Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is classically divided into early onset sepsis (EOS) and late onset sepsis (LOS) depending upon the time of onset of sepsis. Aims: To determine the differences in bacteriological, demographic and clinical profile between EOS and LOS, if any. Setting and Design: A prospective study was carried out in a tertiary care centre of Eastern India from March 2011 to February 2012. Methods: Neonates with less than 28 days age, associated with a clinical diagnosis of sepsis were included in the study. Blood was collected aseptically for culture and isolates were identified in conventional way and antibiotic sensitivity test was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Epidemiological parameters, clinical features were compared in the light of culture report. Statistical analysis used: Chi square test, ANOVA and multivariate regression analysis. Results: Out of 230 clinically suspected septic neonates, 72.6% of neonates presented with EOS and 27.4% with LOS. None of the bacteria except Klebsiella sp. was significantly associated with EOS (P=0.043). Almost identical result was observed between EOS and LOS, when demographic parameters including gender, birth weight, gestational age, mode of delivery, outcome and clinical presentation were compared. Caesarean section was significantly associated with increased morbidity in cases of EOS (multivariate P value 0.018). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in epidemiological, clinical and bacteriological profile between EOS and LOS except a few. So it is better to judge the two groups of neonatal sepsis as one and universal.