For Bengaluru entrepreneur Pritam Kudev, launching a business turned into a bureaucratic maze — with no GST registration even after ten months, attempts in two states, and relentless paperwork.

Kudev’s candid post on LinkedIn struck a nerve:

“It’s too easy to do business in India. — Someone who has never applied for GST!”

His startup Mannlich first applied in West Bengal — a loop of rejection and clarification followed. With no progress, he tried Tamil Nadu. The result? More rejections, despite submitting every document “short of his blood type.”

His experience resonated with other founders. One commenter recalled a friend abandoning their startup dream after repeated GST rejections. “Entrepreneurship died that day,” they wrote. Another pointed out the irony: a broken system not only stifles startups but delays tax revenue for the government itself.

Common pain points plague GST applicants:

  • PAN-Aadhaar mismatches

  • Expired digital signatures

  • Technical issues with the GST portal

  • Unpredictable demands from officers, including physical inspections

Worse still, location matters. Entrepreneurs in smaller towns often face connectivity issues, relying on Seva Kendras or costly consultants.

To steer clear of this mess, experts advise:

  • Ensuring perfect alignment across documents

  • Applying during off-peak portal hours

  • Seeking professional help, especially if you operate across locations

Kudev’s story isn’t rare — it’s a reflection of the hidden grind behind India’s “ease of doing business” facade.