof – electricity bill, rent agreement, NOC
• Bank account proof – cancelled cheque / statement

4.5 For Trade / Health Trade Licence

• Business registration documents (company certificate, PAN)
• Premises layout, seating plan (for café/juice bar)
• Fire safety arrangements details
• FSSAI licence copy (sometimes asked)
• Property tax / rent agreement / NOC

Cost of Opening a Beverage Business – Price & Documents Table

The actual cost of opening a beverage business depends heavily on city, scale (small local brand vs large plant) and whether you include alcoholic drinks. Below is an illustrative cost table for a small to medium non-alcoholic beverage unit (manufacturing + local distribution). All values are approximate in Indian Rupees (₹) and should be customised by Tax Esquire to match real quotes.

Note: Government fees change from time to time; always check latest notifications and use this table as a planning guide only.

*Govt fee ranges are indicative and may change; always confirm latest notifications.

Step-by-Step Process to Register a Beverage Company

Step 1 – Choose Business Model and Structure

• Decide whether you will manufacture, only market & outsource production, or run a beverage outlet / chain.
• Finalise whether you will deal only in non-alcoholic beverages or also enter alcoholic drinks (which adds State Excise compliance).
• With help from Tax Esquire, select the right structure – usually a Private Limited Company for packaged beverage brands.

Step 2 – Get Digital Signatures & Director Identification Numbers

• Obtain Class 3 DSC for directors to sign MCA and other forms online.
• DINs are generally allotted automatically when you file the SPICe+ incorporation form, so separate DIN applications are rarely needed now.

Step 3 – Reserve Company Name (SPICe+ Part A)

• Log into the MCA portal and open the SPICe+ web form.
• Fill Part A with proposed name options & brief Objects like “manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages, juices and related products”.
• Pay the name-reservation fee and submit.
• If rejected, Tax Esquire helps tweak the name and objects and re-file.

Step 4 – File Full Incorporation (SPICe+ Part B + MoA + AoA)

• After name approval, complete SPICe+ Part B with: capital structure, registered office details, director/shareholder information, etc.
• Prepare e-MoA and e-AoA where you clearly describe your beverage business functions, warehousing, distribution etc.
• Through linked forms, you may also simultaneously apply for:
• PAN & TAN
• EPFO/ESIC registrations (mandatory for new companies through SPICe+).

Step 5 – Attach Documents and Pay ROC Fees

• Attach all KYC, office proofs, declarations (INC-9, DIR-2). Pre-scrutinise the form, sign with DSC and pay ROC fees & stamp duty online.

Step 6 – Receive Certificate of Incorporation

• The Registrar of Companies scrutinises your application.
• On approval, you receive a Certificate of Incorporation (CoI) with your CIN and date of incorporation; PAN and TAN are normally allotted along with the CoI. At this point your beverage company exists legally, but you still cannot start producing or selling drinks until food and local licences are in place.

Step 7 – Apply for FSSAI Licence

• Visit the FSSAI FoSCoS system and apply for Basic / State / Central licence depending on your turnover and operations. Licence and registration of food businesses are mandatory under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. FSSAI
• Upload all required documents: premises proof, layout plan, equipment list, water test report, etc.
• Pay fee as per Schedule 3 of the Regulations. Cooperate with any inspection by the Designated Officer before licence is granted.

Step 8 – Get GST Registration (When Required)

• If your aggregate turnover crosses ₹40 lakh for goods (or if you choose voluntary registration), apply for GST. Upload company documents and premises proof; complete Aadhaar authentication.
• Once approved, print your GSTIN on invoices and product invoices going to distributors.

Step 9 – Obtain Trade/Health Trade Licence and Local Approvals

• Apply with the local municipal corporation for a trade/health trade licence for your plant, café or shop.
• For larger facilities, obtain fire NOC, pollution control consent and any specific state clearances (for example, ground-water extraction permissions).

Step 10 – (If Alcoholic Beverages) Secure Excise Licence

• Apply to the State Excise department for manufacturing/selling alcoholic beverages. Fees and documentation are significantly higher and strictly enforced. This step is not needed for purely non-alcoholic drinks.

Step 11 – Post-Launch Compliance

Once the plant or outlet starts:

• Maintain proper books of account and stock records.
• File GST returns, TDS, and income tax returns on time.
• Renew FSSAI, trade licence and other registrations before expiry.
• Cooperate with food safety inspections and keep product test reports updated. FSSAI

Why You Need a CA (Tax Esquire) for Beverage Business Registration

You specifically asked that a CA will be required, and in practice that is very true for beverage ventures because of the multiple regulators involved.

A CA firm like Tax Esquire can help you to:

1. Choose the right structure & tax model – compare sole proprietorship vs company vs LLP, understand impact on profits, funding and risk.
2. Design your MoA / Objects properly – so that all current and future beverage categories, outlets, exports and brand extensions are legally covered.
3. File SPICe+, FSSAI, GST and trade licences correctly – avoiding rejections, resubmissions and penalties. Create realistic financial projections & costing – for pricing your beverages, calculating margins, and preparing for bank or investor discussions.
4. Maintain ongoing compliance – regular accounting, audits (where applicable), tax filings and responding to authorities’ notices.

Instead of struggling with multiple portals yourself, you can focus on product development, branding and sales, while Tax Esquire acts as your backend compliance partner.

FAQ 1 – How long does it take to register a beverage company and get licences?

If documents are ready and professionally handled, company incorporation can take about 7–10 working days in many cases. FSSAI and municipal licences may add 2–6 weeks depending on inspections and state workload. You should budget 1–2 months for complete legal readiness before large-scale launch. Image idea: calendar graphic with arrows labelled “Company”, “FSSAI”, “Municipal”.

FAQ 2 – Do I need an FSSAI licence if I only sell beverages in one small shop?

Yes. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, every food business operator, even a small juice shop or café, must be registered or licensed with FSSAI, depending on turnover and nature of activity. FSSAI

Image idea: small juice counter with FSSAI logo visible on the wall.

FAQ 3 – What is the difference between FSSAI registration, State licence and Central licence?

• FSSAI Registration: basic registration for very small operators up to the prescribed turnover limit.
• FSSAI State Licence: for medium businesses operating within one state above basic limits.
• FSSAI Central Licence: for larger units, businesses operating in multiple states, or those above specified turnover/production limits. Image idea: three stacked cards titled “Registration”, “State Licence”, “Central Licence” with increasing factory icons.

FAQ 4 – When is GST registration mandatory for a beverage business?

As of current rules, GST registration is mandatory when your aggregate turnover exceeds ₹40 lakh for goods (most beverage sales fall under this) or ₹20 lakh for services, with lower limits for certain special-category states. Many beverage brands register earlier voluntarily for better credibility and input tax credit. Image idea: GSTIN certificate icon with bottles in the background.

FAQ 5 – Can a home-based beverage brand sell online without a factory?

You may start small-scale from a hygienic home kitchen or shared kitchen if local laws allow, but you still need:

• FSSAI registration/licence,
• GST registration (once you cross limits or sell inter-state online), and
• Proper labelling, shelf-life and packaging standards.

As soon as you scale, shift to a compliant facility and upgrade licences. Tax Esquire can help design a roadmap from home-scale to full-scale manufacturing.

Image idea: kitchen counter with neatly labelled glass bottles and an open laptop showing an online store.

Final Thoughts

Starting a beverage business is exciting – you are creating products people will literally drink into their daily lives. But because beverages directly affect public health, regulators expect strict compliance.

By understanding:

• what registrations you need (company + FSSAI + GST + municipal licences),
• which documents to prepare and how much they might cost, and
• how a CA firm like Tax Esquire ties everything together,

you can move confidently from idea to legally-compliant beverage brand.