Gumasta licence refers to a mandatory registration as per the Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act 1948, for anyone who wants to open a shop in Maharashtra. According to the Shops and Establishment Act of Maharashtra, every person associated with a formal business must obtain this licence to continue smooth operations. The Municipal Corporation of Mumbai administers this licence.

Are you curious to know more about Gumasta registration? Find out all about it in this article.

The main objective of a Gumasta licence is to keep track of businesses and their legal attributes in Maharashtra. It provides authority to individuals for doing business in this city. A business must be recognised by the Government or Bank, whether owned by an individual or more than one partner.

The following key aspects of businesses are included in this licence.

• Opening and closing times of a company
• Working hours
• Weekly off-days
• Leave policies
• Wages during holidays
• Meal breaks
• Record maintenance
• Dismissal policies

Here are the key features of the Gumasta licence.

• This licence is proof of established business as a legal entity in Maharashtra.
• The Government of India issued this licence. It comes under Section 6 (1) of the Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act, 2017.
• Obtaining this licence is mandatory for business owners. It makes them eligible for tax subsidies in Maharashtra.
• Business owners cannot obtain their GST registration in Maharashtra without having this licence.
• Registering under this act within 60 days of establishing a business is compulsory.
• This licence will be valid for 1 to 5 years since registration. Once this period is over, a licensee will have to renew this licence.

Any general entrepreneurs, business owners, self-employed professionals, public and private corporations are eligible for this licence. The corporations can be sole proprietorships, partnerships, and LLPs. Those business owners who intend to build the following establishments must obtain this licence.

• Physical stores
• Hotels and restaurants
• Commercial venues

Thus, any business, with or without employees, will be eligible for getting a Gumasta licence. They must secure it within 60 days of starting the business.

Now that you know the purpose of this licence, you must be wondering how to apply for a Gumasta licence. The following steps will be beneficial for you.

Step 1: Visit the official website of the Licence Management System of the Indian Government. Go to the "Create Employer User Account" section and start creating a new account by entering your details, such as your email ID and password.

Step 2: After creating an account, log in with your credentials. Now, click on the “Shops and Establishment Registration tab on the left side of the page.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Registration Form A’ option. It will redirect you to an online application form.

Step 4: Fill out this form with all your details. Upload the required documents and submit them.

Step 5: Pay the registration fee. You will receive an email from the concerned department containing the Registration Certificate.

Once you submit your application form, you must wait for the authorities to inspect your details. During this period, you can check the status of your Gumasta licence by logging in to your account on the Licence Management System website with your credentials. You will find the option for status on the right side of the page. This status is likely to show “under scrutiny”.

If you are planning to download the Gumasta licence, its process is quite simple. The following steps will help you here.

Step 1: Visit the official website of the Licence Management System. Log in with your credentials. 

Step 2: Click on the ‘Download Registration Certificate’ option on the right side of your screen. Download the PDF form of this licence on your device.

Step 3: Get a printout of this licence and store it for future use.

The following establishments are exempted from acquiring registration under the Shops and Establishment Act registration.

• Offices that come under Central, State and local governments
• Services like water transport, railway, telegraph, telephone, etc.
• Offices under the Food Corporate of India (FCI)
• Railway dining cars
• Establishments for the healthcare of the sick and mentally unfit citizens
• Offices of a banking company

The following categories come under a Gumasta licence in Maharashtra.

• Retail shops
• Wholesale shops
• Restaurants and eateries
• Residential hotels
• Business premises from where an owner offers services to customers
• Public amusement parks, theatres, or entertainment zones
• Warehouses, store-rooms, and go-downs

Thus, as you can see, completing Gumasta registration is quite simple. This process will help you obtain a Gumasta licence, giving you the authority to run a business in Maharashtra. You must download and store this licence for future use.