To begin with they rented stores in order to keep goods which the Company wanted to purchase and send to Europe. The first concern of the Company was to get a reduction on custom duties. To secure these concessions, it served their interest to maintain good relations with the Mughal officials and bribe them to avoid payment of taxes.

At Surat, the English factory was known as the Angrezon ki kothi and its first President was Keridge. The second factory was set up by the Company at the city of Bharoch. The goods were either purchased on cash or in exchange of spices which the Company brought from the Far East.

As the English society was feudal, traders had low social status. That's why the Company used the term adventurer instead of trader in its documents to get some respectability. Only the lower classes applied for the post of factors as they did not have any opportunity in their own country to earn a good living. The nobility regarded it below its dignity to accept such a job. Therefore, the structure of the Company was hierarchical and class based.

The president and factors resided within the premise of the factory. Everyone had his separate room, however, they ate and worshipped together. The president was allowed to keep a horse and carriage while the other staff used bullock carts. The president observed all customs and rituals of the Indian aristocracy. He had a large number of local servants whose monthly salary was just one rupee. A number of slaves were also part of the retinue; they were made to dress in white so they could be distinguished from the rest of the staff and were allowed to eat only rice and fish.

The company's documents from 1639 to 1642 provide full information about its servants, their duties, lifestyle and hobbies. For example, the Company made arrangements for worship inside the factory. On Sunday, service was held three times and a priest delivered a sermon. After this, the workers went out to the city for entertainment or for a walk in the garden.

On Friday, the president and his friends gathered for a drink for which the best wine was procured from Shiraz. Tea was not introduced in Europe until 1638 but in India tea was becoming a habit among the workers of the factory.

We also have information about the construction of the English factory at Surat. The Report of 1668 stated that it was built of stones. It contained several rooms for its workers and had separate rooms for dining and worship. It also housed a collection of antiques along with a number of pets. Working hours were from 10 am to 12 am and then from 4 pm to 8 pm.

The president was the head of the administration. He was assisted by a council of eight members. It was required that at least five of them should reside at the Surat factory. The next important post was of the accountant. After him came the in-charge of stores who kept a record of all those goods which were sent to Europe. Another officer, known as mariner Bursar, documented the export and import of goods and paid salaries to the naval staff of the company. Last was the secretary and it was his responsibility to oversee the day to day management. All of the officers were members of the council.

A newly recruited worker was known as an apprentice. After working for a fixed period he was promoted to the post of writer. His salary was 10 pounds annually. After five years he became a factor with an annual salary of 20 pounds. After serving three years, his next promotion was senior factor. After that it was the post of senior merchant; lastly, he was given the assignment to oversee a newly set-up factory.

Except for the accountant and writer half of the salary of the servants was deposited in England as a surety. In case of some wrongdoing or violation of some rule the amount was confiscated by the authorities of the company. Besides this staff, there was a chaplain, doctor and surgeon. A munshi (meaning scribe but here it applied to researcher) was appointed to teach the staff local languages.

In 1698, Ovington, a British traveller, visited the factory and pointed out some changes which had occurred in the past years. According to him the number of local servants had increased. Though their salary was low, they were honest and loyal. All servants of the Company used to eat together and their seats were arranged according to their status. Dinner plates were made of gold and silver.

The British later on fortified the Surat factory and kept armed guards for its defence.