GCC Setup Cost in India 2026.
One-time and ongoing, by team size.
What you pay once to set up your GCC
These costs happen once, in the first 3-6 months. They are largely independent of team size.
| Cost component | Estimate (USD) | Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entity registration (Pvt Ltd) | ~$1,000 | Weeks 3-10 | MOA/AOA, RoC filing, PAN, TAN, GST, bank account |
| Legal and compliance setup | ~$5,000 | Weeks 1-8 | Employment law review, IP agreements, POSH policy, NDA templates |
| Office deposit (50-person team) | ~$20,000 | Weeks 4-10 | Security deposit for managed office in tech park. Refundable on exit. |
| IT infrastructure | ~$5,000 | Weeks 6-12 | Firewall, networking, security tools, initial SaaS licences. Laptops are per-employee overhead cost. |
| Total one-time setup | ~$31,000 | Months 1-5 | GCC Nexus manages all of the above in parallel. No recruitment setup fees. |
Based on GCC Nexus client engagements 2024-25. Office costs vary significantly by city - Bangalore highest, Pune lowest (~30% less).
Annual GCC operating cost - by team size
Engineering salaries are the primary cost. Operating overhead = 20% of salary (payroll processing, PF, gratuity, statutory compliance, HR). Laptops = $2,000 per employee one-time on hire. Senior engineer mix assumed at top 25% bracket.
| Cost component | India (20 engineers) | US (20 engineers) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering salaries (top 25% blend) | $700,000-$980,000 | $2,600,000-$3,700,000 |
| Operating overhead - 20% of salary Payroll processing, PF, gratuity, statutory compliance, HR admin | $140,000-$196,000 | $520,000-$740,000 |
| Group health insurance - $300 per employee/year | $6,000 | $300,000-$500,000 |
| Laptops - $2,000 per employee (one-time on hire) | $40,000 | $60,000-$80,000 |
| Office workspace (annual rent, managed office) | $60,000-$100,000 | $200,000-$400,000 |
| Total year-one cost (20 engineers) | $946,000-$1,322,000 | $3,680,000-$5,420,000 |
| Annual saving vs US | $2.7M-$4.4M saved per year | |
India salary figures from GCC Nexus salary engine (senior level, top 25%, ₹90:$1). Operating overhead of 20% covers PF, gratuity, ESIC, statutory compliance and HR admin. Group health insurance at $300 per employee per year. Laptops at $2,000 per employee one-time. US figures from Glassdoor USA and Levels.fyi 2025. Mix assumed: 70% senior, 30% mid-level.
How city choice affects your GCC cost
Same role, same quality - different cities. Engineering talent cost vs Bangalore = 100.
| City | Cost index | Senior engineer salary range | Office cost/desk/month | Best engineering roles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | 100 (benchmark) | $39-55K/yr top 25% | $250-$450 | AI/ML, product, deep tech |
| Hyderabad | 85-88 | $33-47K/yr top 25% | $180-$320 | Data, cloud, BFSI |
| Pune | 80-82 | $31-44K/yr top 25% | $150-$280 | Fintech, enterprise backend |
| Chennai | 76-78 | $30-42K/yr top 25% | $130-$250 | Infrastructure, QA |
GCC setup cost - common questions
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Get a custom GCC cost estimate
Tell us your team size, role mix and city preference. GCC Nexus will model your exact year-one cost.