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Opening a Publishing Company in India

Opening a Publishing Company in India

Starting with 2014, the total market value of the publishing industry reached $122 million. In 2018, the market should reach a value of $128 millionIndia is one of the few countries were the publishing industry is gradually increasing, for both printed and digital books

Those starting a company in India in the publishing sector should know that, according to the Federation of Indian Publishers, the country has approximately 19,000 publishing houses50% of the published books in India are printed in Hindi and English, and the rest in the other official languages recognised in this country (24 languages at a national level). Our team of consultants in company registration in India can advise on the main procedures available for the incorporation of a publishing business

Publishing laws in India

There are several laws that need to be considered when setting up a publishing house in India. Among these, the Defamation Law which contains specific rules about the content published in print but also online. The Penal Code also provides for various offenses related to publishing such content.

In order to ensure it is not liable for such offenses, an agency has the right to request a copy of the work from the author before publishing it.

The Copyright Law is another act that provides for creative work that must be protected. For this purpose, any creative work must be acknowledged by the competent authority.

Other laws that regulate the publishing sector in India are:

  • the Press and Registration of Books Act that contains specific regulations on printing the details of the publishing house on the cover of magazines;
  • the Delivery of Books and Newspapers that specifies a publisher needs to send a free copy of published material (books) to the National Library of Calcutta.

If you decide to open a publishing house in India, you can obtain more information on the laws you need to respect from our local representatives.

We can also assist with the incorporation of any type of business form you choose for your operations.

Choosing a business form for a publishing business

Setting up a publishing company in India implies respecting various regulations, among which the Company Law which requires that any activity must be completed under a legal form. From this point of view, the limited liability company is the most suitable entity when starting a company in this country as a foreign entrepreneur.

Apart from this, expanding a publishing company through a branch office or subsidiary is also an option. Also, entering an agreement with a local partner to set up a venture in this sector is a good idea for creating a publishing company.

No matter the business form you decide on, our company formation agents in India can help you register it in accordance with the local regulations.

What to consider when opening a publishing company in India

One of the things that is paid less attention to is the name of the company which in the case of a publishing agency is very important as it must convey inspiration and draw the attention of the readers.
Also, it is recommended to have the respective name registered as a trademark, a procedure that in India can be completed with the help of our advisors.

Publishing agencies can be prolific businesses that can provide various types of services, among which:

  1. editing and correction for which professionals must be hired;
  2. representation services for the writers they work with;
  3. print, but also online publishing services if a website is considered;
  4. other services can also be provided based on the specific of the agency.

Also, in terms of work, an Indian publishing agency can print or post on its website books, magazines or even news articles.

Setting up a publishing company implies paying attention to many details, however, from a legal point of view, you can rely on our company registration consultants in India.

Business planning – an important step

Compared to other lines of business, a publishing agency needs more attention which should rely on a solid and well-crafted business plan. This means that you will need to carefully select the market you address, choose your selling points, and how you will promote it.

Business planning is important for any company, however, in the publishing sector in India which is a large market (one of the largest in the world), it is recommended to start with representative segments that interest you the most or that are requested. For this purpose, a market analysis can be a good idea. Also, check the competition, as there is plenty to learn from that.

Opening a publishing company is not difficult, however, good research will help you thrive in this competing market. If you need a legal address for your business, the virtual office in India can be a good solution to start with.

Characteristics of the Indian publishing sector

A few years ago, the National Book Trust of India, a governmental agency which has as main activity the promotion of books and similar products, conducted a study which showed that a high number of young persons is interested in reading activities

This accounts for 83 million persons, representing one-fourth of all the young persons in India. Foreign investors may open a company in India in this sector, as starting with the 2000s, the local government allowed foreign direct investments (FDI) in the publishing industry, and several well-known international publishing houses have already set their operations here. Our team of specialists can offer assistance on the FDI law applicable in India

Besides international businesses set up here, the publishing industry is mostly represented by small family-owned businesses

As mentioned above, most of the publishing companies in India publish their products in Hindi and English. There is a high demand for books published in English at a global level and, in terms of the titles published in this language, India ranks as the third global jurisdiction

India and its world leading publishing sector

India has one of the largest publishing markets in the world, as it ranks 3rd at a global level, just behind the USA and the UK. Also:

  • this industry has a 30% annual growth rate, one of the most important among the country’s economic sectors;
  • most of the books are published in Hindi and English, with 26% attributed to Hindi and 26% to English content.

It is also useful to note that India has more than 24 Hindi dialects spread across the country. Also, full foreign ownership is allowed for investors who want to set up businesses in the publishing sector, so if you are considering such a venture, you can rely on our local representatives. 

Main publishing activities in India 

In order to register a company in India in this sector, the investors will need to set up a legal entity and register for tax purposes. However, it is necessary to know that the publishing sector in India is exempt from the payment of the value added tax

The main publishing sub-sectors are the following:

trade (books for general purposes);

school textbooks;

books for higher education

Businessmen are invited to contact our team of representatives for advice on how to form a company in India in the publishing industry