Startup Advisory Services
Guidance on funding, compliance and growth, from the first structure decision to your first funding round and beyond.
Often used by startup founders.
The problem, in plain English
Most startup finance problems are created in the first few months, long before they hurt. A founder takes shares without vesting. A friend’s investment goes in as an unsecured loan. Books are kept in a spreadsheet. None of it matters until an investor’s lawyer asks.
We help founders make these early decisions properly, and keep the paperwork clean as the company grows, so a funding round is a matter of weeks, not months.
Some rules change often, such as the tax treatment of share premium and the reporting deadlines for foreign investment. We check the current position for every round.
Our co-founder Shashikumar S leads our startup funding and corporate finance work.
Who this is for
- First-time founders setting up a company
- Startups preparing for an angel or seed round
- Founders who want to set up an ESOP pool
- Startups that want DPIIT recognition and its benefits
What we do
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Get the foundations right
We advise on the entity, founder shareholding, vesting and the founders' agreement, before they become expensive to change.
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Set up clean books and compliance
We set up accounting, GST and the yearly company filings, so your records stand up to an investor's due diligence.
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Prepare for the round
We help with the financial model, valuation support, the cap table and the data room investors will ask for.
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Close the round correctly
We handle the share allotment filings and, for foreign investment, the reporting needed under the foreign exchange rules.
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Report to investors
After the round, we help you send clear monthly or quarterly reports, and keep board and shareholder compliance on time.
Documents you will need
- Certificate of incorporation and founding documents
- Current cap table and any agreements with investors
- Financial statements or management accounts
- Business plan or pitch deck
- Details of any ESOP plan, existing or planned
Typical timeline
Advisory is ongoing. Round-specific work usually takes two to six weeks, depending on the investor's process.
Fees depend on the work involved. We give you a clear quote before we start.
Questions we are often asked
When should a startup hire a chartered accountant?
Before incorporation if possible. Decisions about structure, founder equity and the first accounts are cheap to get right at the start and expensive to fix during due diligence.
Do I need a valuation report to raise money?
Usually yes. Issuing shares generally needs a valuation from a qualified valuer, for company law, tax and, where relevant, foreign exchange rules. We coordinate it and explain the result.
What is an ESOP and how is it taxed?
An employee stock option plan lets employees buy shares at a fixed price in future. Tax usually arises when options are exercised and again when shares are sold. We help you design the plan and explain the tax to your team.
What do investors check in due diligence?
Clean books, filed returns, correct share records, board approvals, and agreements with founders and key employees. We run a check before investors do.
We have a foreign investor. What extra compliance applies?
Foreign investment needs reporting to the Reserve Bank of India through your bank, within fixed deadlines, and pricing must follow the rules. We handle this as part of closing the round.
Talk to a partner about Startup Advisory Services
Tell us where you are today. We will explain what is involved, what it will cost and how long it will take.
15+ years in practice · Three partners · Read our Google reviews
From company incorporation to handling complex secretarial matters, Texca's support has been flawless. I truly value their professionalism and clarity.
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