Shops & Establishments Act – Business Facilitation Center

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If you are starting a business in Maharashtra, one of your first legal requirements is obtaining your shop act licence. Whether you run a small shop, service unit, startup, consultancy, online business, or a company with employees, compliance with the Shops and Establishments Act is essential. Under this law, businesses must either submit Form-G Intimation or obtain Form-B Registration, depending on the number of workers they employ.

What is the Shops and Establishments Act

The Shops and Establishments Act regulates the working conditions, employment terms, and operating rules of commercial establishments across Maharashtra. Every business must either file an intimation or complete full registration to remain legally compliant.

It covers businesses such as:

Shops
Commercial offices
Online businesses operating from home or co working spaces
Service providers
Restaurants and cafes
Warehouses
Small manufacturing units
Startups

Whether you need a shop act registration or a gumasta licence, the Act ensures your business is legally recognized by the local authorities.

Shops & Establishments Act (Form-G Intimation)

Form-G Intimation applies to businesses that have fewer than ten workers. Instead of getting a full certificate, these businesses file a simple intimation to notify the government that they have commenced operations.

If your business is small or newly launched, this is usually the first step before your workforce increases.

Form G Sample

Purpose of Form-G

Form-G is the official acknowledgement that your business has submitted Form-F (the intimation of commencement). After submitting the details online, the government issues Form-G Intimation as a receipt.

This receipt serves as legal proof that your business is registered under the Shops and Establishments Act.

Many small businesses use Form-G as their gumasta license until they reach ten employees.

Details Included in Form-G

Form-G contains essential business details such as:

Name of the business
Name of the employer
Business address
Nature of business
Number of workers
Acknowledgement number

This receipt must be saved and shown to authorities whenever required.

Why Form-G is Important

Even though it is not a full shop act licence, Form-G provides strong legal credibility. Banks, online marketplaces, and vendors often accept it when opening accounts or verifying business identity.

Benefits include:

Proof of lawful business operation
Recognition under labour laws
Smooth bank account opening (depends on bank)
Easier approvals for other licences
Compliance with state regulations

If you are searching for gumasta license online for a small business, Form-G often fulfills the requirement.

Shops and Establishments Act (Form-B Registration)

Who needs Form-B

Form-B applies to businesses that employ ten or more workers. This is the official shop act licence also known as the shop act registration certificate or gumasta license.

This certificate is mandatory and must be displayed at the business premises.

Form B Sample

Purpose of Form-B

Form-B is the primary legal document that certifies your establishment under the Shops and Establishments Act. Once issued, your business receives Form-B along with the signed registration certificate.

Details Included in Form-B

A typical Form-B Certificate includes:

Registration number
Name and address of the business
Name of the employer and manager
Nature of business
Date of commencement
Validity period of registration
Authorized signature of the issuing authority

This certificate is what most people refer to when they search for shop act licence online or gumasta registration.

Difference Between Form-G and Form-B

Requirement	Form G Intimation	Form B Registration
Number of Employees	Fewer than 10	Ten or more
Type of Document	Acknowledgement Receipt	Full Registration Certificate
Common Name	Gumasta License for small units	Shop Act Licence
Mandatory Display	Required at business premises	Required at business premises
Validity	Until workforce increases	Up to ten years
When Needed	Startup stage or minimal workforce	Growing or established businesses

Documents Required for Shops & Establishments Act

Constitution	Documents for Form-G (Intimation, <10 employees)	Documents for Form-B (Registration, ≥10 employees)
Proprietorship	Aadhaar of proprietor (ID and address) PAN of proprietor (or business PAN if any) Passport size photograph of proprietor and scanned signature Photo of establishment showing nameboard (portal often asks Marathi name on board) Self declaration in prescribed format Business commencement details (date, nature of business) Any sector specific licence if applicable (FSSAI, drug license, transport permit etc)	All documents listed for Form-G Detailed list of employees (names, roles) at time of registration Salary/wage related declarations if requested by portal Any additional local municipal proofs or NOCs (as per Facilitator)
Partnership Firm	Partnership deed (signed) Firm PAN card Aadhaar and PAN of partners (ID and address) Passport size photo and scanned signature of authorised signatory Proof of business address and establishment photo with nameboard Self declaration and commencement details Sector specific licences if applicable	All documents listed for Form-G List of employees with details Authorization letter / resolution naming the authorised signatory for registration Current firm bank details or proof if portal requests Any additional statutory declarations or employer affidavits requested by the Facilitator
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)	LLP Registration Certificate / LLPIN LLP agreement (if applicable) PAN of LLP Aadhaar and PAN of designated partners Photo of establishment and proof of address Passport photo and signature of authorised signatory Self declaration and commencement details	All documents listed for Form-G List of employees (names, designations) Board/partner resolution or authorization naming the authorised representative Copies of recent statutory filings (if requested by Facilitator)
Private Limited Company	Certificate of Incorporation Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA/AOA) Company PAN Director ID proofs (Aadhaar, PAN) and address proofs Photo of establishment and proof of address Board resolution authorising signatory for the application (if required) Passport photo and signature of authorised signatory Self declaration and commencement details	All documents listed for Form-G List of employees (with roles) and any statutory wage declarations Board resolution authorising the authorised signatory, copy of DINs of signatories Copy of latest director list and proof of registered office address Any additional filings or affidavits the local authority requests
Public Limited Company	Certificate of Incorporation MOA / AOA Company PAN and CIN Director IDs and address proofs Photo and proof of business premises Authorisation letter or board resolution for application Passport photo and signature of authorised signatory Self declaration and commencement details	All documents listed for Form-G Comprehensive employee list, roles and statutory particulars Board resolution and authorized signatory documents Copies of recent compliance filings if requested by Facilitator
Co-operative Society	Registration certificate of the co-operative society Bye laws or constitution copy PAN of society ID and address proofs (Aadhaar/PAN) of authorised office bearer Photo of establishment and proof of address Authorisation letter / resolution from society Self declaration and commencement details	All documents listed for Form-G List of employees / staff details Resolution authorising signatory for registration Any society-specific statutory proofs if requested
Trust	Registered Trust Deed / Registration Certificate PAN of Trust ID and address proofs of trustees (Aadhaar, PAN) Photo of establishment and proof of address Authorisation letter naming authorised trustee or signatory Passport photo and signature of authorised signatory Self declaration and commencement details	All documents listed for Form-G List of employees and their details Resolution of trustees authorising the applicant Any additional documents required by the Facilitator for registered trusts

These documents are also used for gumasta registration and gumasta license online applications.

Benefits of Shop Act Licence

Whether you get Form-G or Form-B, your shop act licence offers several advantages:

Official recognition of your business
Easy bank account opening (depends on bank)
Smooth hiring and payroll compliance
Access to government benefits and schemes
Fulfillment of mandatory state regulations
Strong business credibility with clients and suppliers

Many businesses also require a shop and establishment license to apply for GST, MSME certification, FSSAI, and other approvals.

How to Apply for Shop Act Licence Online

Applying for a shop act licence online is simple. The steps include:

Create your login on the state portal
Choose Form-F or Form-A depending on your workforce
Fill in establishment details
Upload documents
Pay the required fee
Download Form-G or Form-B once approved

Every step is completed digitally, which makes gumasta license online applications fast and efficient.

When to Upgrade From Form-G to Form-B

If your business grows and your workforce reaches ten or more employees, you must apply for the full shop act registration immediately. Form-G will no longer be valid, and you must obtain your Form-B licence.

Note: Additional information or supporting documents may be requested by the competent authority during verification if required.