Shops & Establishment registration: a step-by-step guide
Almost every shop, office and commercial establishment in Maharashtra must either register or file an intimation with the Labour Department. It is often the first licence a new business needs, and banks commonly ask for it when you open a current account. Here is how it works.
In short
- The law is the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, popularly called the "Gumasta" licence.
- 10 or more workers: apply for registration in Form A and receive a registration certificate.
- Fewer than 10 workers: file a free online intimation in Form F.
- Apply online through the Maharashtra Labour Department or the Aaple Sarkar portal, within 60 days of starting business.
Who needs it
The Act covers shops and commercial establishments across Maharashtra: offices, retail stores, restaurants, consultancies, IT firms, clinics, warehouses and similar businesses. It replaced the old Bombay Shops and Establishments Act, 1948, from 19 December 2017. A registration issued under the 1948 Act is not valid under the new law.
What you need depends on how many workers you have:
| Workers | What to file | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 10 or more | Registration application in Form A, with fee | Registration certificate (Form B) |
| Fewer than 10 | Intimation of commencement in Form F, no fee | Receipt of intimation (Form G) |
If a business that filed Form F later grows to 10 or more workers, it must apply for full registration in Form A. Each separate branch or location needs its own registration or intimation.
Documents to keep ready
- PAN of the business and of the owner or authorised signatory
- Identity and address proof of the owner, partners or directors
- Proof of business premises, such as a rent or leave-and-licence agreement, or an electricity bill
- Constitution document: partnership deed, LLP agreement or certificate of incorporation, as applicable
- Photograph and signature of the employer
- Number of workers, broken down by men and women, and the date business started
- For Form A: the registration fee, which depends on the number of workers
How to apply, step by step
- Count your workers to decide between Form A and Form F.
- Create an account on the Maharashtra Labour Department portal or Aaple Sarkar, using a mobile number for OTP.
- Choose the service: Shops and Establishment registration (Form A) or intimation (Form F).
- Fill in the details of the business, employer, premises and workers.
- Upload documents and pay the fee online if you are filing Form A.
- Download your certificate or receipt once it is processed, and keep both a soft and a printed copy.
After you are registered
- Display the certificate at your premises.
- Report changes online in Form I, such as a new address, a change in ownership or a rise in worker count.
- Renew on time if your certificate carries an expiry date.
- Follow the working conditions the Act sets: working hours, weekly offs, leave, overtime, and safety for women working at night.
- Maintain registers of employees, attendance and wages, which can be requested during inspections.
- Notify closure online if you shut down the establishment.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Continuing with an old 1948-Act Gumasta certificate.
- Filing Form F after the business has grown past 10 workers.
- Registering only the head office when you also run branches or outlets.
- Letting the premises address on the certificate go out of date after a move.
Fees, forms and processing times can change, and other states have their own Shops and Establishments laws with different thresholds. Check the current requirements on the official portal before you apply.
This guide is general information based on the rules in force on 14 October 2026. Labour laws, rates and state rules change, so check the latest notifications or speak to an expert before acting on it.
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