Lekha
How it worksBlogGet started →

Guides for founders and financial leaders.

57 practitioner-written guides covering the top questions Indian founders ask about startup advisory, valuation, and Virtual CFO services.

Startup Advisory

Pvt Ltd vs LLP for Startups in India: Which Structure Should You Choose?

Choosing between Private Limited and LLP for your Indian startup? This guide explains equity, taxation, compli

Read →

Startup Advisory

DPIIT Startup India Recognition: Complete Guide, Benefits and Application Process

How to get DPIIT recognition for your startup in India. Complete guide covering eligibility, the 3-year tax ho

Read →

Startup Advisory

How to Split Equity Between Co-Founders: A Practical Guide for Indian Startups

How should Indian startup co-founders split equity? This guide covers contribution-weighted splits, vesting sc

Read →

Startup Advisory

ESOPs for Indian Startups: Design, Taxation, and Step-by-Step Implementation

Complete guide to ESOPs for Indian startups. Covers ESOP pool size, vesting schedules, exercise price, taxatio

Read →

Startup Advisory

Angel Tax (Section 56(2)(viib)) Explained: What Every Indian Startup Founder Must Know

Angel Tax under Section 56(2)(viib) can tax your startup's funding as income. Understand how it works, who is

Read →

Startup Advisory

Annual Compliance Requirements for Private Limited Companies in India: The Complete Checklist

Complete annual compliance checklist for Indian Private Limited companies. Covers ROC filings, board meetings,

Read →

Startup Advisory

Founders Agreement in India: What to Include and What Most Startups Get Wrong

A founders agreement is the most important document a startup team signs before taking on investors. Here's wh

Read →

Startup Advisory

Fundraising Documents Checklist: What Indian Investors Ask for Before Writing a Cheque

What documents do Indian investors request before investing in a startup? Complete pre-seed, seed, and Series

Read →

Startup Advisory

Cap Table Management for Indian Startups: How to Set Up and Maintain It

How to build and maintain a startup cap table in India. Covers fully diluted shares, ESOPs, convertible notes,

Read →

Startup Advisory

How to Raise Seed Funding in India: A Founder's Practical Guide

Complete guide to raising seed funding in India. Covers seed round size, investor types, how to approach angel

Read →

Startup Advisory

Vesting Schedules and Cliff Periods: How Startup Equity Should Be Structured in India

How should startup equity vest in India? Understand 4-year vesting, the 1-year cliff, acceleration clauses, an

Read →

Startup Advisory

Startup India Scheme: Complete List of Benefits and How to Access Them

Complete guide to Startup India scheme benefits including Section 80-IAC tax holiday, self-certification compl

Read →

Startup Advisory

Term Sheets in Indian Startup Funding: Key Terms Every Founder Must Understand

Understanding startup term sheets in India. Covers valuation, liquidation preference, anti-dilution, pro-rata

Read →

Startup Advisory

Setting Up Accounting for an Indian Startup: Systems, Chart of Accounts and the Right First Steps

How to set up accounting for a new Indian startup. Covers Tally vs Zoho Books vs QuickBooks, chart of accounts

Read →

Startup Advisory

How to Register a Company in India Online: Step-by-Step Guide for Startups

How to register a Private Limited company in India step by step. Covers MCA SPICe+ form, documents required, n

Read →

Startup Advisory

How ESOPs Are Taxed in India: A Complete Guide for Employees and Founders

How are ESOPs taxed in India? Complete guide covering tax at grant, exercise, and sale, TDS obligations, capit

Read →

Startup Advisory

Bootstrapping vs Fundraising: How to Decide What's Right for Your Indian Startup

Should your Indian startup bootstrap or raise venture capital? Honest framework covering business models, foun

Read →

Startup Advisory

IP Assignment in Indian Startups: Why It Matters and How to Get It Right

IP assignment in Indian startups — what it is, why it matters for fundraising, what to include, and common mis

Read →

Startup Advisory

How VC Funding Works in India: Structure, Process and What to Expect at Each Stage

How does venture capital funding work in India? Complete guide covering VC fund structure, AIF regulations, se

Read →

Startup Advisory

Section 80-IAC Tax Holiday: How Indian Startups Can Claim a 3-Year Income Tax Exemption

How Indian startups can claim the 3-year income tax holiday under Section 80-IAC. Covers IMB approval process,

Read →

Startup Advisory

How to Value a Pre-Revenue Startup: Methods That Work When You Have No Numbers

How do you value a startup with no revenue? This guide explains pre-revenue valuation methods used in India in

Read →