Trade License
Your municipal permission to run the shop, restaurant or unit.
Why Trade License is non-negotiable
- Operating without a trade licence is a punishable offence under the Kerala Municipality Act / Panchayat Raj Act — fines escalate per day, and the municipality can seal the premises.
- Banks demand it during current account opening for any storefront business — without it, you cannot legally accept cards or UPI in your business name.
- Required for FSSAI State licence (food businesses), Shops & Estab registration, and most factory licences as a pre-condition.
- Renewal cycle (annual in most Kerala municipalities) — miss it and the cycle penalty stacks. We track the dates.
Right for you if…
- Mandatory for any premises-based business (shop, restaurant, workshop, factory, salon, garage)
- Service-only businesses operating from home: usually exempt below threshold
- E-commerce-only sellers without a public-facing premises: typically exempt
- Kerala municipalities use slab-based fees by business type and premises area
Shops, restaurants, workshops and many local businesses need a trade license from the municipal corporation. Rules, fees and renewals differ city to city — we handle the paperwork and follow-ups with the local body.
- Required by every Kerala panchayat / municipality / corporation
- Banks ask for it during current-account opening
- Local follow-ups handled — no municipal-office queues
- Renewal reminders before each due date
- Our fee (from)
- ₹4,399
- GST (18%)
- ₹792
- You pay us from
- ₹5,191
+ government fees at actuals — see below. Receipts always shared.
What’s included
- Applicability check for your city & trade
- Application + document pack prepared and filed
- Municipal follow-up till issue
- Renewal reminders
Every statutory fee, itemised
We charge our fee. Government fees go straight to the authority — receipts always shared. Anything marked "at actuals" is the real-time figure on the day of filing.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade licence fee (Kerala panchayats) | ₹500 – ₹2,000 | By business type & premises area |
| Trade licence fee (Kerala municipalities) | ₹1,500 – ₹5,000 | Higher slabs for restaurants, workshops, factories |
| Trade licence fee (Corporations — Kochi, TVM, Kozhikode) | ₹2,500 – ₹15,000 | Highest slabs for large-format businesses |
| Renewal (annual) | Same as initial | Renewable before 31 March each year |
| Late renewal penalty | ₹50 – ₹500/month | Varies by local body |
From your first WhatsApp to delivery
- 1
Applicability check
We confirm your city / panchayat / municipality, business type and premises area — the right form (Form A / Form B) varies.
- 2
Documents + drawing
Premises proof, PAN/Aadhaar, business details, sometimes a building plan. Sent on WhatsApp; verified same-day.
- 3
Application filed
Filed at the municipal office (online where available — Kerala municipalities are progressively going digital). Receipt shared.
- 4
Inspection (if applicable)
Some categories trigger a municipal sanitary inspector visit — we coordinate the slot and prep the premises.
- 5
Licence issued
1–3 weeks typical. Licence valid for 1 year; we set up the renewal reminder.
Just have these ready
- Premises proof (rent agreement/ownership + utility bill)
- PAN + Aadhaar
- Passport photo
- Business details / incorporation documents
Documents you’ll need
- Premises proof (rent agreement/ownership + utility bill)
- PAN + Aadhaar
- Passport photo
- Business details / incorporation documents
Questions, answered
Why “from ₹4,399”?
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