Associated Consultants

What Associated Consultants does

Associated Consultants is a privately held, founder-led B2B regulatory advisory firm headquartered in New Delhi, India, established in 1989 by CEO Manjit Singh. The firm specializes in helping Indian manufacturers, exporters, and multinational corporations navigate India's foreign trade and industrial licensing regime. Its core service lines cover DGFT-related authorizations including Advance Authorisations, EPCG licences, Chapter-3 Duty Scrips, IEC number allotment, and import/export licensing for restricted items, as well as deemed-export benefits, project imports at concessional duty, non-ODS technology imports at zero duty, essentiality certificates, duty drawback claims, patent and trademark registration, drug approvals, and technical collaboration arrangements.

The business operates on a professional-services revenue model: fees are quoted on a per-engagement basis through "Get Best Quote" enquiry forms, with no published rate cards or subscription tiers. Distribution is direct, via website enquiry, phone (+91-9810119886), email, and WhatsApp, targeting enterprise clients. The firm's competitive position rests on three decades of established personal liaison with multiple central ministries (DGFT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, RBI, Ministry of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Environment & Forests) and a roster of 45+ named clients including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NEC Corporation, LG Electronics India, Schneider Electric India, Honeywell International, Delphi Automotive, Olympus India, and Avery Dennison India.

Operationally, the firm is a small boutique with fewer than 20 employees and reported annual turnover in the range of Rs. 0.5 to 2.5 Crore (roughly USD 60,000 to 300,000). There is no external funding, no proprietary technology platform, no disclosed M&A activity, and no signs of geographic expansion beyond India. The consultancy markets itself through an educational blog, Twitter, and Facebook handles, but its primary customer-acquisition channel remains direct outreach and referrals from existing enterprise clients.

Name

Associated Consultants

Legal name

Associated Consultants

Website

https://associatconsultant.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Associated Consultants is a New Delhi-based, founder-led regulatory advisory firm founded in 1989 that helps Indian manufacturers, exporters, and MNCs obtain DGFT import/export licenses, EPCG authorizations, duty scrips, and related government approvals. The 45+ client roster spans automotive, electronics, and industrial sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services Revenue: The company generates revenue by providing professional consulting services for import/export licensing, industrial licensing, duty scrips, patent registration, and government liaison services. Services are rendered to manufacturers, exporters, and businesses requiring DGFT licenses and related government approvals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Associated Consultants is a New Delhi-based trade compliance consultancy that procures DGFT licenses and approvals on behalf of manufacturers, exporters, and multinational corporations in India. Core services include export licensing, import licensing, deemed export benefits, advance authorizations, EPCG licensing, Chapter-3 duty scrips (FPS/FMS/VKGUY/SHIS), project imports at concessional duty, non-ODS technology imports at zero duty, IEC allotment, duty drawback, essentiality certificates, and patent registration. Delivery is anchored by direct liaison with multiple central ministries and the Reserve Bank of India.

Product overview

Associated Consultants is a consulting services firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of DGFT licensing and regulatory compliance services from its New Delhi base. The company's service offering is organized as a unified consultancy practice with multiple specialized service lines that collectively address the full spectrum of India's foreign trade regulations. The core portfolio comprises Export Licensing Services, Import Licensing Services, Deemed Exports Service, and Imports of Capital Goods Services (including Import of Non-ODS Technology at Zero Duty and Project Imports at Concessional Duty). Supporting services include Advance Licensing Services, EPCG Licensing Services, Chapter-3 Duty Scrips, IEC Number Allotment, Duty Drawback, Essentiality Certificates, Patent Registration Services, Drug Approval Services, and Technical Collaboration Services. The company operates primarily as a B2B consulting service, assisting clients in navigating government offices including DGFT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, RBI, and various administrative ministries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Export Licensing Services Consultancy service that assists exporters in obtaining government-issued export licenses, recognition as an Export House or Star Export House, Terminal Excise Duty refunds on deemed export supplies, and the fixation of Standard Input Output Norms. Target buyers are Indian exporters and merchant exporters.
• Import Licensing Services Consultancy service facilitating import license procurement for importers, including modification and fixation of input-output norms for Advance Authorizations, Duty Free Import Authorization, and import of restricted items. Target buyers are importers and manufacturers in India.
• Deemed Exports Service Service covering transactions where goods are supplied for export but remain in India with payment received in foreign exchange or Indian Rupees, including eligibility for Advance Authorization, exemption from Terminal Excise Duty, and Deemed Export Drawback. Target buyers are Indian manufacturers supplying to domestic projects with deemed export status.
• Import of Non-ODS Technology at Zero Duty Consultancy service assisting industrialists in obtaining exemption from Customs and Excise duty for goods required to establish new industries, including obtaining Essentiality Certificate from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Target buyers are industrial promoters setting up new units.
• Project Imports at Concessional Duty Consultancy service enabling industrial units to import capital goods at 5% duty without export obligation for initial setup or substantial expansion of 25% in installed capacity, including assistance in obtaining the Essentiality Certificate from the Administrative Ministry. Target buyers are industrial units commissioning new capacity or 25%+ brownfield expansions.
• Advance Licensing Services Consultancy service for obtaining Advance Authorizations from DGFT for duty-free import of raw materials, components, and packing materials for export production under the Duty Exemption Scheme. Target buyers are exporters and merchant exporters.
• EPCG Licensing Services Consultancy for the Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme enabling import of capital goods at preferential duty rates, including 0% duty for certain sectors and 3% duty for service providers. Target buyers are manufacturers and service providers importing capital equipment.
• IEC Number Allotment Service Service for obtaining Importer Exporter Code (IEC), mandatory for carrying out international trade in India as per Ministry of Commerce requirements. Target buyers are businesses entering import/export for the first time.
• Patent Registration Service Service assisting inventors in obtaining exclusive rights for their ideas, products, or services under the Indian Patent Act, including patent drafting, filing, prosecution, and litigation support. Target buyers are inventors, startups, and companies seeking IP protection in India.
• Essentiality Certificate for Import Service obtaining Essentiality Certificates from relevant Administrative Ministries for import of capital goods under project imports and non-ODS technology. Target buyers are industrial units setting up new projects or expanding capacity.

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Grant Thornton Bharat: Grant Thornton Bharat's tax and trade advisory serves Indian manufacturers and exporters with licensing, compliance, and regulatory support, partially overlapping with Associated Consultants' target clientele in India.
• Crowe India: Crowe India's tax and regulatory practice supports manufacturers and exporters on licensing and compliance matters in India, addressing overlapping client segments in trade and licensing advisory.
• RSM India: RSM India's consulting practice includes tax and trade compliance support for medium-sized Indian manufacturers and exporters, with service lines partially overlapping with Associated Consultants' trade licensing portfolio.
• BDO India: BDO India's indirect tax and trade practice supports exporters and importers on DGFT licensing, customs, and regulatory compliance for mid-market and enterprise clients across India, competing in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Anand and Anand: Anand and Anand is a leading Indian intellectual property and patent firm offering patent drafting, filing, and prosecution services that directly overlap with Associated Consultants' Patent Registration Service line.
• LexOrbis: LexOrbis is an India-focused IP and patent firm providing patent registration and prosecution services, competing directly with Associated Consultants in its Patent and Trademark Registration Service offering.

Broad incumbents

• EY Global Trade: EY's Global Trade practice provides indirect tax, customs, and trade advisory services to MNCs and large manufacturers, directly competing for the same import/export licensing and customs optimisation work that Associated Consultants serves in India.
• Deloitte Global Trade Advisory: Deloitte's Global Trade Advisory Services practice handles trade strategy, customs compliance, and export licensing for large multinationals, positioning it as a broad incumbent competitor in the same compliance advisory space.
• PwC Trade and Customs: PwC's global trade and customs team supports importers, exporters, and manufacturers with licensing, customs planning, and compliance transformation work that overlaps directly with Associated Consultants' service lines.
• KPMG Trade & Customs Services: KPMG's global Trade & Customs practice offers end-to-end trade compliance, licensing, and advisory services to manufacturers and exporters worldwide, including a sizeable India practice targeting enterprise clients similar to those served by Associated Consultants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Associatconsult
• Facebookfacebook.com/ascon89
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associated-consultant

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Associated Consultants