Why This Setup Step Matters So Much

Think of creating a company in Tally like opening a new notebook for your shop. Everything you record later — sales, purchases, expenses, GST — goes inside this one file. If you enter the wrong financial year or a misspelled business name, your reports will be off. Many shop owners in cities like Pune or Srinagar rush through this step and then spend hours fixing it later. Take five minutes to do it right the first time. It saves you a big headache during tax season.

Downloading and Installing Tally ERP 9

Go to the official Tally website at tallysolutions.com and download Tally ERP 9 or Tally Prime. The installer file is about 60 to 70 MB, so even a basic JioFiber or Airtel broadband connection handles it quickly. Run the downloaded file, click Next a few times, and Tally installs itself. No complicated settings needed. Once installed, you will see the Tally gateway screen open automatically. If you are just practicing, choose the educational mode. It is completely free and has no time limit.

Understanding the Company Info Screen

When Tally opens, the first screen you see is called the Gateway of Tally. Press Alt+F3 and a small menu appears. This is your Company Info area. From here you can create a new company, alter an existing one, or shut a company. Think of shutting a company like closing a notebook — the data stays safe, you just stop working in it for now. For a dhaba owner or a medical shop owner, you will mostly just use Create Company here during your first-ever setup.

Filling In Your Company Details Correctly

Tally asks for your company name, mailing address, country, state, PIN code, and financial year beginning. For Indian businesses, the financial year almost always starts on 1 April. Enter your GST number in the statutory details section if you are registered. Double-check your state selection because it affects your GST reports directly. A salon in Kochi should select Kerala, not Karnataka. Small mistake, big confusion later. The currency is automatically set to Indian Rupees, so you do not need to change that.

Saving and Opening Your New Company

Once you fill in all the details, press Ctrl+A to accept and save. Tally will immediately open your new company and take you to the Gateway of Tally screen. You will see your company name at the top. That means it worked. From this point, you can start creating ledgers, recording sales, or setting up GST. Your company data is saved as a file on your computer. Back it up regularly on a pen drive or Google Drive — just like you would keep a copy of important bills.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1
   Download and Install Tally ERP 9 Visit tallysolutions.com, download the installer for Tally ERP 9 or Tally Prime. Run it and follow the prompts. Takes about five minutes. Choose educational mode if you are practicing without a paid licence.
2. 2
   Open Tally and Go to Company Info Launch Tally from your desktop. On the Gateway of Tally screen, press Alt+F3. A small menu opens. Select Create Company by pressing Enter. This is where your setup begins.
3. 3
   Enter Your Business Name and Address Type your shop or business name exactly as it appears on your GST certificate. Add your address, city, state, and PIN code. This information appears on your invoices and reports, so spelling matters.
4. 4
   Set the Financial Year Start Date Enter 1 April as your financial year beginning. This is standard for almost all Indian businesses. Tally will automatically set the books closing date as 31 March of the following year.
5. 5
   Add Your GST and Statutory Details If you are GST registered, enter your GSTIN here. Select your correct state from the dropdown list. This step is important — getting your state wrong will mess up your CGST and SGST calculations later.
6. 6
   Save and Start Using Your Company Press Ctrl+A to save all details. Tally opens your new company instantly. You will see your business name at the top of the screen. Your accounting workspace is now ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions