Shops & Establishment License in India

Every state has its own Shop and Establishment Act (“Act”). However, the general provisions of the Act are the same in all states. The Shop and Establishment Act is regulated by the Labor Department of the respective states. The Act regulates all the shops and commercial establishments operating within the state. The respective states issue the registrations under the Act, and thus it slightly differs from one state to another state.


Shops are generally defined under the Act as the premises where the selling of goods take place either by retail or wholesale or where services are rendered to customers. It includes offices, godowns, storerooms and warehouses used in connection with the trade or business.

Commercial establishments are generally defined as a commercial, banking, trading or insurance establishment or administrative service in which persons are employed for office work. It includes a hotel, boarding or eating house, restaurant, cafe, theater, or other public entertainment or amusement places. However, factories and industries are not covered by the Act and are regulated by the Factories Act, 1948 and Industries (Development and Regulation) Act 1951.

Registration Under The Shop and Establishment Act

The shops and commercial establishments covered under the Act must mandatorily apply for registration under the respective state Act. All establishments and businesses, including the people working and maintaining a business from home, must obtain a Shop and Establishment Registration Certificate or Shop License (“Certificate”) under the Act.

The proprietors who run a business from home without having any physical store or premises are also required to obtain this Certificate. The proprietors of e-commerce business or online business, or online stores and establishments must register under this Act and obtain the Certificate. Every shop and commercial establishment should register itself under the Act within 30 days of commencement of business.

The Certificate or the Shop License acts as a basic registration/license for the business. This Certificate is produced for obtaining many other business licenses and registrations. It serves as proof of the incorporation of commercial establishments or shops. It is also useful when the proprietor of the business wants to obtain a loan or create a current bank account for the business. Most banks will ask for this Certificate for opening a current bank account.

The Act, among other things, regulates the following matters:
 Hours of work, annual leave, weekly holidays.
 Payment of wages and compensation.
 Prohibition of employment of children.
 Prohibition of employing women and young persons in the night shift.
 Enforcement and Inspection.
 Interval for rest.
 Opening and closing hours.
 Record keeping by the employers.
 Dismissal provisions.

Process For Obtaining Shop and Establishment Registration

The procedure for obtaining the Shop and Establishment Registration Certificate differs from state to state. It can be obtained online or offline.

For obtaining the registration certificate online, the proprietor or owner of the shop or business must log into the respective State Labor Department website. The proprietor or owner must fill the application form for the registration under the Shop and Establishment Act, upload the documents and pay the prescribed fees. The prescribed fees differ from state to state. Once the registration form is approved, the registration certificate will be issued online to the proprietor or owner of the business.

For obtaining the registration certificate offline, the registration application is to be filled and submitted to the Chief Inspector of the concerned area along with the prescribed fees. The Chief Inspector will issue the registration certificate to the owner or proprietor after being satisfied with the correctness of the application.

The registration application form contains the details relating to the name of the employer and establishment, address and category of the establishment, number of employees and other relevant details as required. The registration application needs to be renewed before the expiry of the period of registration. The validity of the Shop and Establishment Certificate differs from state to state. Some states provide the Certificate valid for a lifetime, while other states provide the Certificate valid for one to five years.