Is the Gumasta certificate free in Maharashtra?

No, the government charges an employee-based fee that ranges from ₹0 for a solo proprietor up to ₹10,000 for larger establishments. Professional or consultant charges of ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 apply on top, but only if you opt for assisted filing. Filing yourself means you pay just the government fee.

How much does a Shop and Establishments license cost in Mumbai?

The government fee in Mumbai follows the statewide slab, ranging from ₹0 for a solo proprietor up to ₹10,000 for larger establishments. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation issues your certificate under the 2017 Act.

Do I have to pay a renewal fee for my Gumasta registration?

No, you do not always have to pay a renewal fee for your Gumasta certificate. It depends on your employee count. Establishments with fewer than 10 employees file an intimation with lifetime validity and do not require renewal. Establishments with 10 or more employees receive a certificate valid for up to 10 years and must renew it before expiry, though the prescribed fee remains nil or nominal.

Are Gumasta fees different in Nagpur and Thane?

No, the fees are the same across Maharashtra. Gumasta follows a single statewide framework, so the same employee-based slab (₹0 to ₹10,000) applies in Nagpur, Thane, and every other city. Only the administering authority differs.

Does the government fee for the Gumasta registration depend on the number of employees?

Yes, the government fee is based on the number of workers. Establishments with fewer than 10 workers file a free intimation (Form F) with no fee, while those with 10 or more pay a registration fee that scales up. It costs around ₹300–₹500 for 10–19 workers, ₹600–₹1,000 for 20–99, ₹2,000–₹2,500 for 100–499, and up to about ₹10,000 for 500 or more. Municipal corporations such as the BMC in Mumbai may add small local charges, so confirm the exact amount on the Aaple Sarkar portal.

What is the penalty for operating without a Maharashtra Shop Act license?

Non-compliance can lead to heavy penalties. First-time offences usually attract fines of ₹1,000 to ₹25,000, while serious cases may go up to ₹1,00,000, plus around ₹2,000 per day of continued violation. Repeated violations can reach ₹2,00,000, and authorities may also order closure or restrict bank, GST, and loan approvals.

What are the Gumasta registration fees for a business with fewer than 10 employees?

You do not need to pay any government fee if your business has fewer than 10 employees. Establishments with fewer than 20 employees simply file an intimation in Form F, which the authority issues free of charge with lifetime validity. You pay only if you choose to hire a professional to complete the filing for you, which remains optional.

Are professional or agent charges mandatory for Gumasta registration?

No, you can complete the registration yourself on the Aaple Sarkar or LMS portal (and the BMC portal in Mumbai) by paying only the government fee. Professional charges of ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 are purely optional and make sense only if your documents are complex or you want filing and follow-up handled for you.

Will I be charged extra for applying for a Gumasta online license?

No, the online process carries no separate or additional fee. You pay only the standard government fee based on your employee count, plus a professional charge if you opt for assisted filing. The portal itself adds no convenience fee for filing online instead of offline.

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Licenses & Government Registrations

Gumasta License Fees 2026: Government & City-Wise Charges

Sidharth Ravichandran

Updated:Aug 6, 2026

6 min read

Gumasta license fees in Maharashtra typically range from nil to around ₹5,000+. These fees include the government registration charge and professional service charges. They apply when you register your establishment under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017.

A Gumasta license serves as the registration certificate for shops, offices, and commercial establishments under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017. Many businesses need it to open a current account, obtain GST registration, and apply for other business licences, making it important to understand the applicable fee before registering.

Key Takeaways

Gumasta registration carries no government fee in Maharashtra. The official BMC portal confirms that both Form A registration and Form F intimation are free under the 2017 Act.
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees file a one-time intimation that holds lifetime validity, with no renewal required.
The government fee follows the same ₹0 to ₹2,400 slab in Mumbai, Nagpur, Thane, and every other city; only the administering authority changes.
Operating without registration can attract reported penalties up to ₹1,00,000, around ₹2,000 per day for continued default, and up to ₹2,00,000 for repeat offenders.

Government Fees for Gumasta Registration in Maharashtra

The government fee for a Gumasta certificate in Maharashtra ranges from Nil for solo proprietors to ₹2,400 for establishments with more than 10 employees. The exact fee depends on the number of employees, the type of establishment, and the local municipal corporation handling the application.

Government fee by worker count:

Workers	Requirement	Approximate Government Fee
Fewer than 10	Form F intimation	Free (no certificate)
10–19	Registration	₹300 – ₹500
20–99	Registration	₹600 – ₹1,000
100–499	Registration	₹2,500
500 or more	Registration	Up to ₹10,000

City-Wise Gumasta License Fees in Maharashtra

The government fee for Gumasta certificate is the same in every city. Simply put, only the local authority handling the application changes, not the cost.

City	Administering Authority	Government Fee	Notes
Mumbai	Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC/MCGM)	Free (under 10 workers) up to ₹10,000 (large establishments)	Filed via the BMC portal, Aaple Sarkar, or the Labour Department website; Form A for 10+ employees. BMC may add local charges
Nagpur	Labour Department / Nagpur Municipal Corporation	Same statewide slabs	Filed via Aaple Sarkar, the NMC website, or the LMS portal; no yearly renewal
Thane	Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC)	Same statewide slabs	Same statewide forms and process; filed via Aaple Sarkar or the LMS portal
Pune	Labour Department / Pune Municipal Corporation	Same statewide slabs	Filed via Aaple Sarkar or the LMS portal

Gumasta License Renewal Fees

Under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017 (as amended in October 2025), businesses with fewer than 10 employees file an intimation with lifetime validity. This means that the renewal fee for Gumasta registration is nil.

On the other hand, establishments with 10 or more employees require formal registration with a fixed validity period, typically 1 to 5 years, and up to a maximum of 10 years. In practice, the renewal fee is usually a nominal amount, commonly ranging from ₹100 to ₹10,000, depending on the validity period and employee count.

Monetary Penalties for Operating Without a Valid Maharashtra Shop Act License

Operating a business in Maharashtra without a valid Gumasta (Shop and Establishment) license can result in fines and other monetary penalities:

Operating without the required registration can attract a fine of up to ₹1 lakh. Minor first-time violations usually attract a lower penalty, often ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, depending on the nature of the default.
If the non-compliance continues, authorities may impose an additional fine of up to ₹2,000 per day until the default is rectified.
Repeated or prolonged non-compliance can attract fines of up to ₹2 lakh.

Sidharth Ravichandran

Sidharth Ravichandran is a Chartered Accountant with over 6 years of experience advising startups, SMEs, and growing enterprises on company registrations, taxation, and intellectual property protection. He has been instrumental in building one of India's leading business compliance and legal services platforms. Sidharth regularly writes and speaks on compliance matters, showcasing a combination of regulatory knowledge with practical business perspectives. Through his thought leadership and professional expertise, Sidharth remains committed to making legal, compliance, and intellectual property services more accessible for India's growing startup and business ecosystem.