🇬🇧 🇮🇳  The India–UK CETA is now in force — May 2026. What it means for your business →
India · UK · Corridor advisory

The India–UK corridor.
We know both sides.

Helping UK businesses unlock India's £3.5 trillion economy.

Helping Indian businesses establish and grow in the UK.

Corridor Advisory → Finance Support →
Or book a free 30-min discovery call →
●  CETA Signed: 24 July 2025 ●  In Force: May 2026 ●  99% Tariff-Free Access ●  £38bn Procurement Market Open ●  Registered in England & Wales · Company No. [YOUR-CO-NO] ●  Birmingham & Mumbai
India–UK CETA · In Force May 2026

The biggest trade opportunity between the UK and India in a generation.

The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement was signed at Chequers on 24 July 2025 — during Prime Minister Modi's historic visit to the UK — and came into force in May 2026. It is the UK's largest trade deal since Brexit and eliminates or reduces tariffs on the vast majority of goods traded between the two countries.

For UK businesses, average tariffs on goods entering India drop from 15% to just 3%. For Indian businesses, 99% of exports to the UK now enter duty-free. Both sides gain new access to services, procurement, and investment that was previously unavailable.

Two business professionals shaking hands at a meeting
99%
of Indian exports enter UK duty-free
90%
of UK tariff lines reduced in India
£1.9bn
UK exports eligible for day-one tariff-free India access
£38bn
Indian government procurement now open to UK firms
£25.5bn
additional bilateral trade unlocked by the CETA
£4.8bn
added to UK GDP every year

Key opportunities by sector

Tech & AI

UK tech and AI firms gain preferential access to India's fast-growing digital economy and 5 million-strong engineering talent base.

Manufacturing

UK-made goods — including automotive and engineering components — see significant tariff reductions into India over five years.

Food & Drink

Scotch whisky tariffs halved immediately from 150% to 75%, dropping to 40% by year ten. Chocolates, biscuits, and cosmetics also benefit.

Professional Services

Easier temporary business travel for IT, engineering, architecture, and professional services firms operating across both markets.

Automotive

UK cars entering India reduced from 110% duty to 10% over five years under a quota system being progressively liberalised.

Textiles & Retail

Indian textiles and clothing enter the UK duty-free — a major opportunity for UK businesses sourcing from India.

The CETA also includes a Double Contribution Convention — Indian professionals working temporarily in the UK are exempt from UK National Insurance contributions, reducing employment costs for cross-border teams.

Book a Free FTA Discovery Call → Download our free FTA Guide →
£25.5bn
Additional trade unlocked annually by the India–UK CETA.
5th
Largest economy in the world. India, projected for 2030.
99%
Of tariffs eliminated under the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
What we do

Two ways we can help.

From market entry and land acquisition to FDI structuring, government schemes, and project finance — we cover the full journey. Pick your starting point below, or explore our end-to-end project service.

01 / Advisory

Trade & Market Entry Advisory

For UK businesses entering India, Indian businesses establishing in the UK, and end-to-end corridor projects including land acquisition, FDI structuring, government schemes, and project finance.

Explore Corridor Advisory → 02 / Finance

Finance & Business Support

Monthly finance management, bookkeeping, management accounts, VAT, and business support — built for businesses operating across the corridor.

Explore Finance Support →

Whether you are expanding across the corridor or managing your finances across it — we have both covered.

Corridor Advisory

End-to-end advisory, both sides of the corridor.

From market entry and entity setup to land acquisition, FDI structuring, government scheme navigation, and project financing — we manage the entire journey. One team. Birmingham and Pune. Present on both sides from day one.

Enter India with a clear strategy and a team on the ground.

India is the world's fastest-growing major economy — 6.5% annual GDP growth, 1.4 billion consumers, and a thriving innovation ecosystem. The right corridor, city, entry structure, and government scheme can transform your India opportunity. We guide you through every step.

India Market Entry Sprint

A focused two-week engagement: market assessment, corridor selection, entry route options, competitor landscape, and a clear action plan ready to execute.

CETA OpportunityUK goods now enter India at an average 3% tariff — down from 15%. This is the right moment to build your India entry plan.
£1,500 · 2 weeks

India Entity Setup & Compliance

Guidance on the right structure — branch office, wholly-owned subsidiary, or LLP — plus RBI/FEMA compliance, company registration, and ongoing secretarial support through our India CA partners.

Scoped per engagement

Land & Premises Acquisition

For UK businesses establishing physical operations in India — we advise on location selection, industrial zone options, SEZ benefits, and coordinate the acquisition process through our India network.

End-to-End ServiceFrom site identification to legal coordination and handover — managed with our India-based partners.
Scoped per project

Government Scheme & Grant Navigation

We identify applicable UK and Indian government schemes, PLI incentives, Make in India benefits, DBT grants, and UKEF support — and manage the application process end-to-end.

£500 + success fee

FDI Structuring & Advisory

We advise on optimal FDI routes into India — automatic route, government route, and sector-specific approvals — ensuring your investment structure is compliant, tax-efficient, and future-proof.

Scoped per engagement

UK–India Regulatory Coordination

One point of contact managing both sides — UK compliance, RBI approvals, FEMA returns, transfer pricing, and ongoing India-side secretarial support. You deal with us; we handle both teams.

Retainer-based
Featured programme

Take UK innovation to India.

£3,500 · 4 weeks Tech & AI India Scale Programme

India has five million software engineers. Average tech salaries are 80% lower than the UK. Government AI investment is scaling rapidly. The CETA gives UK tech companies a preferential route into a market that is ready for innovation. We assess the opportunity, select the right city and model, identify partnerships, and build a credible India growth plan.

CETA OpportunityUK tech firms now have access to £38bn of Indian government procurement contracts — open for the first time.
Enquire about the Scale Programme →
India is not one market

Choosing the right corridor changes everything.

Tech & AI

Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune

India's deepest tech ecosystems — engineering, AI/ML, and product talent.

SoftwareSaaSAIEngineeringGCC
Financial Services

Mumbai, GIFT City

India's commercial capital and the new IFSC.

FintechInsuranceAsset Management
Manufacturing & Land

Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad

Industrial corridors with deep engineering DNA and SEZ/PLI benefits.

EngineeringAutoPLI SectorsSEZ
Life Sciences

Hyderabad, Chennai

Pharma and clinical research clusters.

PharmaMedtechClinical Research
Green Energy

Gujarat, Rajasthan

India's renewables heartland — solar, wind, and green hydrogen corridors.

SolarWindHydrogen
Professional Services & FDI

Delhi NCR, Mumbai

The right base for advisory, government-facing activity, and FDI approvals — close to DPIIT and institutional decision-making.

ConsultingFDIGovernmentLegal

The UK is open for Indian business.

The UK offers one of the world's most straightforward environments for company formation, business credibility, and international market access. With the CETA now in force, Indian businesses have improved access to UK markets and a stronger platform for global growth. We help Indian businesses establish, grow, and thrive in the UK — with clarity and no surprises.

UK Company Setup Package

Full Companies House incorporation, registered address, bank account guidance, and HMRC registration. A complete end-to-end setup with one point of contact.

CETA OpportunityIndian businesses with a UK entity can route exports duty-free and access UK public procurement markets.
£750

UK Startup Setup for Indian Founders

For Indian startup founders establishing a UK entity — company formation, bank account support, HMRC setup, scheme identification, and 60 days of onboarding support.

£1,250

UK Premises & Location Advisory

Guidance on the best UK city and premises for your business — from Birmingham's manufacturing base to London's financial services cluster. We connect you with local agents and councils.

£500

UK Government Scheme Navigation

We identify UK grants, DBT programmes, Innovate UK, UKEF export support, and GREAT campaign opportunities relevant to your business and manage the application process.

£500 + success fee

FTA Readiness Audit

A focused review of how the India–UK CETA benefits your specific business — tariff changes, services access, procurement opportunities, and the top three actions to take now.

£500

Business Plan & Funding Preparation

UK-standard business plans for bank applications, investor meetings, grant submissions, and DBT scheme applications. Structured for the UK audience, backed by India-side financials.

£750

Finance Readiness, FDI & Investor Introductions

We structure your funding narrative for the UK market — whether you are raising equity, securing a bank facility, or navigating UKEF support. We facilitate introductions to appropriate lenders, angels, and investor networks. For larger Indian groups, we advise on inbound FDI structuring and UK investment routes.

£500 + introductions
UK Company Setup

A clear path from India to a UK base.

Seven steps from idea to a credible UK presence — managed end-to-end, in plain English, with one point of contact.

  1. 01
    Companies House registration
  2. 02
    Registered address in the UK
  3. 03
    Business bank account support
  4. 04
    HMRC Corporation Tax registration
  5. 05
    Government scheme identification
  6. 06
    Professional email, domain & web presence
  7. 07
    60-day onboarding support

One partner, every stage of the project.

Some engagements go beyond advisory — they require a single trusted partner managing everything from initial feasibility through to operational launch. For complex India–UK projects involving land, capital, government approvals, and cross-border compliance, we act as your project lead from day one.

Project Feasibility & Structure

Market and site feasibility, investment structure, regulatory pathway, and financial modelling — before you commit capital. We give you an honest picture first.

Scoped per project

Land Identification & Acquisition Support

For manufacturing, warehousing, or commercial projects in India — we identify suitable land parcels, industrial zones, and SEZ plots and coordinate due diligence and acquisition through our Pune-based network.

Success-fee based

RBI, FEMA & FDI Approvals

End-to-end management of RBI filings, FEMA compliance, DPIIT FDI approvals, and ongoing annual reporting — handled by our India CA team with UK oversight from AB Advisory.

Retainer-based

Government Incentive Maximisation

We map all applicable incentives — PLI schemes, state industrial subsidies, SEZ tax benefits, UK UKEF cover, DBT grants — and build a maximisation plan into your project structure from the start.

£750 + success fee

Project Finance & Capital Raising

Business plan, financial model, and investor documentation preparation — plus facilitated introductions to UK and Indian lenders, development finance institutions, and equity networks.

Scoped per engagement

M&A & Business Acquisition Advisory

We identify acquisition targets on both sides of the corridor — UK businesses for Indian buyers, and Indian assets for UK acquirers — and manage the advisory process through to completion.

Success-fee based
Full-service engagement

Full corridor project management.

Scoped per project India–UK End-to-End Programme

For businesses that want one trusted partner managing the entire India–UK project — from feasibility and land through to entity setup, FDI approvals, government schemes, finance, and operational launch. We coordinate every workstream, both sides, so you can focus on the business.

Why AB AdvisoryOur team is present in Birmingham and Pune. We do not subcontract the India side — it is our team, our relationships, our accountability.
Discuss your project →
Finance & Business Support

Your finance function, supported by professionals who understand both countries.

We provide monthly finance management, bookkeeping, management reporting, VAT, and business support for growing businesses — built around the realities of operating across the UK–India corridor.

UK-standard work

Every engagement follows UK accounting standards, HMRC requirements, and Making Tax Digital compliance.

Corridor-fluent team

Our team understands Indian business structures, inter-company transactions, and cross-border accounting — not just UK-domestic books.

Single point of contact

You deal with one person in Birmingham. Everything else is handled.

What's included in your finance support.

01

Monthly Finance Management

Bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, and transaction management — closed by the 5th of each month, every month.

02

Management Accounts

Monthly P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow reporting with plain-English commentary.

03

VAT Compliance Support

MTD-compliant VAT return preparation, review, and filing support — quarterly.

04

Payroll Processing

Full PAYE payroll, RTI submissions, payslips, and pension compliance support.

05

Accounts Payable & Receivable

Day-to-day AP/AR management, supplier payments, and credit control support.

06

Year-End Preparation

Books prepared and reconciled to trial balance, ready for your accountant or auditor to finalise.

07

Fractional Finance Manager

A senior finance professional available part-time — reporting, forecasting, investor-ready analysis, and strategic financial input.

08

Business Plan Preparation

UK-standard business plans — for bank applications, investor conversations, grant submissions, and funding readiness.

09

System Setup & Migration

Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent setup, migration, and training.

Platforms we work on Xero QuickBooks Sage FreeAgent Dext Hubdoc AutoEntry

How it works.

01

Discovery call

We understand your business and current setup.

02

Onboarding

We connect to your accounting software and review the books.

03

Monthly rhythm

Delivered by the 5th of each month, reviewed together.

04

Quarterly review

We walk through the numbers and look ahead.

Plans built for growing businesses.

Essentials

Get the basics right.

From £199/month

  • Monthly bookkeeping
  • Bank reconciliation
  • VAT support
Growth

Visibility for decisions.

From £399/month

  • Everything in Essentials
  • Management accounts
  • Payroll
Finance Partner

A senior hand on the numbers.

From £799/month

  • Everything in Growth
  • Fractional finance manager
  • KPI reporting
Corridor Complete

Finance + UK–India strategy, in one.

From £1,199/month

  • Everything in Finance Partner
  • Corridor Advisory retainer included
  • The only plan that bundles finance with UK–India strategy
Most integrated

All plans include onboarding, a dedicated contact, and a monthly review call.

About

Built for real cross-border execution.

Most India–UK advisory firms sit in one country and advise on the other. AB Business Advisory is different. Our team is present in both Birmingham and Mumbai — which means when a client needs India-side support at 9am UK time, someone is already in the office.

We launched in May 2026 — the same month the India–UK CETA came into force — because we saw a real gap: businesses on both sides of the corridor had genuine opportunity but lacked a practical, trusted partner who truly understood both markets.

We are not a large firm. We are a boutique team that cares about execution. We combine strategic advisory, end-to-end project management, finance support, and India-side CA expertise — because our clients need one partner who can handle everything, not four separate relationships.

AB Business Advisory. The India–UK corridor. We know both sides.

Birmingham, United Kingdom skyline Birmingham · UK
Mumbai Marine Drive, India Mumbai · India
Credentials
  • Registered in England & Wales · Company No. [YOUR-CO-NO]
  • Offices in Birmingham, UK and Mumbai, India
  • India–UK CETA advisory since launch, May 2026
  • Accounting support team with UK and India qualification
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance held
Standards
  • MTD-compliant finance support
  • GDPR-compliant data handling
  • NDA available on request
  • Xero, QuickBooks, Sage certified support
  • CII and UKIBC network engagement
Contact

Start with a free 30-minute discovery call.

Tell us what you are exploring and we will point you in the right direction — no obligation, no sales pitch.

Book a call

Pick a 30-minute slot.

UK and India time slots available. We'll come back within one working day.

abbusinessadvisory@yahoo.com Birmingham, United Kingdom Mumbai, India

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