FSSAI Basic Registration for Small Food Businesses
Every food business in India needs an FSSAI number, from a home kitchen upwards. Basic Registration is the entry tier — for turnover up to ₹12 lakh a year — and costs ₹100 a year in government fee.
- Government fee ₹100 per year
- For annual turnover up to ₹12 lakh
- Fourteen-digit registration number issued
- Valid for one to five years, your choice
- Government fee from
- ₹100 per year
- Our fee from
- ₹1,499
- Typical timeline
- Usually within 30 days
Who needs Basic Registration rather than a licence
The Food Safety and Standards Act makes it an offence to carry on a food business without registration or a licence. That covers manufacturing, processing, packing, storing, distributing and selling food — including home-based kitchens, cloud kitchens, tiffin services, small retailers, hawkers and temporary stall holders at fairs.
Which tier applies depends mainly on turnover. Basic Registration covers a petty food business with annual turnover up to ₹12 lakh. Above that, and up to ₹20 crore, you need a State Licence. Above ₹20 crore, or if you import, export, operate in more than one state, or run at an airport, seaport or on the railways, you need a Central Licence.
Registration is granted by the local Food Safety Department on Form A. It gives you a fourteen-digit number that must be displayed at your premises and printed on every food package you sell. Marketplaces such as Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon and Blinkit will not onboard a food seller without it.
You choose the period at the time of applying — anything from one to five years — and the fee is simply ₹100 multiplied by the number of years. Taking a longer period costs no more per year and saves you the renewal work.
What fssai basic registration gives you
The practical advantages, not the marketing version.
Lawful to trade
Operating a food business without registration is an offence carrying a fine of up to ₹5 lakh.
Onboard with delivery platforms
Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon and quick-commerce operators require a valid FSSAI number before listing you.
Credibility with customers
The number printed on your packaging is the signal buyers and retailers look for.
Cheapest possible compliance
At ₹100 a year, this is the least expensive statutory licence a business in India will hold.
A path upward
Registration converts cleanly to a State Licence when turnover grows past ₹12 lakh.
Required for institutional supply
Canteens, schools and corporate buyers will ask for the certificate before placing an order.
The process, step by step
Every stage, with realistic timelines — including the ones that depend on the registry rather than on us.
- 11 day
Confirm the correct tier
We check turnover, the nature of the activity and where you operate, so you apply for registration rather than a licence you do not need — or the reverse.
- 21–2 days
Prepare Form A and annexures
The application, a photograph, identity proof and a declaration of the food categories handled are prepared.
- 3Same day
File on FoSCoS
The application is submitted on the Food Safety Compliance System with the fee for the number of years chosen.
- 47–20 days
Departmental scrutiny
The Registering Authority reviews the application and may seek clarification or, occasionally, inspect the premises.
- 5Usually within 30 days
Registration certificate issued
The certificate with your fourteen-digit number is granted and downloaded from the portal.
What you need to provide
Have these ready and the filing moves quickly. We tell you if anything is missing before we start.
Every applicant
- Passport-size photograph of the proprietor or partner
- PAN and Aadhaar of the applicant
- Proof of premises — electricity bill, rent agreement or property document
- List of food products handled or manufactured
- Declaration of compliance with hygiene requirements (Form A annexure)
- Mobile number and email for portal communication
Depending on constitution
- Partnership deed for a firm
- Certificate of incorporation for a company or LLP
- Board resolution or authority letter for the signatory
- Registration certificate for a society or trust
Useful to have ready
- Layout of the premises for manufacturing or processing
- Water test report where water is used as an ingredient
- Supplier details for raw materials
Official FSSAI fees — Basic Registration
These are statutory fees payable to the government, separate from our professional fee. We never mark them up.
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | ₹100 per year | Choose one to five years; the fee is per year. |
| Five-year registration | ₹500 | ₹100 × 5. No discount, but only one renewal cycle. |
| Modification of registration | ₹100 | Equivalent to one year's fee. |
| Duplicate certificate | ₹100 | Where the certificate is lost or damaged. |
| Late renewal penalty | ₹100 per day | Accrues from the date of expiry until renewal. |
Registration must be renewed before it expires. An application made after expiry attracts ₹100 for every day of delay, and trading on an expired registration is treated the same as trading without one. Statutory fees are revised from time to time; we confirm the current figure before filing.
Transparent professional fees
Fixed fees, quoted upfront. Government fees are charged at cost and shown separately on every invoice.
Basic Registration
A single Basic Registration, start to finish.
- Tier assessment — registration or licence
- Form A preparation and filing
- Food category classification
- Departmental query handling
- Certificate delivered
Registration + Label Check
Registration plus a review of your packaging.
- Everything in Basic Registration
- Label reviewed against Labelling Regulations
- Mandatory declarations checked
- Veg / non-veg mark and allergen advice
- FSSAI logo and number placement
Renewal
Renewal of an existing registration.
- Renewal filed before expiry
- Details updated where changed
- Reminder ahead of the next cycle
Questions we get asked
If your question is not here, send it over — we answer directly rather than routing you to a form.
Do I need FSSAI registration for a home kitchen?
What is the difference between registration and a licence?
How long does it take?
What if my turnover crosses ₹12 lakh mid-year?
Does the number have to appear on my packaging?
What is the penalty for trading without registration?
Still unsure? Book a free consultation and we will tell you honestly whether this is the right service for you.
Ready to start your fssai basic registration?
Talk to an IP professional first. No obligation, no sales script — just a clear view of where you stand and what it will cost.