Strategic Advisory Services

Value Added Advisory

Beyond individual registrations and filings, some business needs call for continuous advisory relationships — an annual retainer that keeps you audit-ready, a compliance health check before a fundraise, or due diligence before you acquire another business.

Retainer, Governance & Compliance Advisory

4 Services

Annual Retainership (CS + CA)

Get year-round CS and CA support under one retainer, covering compliance, filings, and advisory as they come up.

Corporate Governance Advisory

Strengthen your board processes, policies, and governance structure to meet stakeholder and regulatory expectations.

Compliance Health Check

Get a full compliance audit of your company to spot gaps before an investor, auditor, or regulator does.

Audit Trail Services

Set up MCA-mandated audit trail software compliance for your accounting system, correctly configured from day one.

Specialized Business Advisory

4 Services

Business Setup Advisory

Get end-to-end advisory on structuring and launching your new business — the right entity, licenses, and sequencing.

FinTech Consultation

Get regulatory advisory for your fintech product, covering RBI applicability, licensing, and compliant structuring.

Labour Law Advisory

Stay compliant on PF, ESI, and state labour law obligations as your headcount and locations grow.

Govt Liaisoning Services

Get hands-on support navigating government departments for approvals, licenses, and regulatory follow-ups.

Transactions & Due Diligence

1 Service

Due Diligence (Business Acquisition)

Get financial, legal, and compliance due diligence done on a business you're acquiring, before you commit.

Understanding business advisory and compliance support

What this section covers

Business advisory covers the work that sits between routine filings and formal legal proceedings: checking where a business stands, planning a structure, and keeping records in a form that regulators and investors can rely on. The services in this section include due diligence, compliance health checks, corporate governance reviews, audit trail readiness, labour law compliance, business setup planning, fintech consultation, government liaisoning, recovery of shares and ongoing retainership support.

Much of this work rests on a few core laws. The Companies Act, 2013 and its Rules set out board processes, registers and annual filings. Rule 3(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 requires companies using accounting software to use software that records an audit trail of each change, and auditors report on this under the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014. The four Labour Codes, brought into force in November 2025, replaced most earlier central labour laws, with State rules still being notified. Unclaimed shares and dividends transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund under Section 124 of the Companies Act are claimed back through Form IEPF-5 under the IEPF Authority Rules, 2016.

Expertvuw assists with documentation, review and coordination. Certification, audit and representation before authorities are handled by independent practising professionals where the law requires, and approvals rest with the authority concerned.

Who needs these services

Founders starting out who need to choose between a company, LLP or other form and understand the registrations that follow.
Growing private companies that have missed filings, lack updated statutory registers or are preparing for investment or a bank loan.
Investors and acquirers who want a structured review of a target’s legal, financial and regulatory position before signing.
Employers adjusting wage structures, registrations and records to the Labour Codes.
Fintech and lending businesses working out whether an activity needs RBI or other regulatory approval.
Shareholders and legal heirs whose shares or dividends have been transferred to the IEPF or are held in old physical certificates.

How to choose between the services

Start with the question you are trying to answer.

If you are not sure what is pending, a compliance health check is generally the first step; it lists gaps so that later work is scoped properly.
If you are buying, investing in or merging with another business, due diligence focuses on the target rather than on your own records.
If the board and shareholders need clearer processes, policies and committee structures, corporate governance is the better fit; if the concern is specifically the accounting software log, choose audit trail.
If your questions relate to employees, wages, PF, ESI or shops and establishments registration under the Labour Codes, go to labour law.
If you are still deciding on the entity or location, use business setup; if the model involves lending, payments or digital credit, fintech consultation helps map the regulatory route first.
If you need follow-up with a department on a pending application, government liaisoning covers correspondence and coordination; it does not influence the authority’s decision.
If shares or dividends have gone to the IEPF or are unclaimed with a company, recovery of shares applies.
If you want continuing support across the year rather than a single task, retainership bundles periodic reviews and reminders.

All services in this section

Frequently asked questions

What is a compliance health check for a private company?

It is a structured review of a company’s filings, statutory registers, board and shareholder minutes, registrations and licences against what the Companies Act, 2013 and other applicable laws require. The output is typically a list of gaps and suggested corrective steps. It does not certify compliance; where a certificate is needed, such as a secretarial audit report, it is issued by a practising professional.

Is audit trail mandatory for all companies using accounting software?

Rule 3(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 requires every company that maintains its books in electronic form to use accounting software with a feature recording an audit trail of each transaction and change, which cannot be disabled. This has applied from the financial year starting 1 April 2023. The statutory auditor comments on it in the audit report. Companies should check that their software version and settings meet the requirement.

How do I claim shares transferred to the IEPF?

Shares and dividends transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund under Section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013 can be claimed by filing Form IEPF-5 online, followed by sending the required documents to the company for verification. The company verifies the claim and reports to the IEPF Authority, which decides the refund. Legal heirs usually need succession documents. Processing times vary case to case.

What changed for employers under the new Labour Codes?

The Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Code on Social Security and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code came into force in November 2025, replacing most earlier central labour laws. Changes include a common definition of wages, revised registration and return processes and wider social security coverage. Several provisions depend on Central and State rules, so employers should check the latest notified rules for their State.

What does due diligence usually include?

Due diligence generally covers corporate records and shareholding, material contracts, statutory filings, tax positions, licences, litigation, employment matters and, where relevant, regulatory approvals. The scope depends on the size of the transaction and the sector. Findings are used to negotiate terms, indemnities or conditions before closing. Financial and tax portions are often reviewed by chartered accountants, and legal opinions are given by advocates.