1. Breakfast Joint/Takeaway Counter
Food is one of the three basic necessities of life making it a top choice for people to indulge in and open up a business in the F&B (Food & Beverage) Industry. This is why as a small-scale business idea, food joints will never run out of customers, as long they serve delectable food. Of course, a start-up business does not need to be a full-fledged restaurant from the start. One can start with only a few key dishes such as a wholesome traditional breakfast with optional snacks as an add-on.
2. Juice Point/Shakes or Smoothies Corner
As more and more Indians grow health-conscious, fresh juices without preservatives are emerging as a popular healthy alternative to cold drinks. This is why the humble juice bar has made this small business ideas list for India as a top option for a potentially successful venture. While one is at it, diversification into related drinks especially (perhaps less healthy) summer drinks like lemonade, buttermilk, and lassi might also work out well for this small business. Of course, one can decide to go the whole hog and get started with a fully-loaded food truck instead. As long as the food/drinks provided are of high quality and all the requisite permits are in order, ensuring the success of this business idea should not be too hard.
3. Tailoring/Embroidery Shop
As far as successful business ideas go, this one is based on another basic requirement of life – clothing, so the size of the market includes well, everyone. As start-up businesses, tailoring and embroidery have been around for decades and most are usually home-based businesses that receive and complete orders on behalf of small boutiques. But being a tried and tested idea does improve its chances of emerging as a successful future business, especially in larger cities where tailoring services are in high demand. Obviously one needs to undergo the requisite training and ideally should have sufficient experience in order to improve the chances of succeeding in this small-scale business venture.
4. Business related to e-commerce
Small business ideas have the potential to grow into huge businesses over time and the emergence of the Internet along with related technologies can definitely help out. It is proven that small businesses with an online footprint tend to do better than those that do not have an online footprint. So amazingly, this start-up business idea is focused on providing a range of online services to various small and medium businesses. This is the reason why social media experts, influencers, YouTubers, critics, SEO experts, website designers, and developers are in high demand these days. Such businesses require only smartphones, basic computers, software, and a high-speed internet connection.
5. Blogging/Vlogging
If one has to pick a single money-making idea from a list of internet-based small businesses from home, blogging, and vlogging (video blogging) have the potential to be money-spinners. As long as it is interesting, it does not matter what one writes or makes a video about. Even many top-rated performance artists, including stand-up comedians, have considered this as a potential way to expand their reach. The goal is of course to maximize the number of views or readers of the vlog or blog through the creation of interesting content. In the case of certain vlog platforms, one gets paid based on the number of views while in the case of most blogs adverting revenues generated through Google AdSense helps the business make money.
6. Cookery Classes – Online/In-person
In case a skillful professional cook does not fancy the idea of slogging it out at a restaurant or food truck business, there is an alternative – cookery class. This is a unique trend that’s catching on among urban and semi-urban families in India, as something that people create something that’s delicious yet healthy. What’s more, it is even possible to carry out these classes both in-person and online or one could make a vlog teaching others the intricacies of culinary skills. The scope to expand and monetize from potential market segments that one might not be able to reach otherwise increases manifold by taking advantage of the online route.
7. Daycare Services/Baby Sitters/Creches
In today’s modern India, the concept of crèches in the office for working mothers is yet to catch on and as more women enter into and stay on in the workforce even after marriage, it is obvious that the demand for daycare services will continue to rise in the near future. As a full-time occupation, daycare services, crèches, and even babysitting have been around for years, if not decades, especially in the larger cities that have a larger number of working women and nuclear families.
8. Dance Classes/Centre
If you are a good dancer or choreographer, you can easily start your own dance center by taking space for rent or if you own some place or area. Marketing your dance academy is the only investment required. If you do not dance well, still you can still run a dance center by hiring good choreographers, dance teachers, etc.
9. Photography Studio
Sometimes your hobby can make you earn money, you just need to spend some extra time on your hobby to make it a profession and further into a business. Photography is one of those hobbies that turned into a profession for numerous professionals. The better the camera and lenses will be, the more enriched the pictures it will capture. Rest all in your precision and skill in taking pictures that will make you a good photographer and earn rewards and money.
10. Yoga Instructor
Knowledge of Yoga and the habit of self-practicing all the ‘Yoga Asanas’ make a good yoga instructor. Yoga is considered to be above all stress buster practices and has proven results worldwide. Yoga instructors are well-paid and in high demand in India, as well as abroad. 100% knowledge and nominal investment is required to start this business.
11. Wedding Bureau
Weddings are made in heaven but arranged down here. Besides marriage online portals, wedding bureaus are more prevalent in small cities and towns. Families consider meeting other families in person before coming up with any decision. Therefore, small office space, 1-2 staff members, a registration certificate, and contacts can make you a successful businessman.
12. Tour Operators/Travel Agency
A couple of certifications and an attractive office at a prime location can help you start and run a travel agency or to become a tour operator. A successful travel agent is one who can make others travel at ease and convenience for its customers. Good knowledge of domestic and worldwide itineraries, sightseeing, flight fares, and hotel rates, can be really helpful.
13. Salon/Beauty Parlour
Opening a salon or beauty parlor is and has always been the most trending business option in metro cities. The youth of young India is more cautious about looking presentable and groomed. Therefore, almost every salon has decent customers irrespective of location. Salon owners make huge profits during festive or marriage seasons, especially in metro cities.
14. Real Estate Business
If you are a good salesperson with knowledge and strong convincing power, then this business can turn your financial condition for good. Office space with a good location is the only investment required with experience/knowledge of types of properties and documentation processes. Honest public relations and impressive communication will help you become a successful real estate agent/broker/builder/financer, etc.
15. HR/Recruitment Business
Human Resource (HR) is an integral and important vertical in an organization and good recruitment makes a company grow and grow further. So having tie-ups with reputed organizations and placing good employees with them makes it a low-cost placement business.
16. Ice cream Parlour
Despite being a seasonal business, still, ice cream parlor is a big hit in terms of small businesses. Investment required in doing this manufacturing business is buying the franchise of any specific ice cream brand and secondly having a shop to place the counter in the desired location.
17. Retail shop for Arts & Handicrafts
The Government of India has started promoting the sale of handicraft products in numerous cities and states. Steps are been taken to make handicraft products reach every home in India. Some of these products include metalware, paintings, shawls, carpets, woodware, earthenware, embroidered goods, bronze and marble sculptures, etc.
18. Coaching/Tuition Classes – Online/In-person
Education is a field of diversity and a good low-cost business idea. Financial break-even is easily achieved and it’s not a full-time business.
19. Counselling/Consultancy Business
Almost every sector requires consultants to assist in its development and growth. People with decent knowledge of IT, finance, marketing, HR, accounts, law, healthcare, social media, etc. can open their own consultancy company and tie up with big corporates to make good money.
20. Boutique/Apparel Store
One of the traditional small-scale businesses of the nation. Women who like stitching clothes and are updated with the latest fashion trends can run a boutique store anywhere. The boutique store can be managed from home itself and the only investment required is the sewing machine with apparel to sell.
21. Catering Business
Catering business requires investment in just hiring labor, buying raw materials, and owning tents, tables, chairs, and utensils. The rest depends on your contacts, marketing techniques, and the quality of the food being prepared and served.
