The questions business owners, founders and families ask Contrarian most often, answered in plain English by our team of Chartered Accountants and advisors, and kept current for FY 2026-27.
TaxationLatest
Direct vs indirect tax in India for business owners: who bears each, how GST and income tax hit pricing and cash flow, filing rhythm and the latest changes.
3 October 20268 min readRead the guide
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ComplianceA new private limited company in India must hold its first board meeting and appoint its first auditor within 30 days of incorporation, and file Form INC-20A within 180 days before it can start business. After that, the yearly cycle is an AGM, AOC-4 and MGT-7 or MGT-7A with the ROC, an income tax return, quarterly TDS statements and four advance tax instalments, plus GST, PF and ESI once you cross their thresholds.
1 October 20268 min read
AccountingFor most Indian SMEs and startups, outsourced accounting gives broader coverage (bookkeeping, reconciliations, GST, TDS, month-end close and MIS) for less than the full cost of a qualified in-house accountant. In-house becomes the better choice when transaction volumes are high, the work needs someone physically on site every day, or finance is central to daily decisions. Many growing businesses settle on a hybrid of the two.
24 September 20268 min read
PayrollIt is time to outsource payroll when statutory deposits like PF, ESI and TDS start slipping, payroll eats days of a founder's month, you hire across states, or the new labour codes have you unsure whether salary structures still comply. An outside payroll team runs the monthly cycle, deposits and certificates on a fixed calendar, and answers employee queries so you don't have to.
12 September 20268 min read
WealthFor most Indian investors, mutual funds are the better place to start: they give instant diversification, professional management and easy monthly investing through SIPs. Direct equity suits people who have the time, skill and temperament to research companies and sit through sharp falls, and it works best as a smaller, deliberate layer on top of a fund-based core.
29 August 20268 min read
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