Are you considering launching your own business? Well, among the plethora of options available, finding the right small business idea can be a difficult task. Right from the point where you are exploring the best small business ideas to the point where you contemplate a business model with small working capital investment, the entire journey is filled with exciting possibilities.
From a small-scale business that requires minimal office space to ventures like an ice cream business that can sweeten your earnings, here are the 100 most successful small business ideas in India that you can take inspiration from in this article.
Top 10 Most Successful Small Business Ideas in India
1. Event/Wedding Planner
Step into the evergreen market of weddings and events. Wedding planning is a trending business, with the Indian wedding market estimated at INR 4.25 Trillion in 2023 growing at a rapid 20% annually. A small initial capital investment in staff, logistics, and arrangements can pave the way for significant returns for your business expansion. Various small business loan options are available to fuel your venture in this constantly in-demand industry.
2. Tuition/Coaching Classes
If you have a passion for coaching or teaching students then this can be a good business idea for you. Whether you excel in mathematics, chemistry, or a foreign language like French, Spanish, or German, you can start your coaching classes with minimal investment.
A small business loan can easily help you kickstart your own venture, providing the necessary funds for a room, chairs, a board, and other essentials. With a consistent demand for tutoring, especially in foreign languages, this business offers a predictable cash inflow and high returns.
3. Cooking Classes
If you have a flair for cooking, capitalise on the popularity of your culinary skills. Launching cooking classes requires minimal investment in setting up a kitchen, acquiring equipment, and sourcing raw materials.
With the potential for teaching multiple batches during the day, a cooking class business can be quite successful with low initial investment.
4. Food Catering Business
Tap into the perpetual demand for good food by starting a catering business. With a kitchen and a small team, you can cater to various occasions like birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries. This business promises high returns with relatively low initial investment, making it an excellent choice for entrepreneurs seeking small business loans.
5. Driving School/Cab Service
Utilise your driving skills to start a driving school. With a vehicle, you can teach 10-15 clients monthly, generating decent income with minimal investment. Consider availing a small business loan to purchase a car, and as your earnings grow, reinvest in expanding your fleet. Alternatively, buy a commercial vehicle and use it for ride-hailing services like Ola or Uber, creating additional income streams to repay loans and fuel business growth.
6. Personal Trainers/ Fitness Centres
Address the health-conscious population by establishing a fitness center. With over 65% of India’s population below 35 years old, the demand for personal trainer or fitness services is substantial.
Use your expertise in fitness, lease or buy the necessary space and equipment, and consider a small business loan for initial capital. Profitability is driven by annual subscriptions, providing a steady income source.
7. Computer Training Center
In the era where the demand for computer proficiency is at its peak, if you possess knowledge in areas like programming, artificial intelligence, or data analytics, start a training center with minimal infrastructure. After the initial capital expenditure, low subsequent investments are needed. Small business loans are readily available to support this knowledge-driven venture.
8. Spas and Beauty Salons
Explore the consistent demand for personal grooming and fashion services by starting a boutique, salon, or spa. After the initial investment in space and raw materials, focus on selling and brand partnerships to turn your venture into a profitable business. Small business loans can easily cover the startup costs.
9. Web/Social Media Agency
With every company emphasing on branding, starting a web/social media agency can really be a wise choice. With expertise in management, branding, and social media marketing, launch your venture with minimal infrastructure and a team of skilled professionals. Small business loans offer accessible funding for this digital-centric business.
10. Residential Real Estate Agent or Broker
Become a key player in the real estate market with your own agency. With minimal investment and good communication skills, you can broker deals and earn substantial commissions. As your network grows, this can turn into a great business.
Top 25 Home-Based Business Ideas
1. Dropshipping business
Consider dropshipping as a low-risk, low-cost method to launch your online business from home. With minimal time and financial investment, this model allows you to sell products without managing inventory. The beauty of dropshipping lies in its immediate start, as you can sell products without upfront inventory costs.
2. Home Bakery
Bake delicious treats from home by starting your own home bakery. With the recent surge in small businesses, now is an opportune time to be your own boss and indulge in your passion for baking.
3. Making Handicrafts and selling them online
Explore the uniqueness of handmade crafts as a profitable small business from home. In the digital age, selling these one-of-a-kind items online has become easier than ever, making it a potentially cost-effective business venture.
4. Candle Making Business
Use the popularity of candles on festivals and birthdays by starting a candle-making business. With creative freedom in shapes, sizes, and colors, candles are not only relatively inexpensive to make but also have a consistent demand.
5. Makeup Artist
Utilise your makeup skills to start a low-cost business from home. With a built-in clientele for special occasions and the power of social media for promotion, becoming a makeup artist offers flexibility and potential profits.
6. Selling Clothes Online
Start small and grow at your pace by selling clothes online. With a global audience within reach, setting up an online store is cost-effective and allows easy dropshipping.
7. Blogger
Express your passion and ideas to the world by becoming a blogger. While it requires consistent effort in content creation and promotion, blogging is a flexible way to turn your writing skills into a home-based business.
8. Virtual Assistant
Become a virtual assistant offering administrative support, customer service, and social media management. With organisational skills and good communication, virtual assistance is a flexible and rewarding home-based business.
9. Selling Mobile and laptop Accessories Online
Tap into the market for mobile and laptop accessories by selling them online. With almost everyone owning these gadgets, there’s a constant demand for accessories.
10. Copywriter
Consider copywriting as a home-based business focused on creating engaging and persuasive marketing materials. It is a business that allows you to showcase creativity and often operates on a freelance basis.
11. Graphic Designing
Flex your creative ideas with graphic designing as a home-based business. With minimal requirements, such as a computer and basic software, meet the growing demand for graphic design in various industries.
12. Recruitment Services
Recruitment services stand out as a highly profitable venture nowadays. Operating from the comfort of your home, you can shortlist, select, and appoint suitable candidates for various job roles, earning a substantial commission from companies.
13. Tailoring
Enter the lucrative world of fashion and lifestyle by offering tailoring services from home. With a sewing machine and a sense of fashion, this business can be a rewarding avenue for anyone seeking additional income.
14. Tiffin Services
Cater to the needs of working professionals by providing Tiffin Services, particularly in industrial areas. Utilise your kitchen to prepare fresh, home-cooked meals, offering a convenient solution for those unable to cook or staying away from home.
15. Hobby Class
Tap into the demand for skill development by starting a hobby class. Cater to parents’ desires for their children to learn during vacations, offering classes in dance, music, and crafts based on your expertise.
16. Insurance Agent
Leverage good communication skills to become an insurance agent. With minimal investment, you can earn commissions by selling insurance policies, providing a straightforward way to generate income.
17. MLM – Network Marketing
Enter the world of multi-level marketing or network marketing, where selling associated company products and services leads to profits. This referral-based business allows you to operate from home, earning from your sales group.
18. Marriage Bureau
For housewives and retirees, running a Marriage Bureau proves to be a productive business. With minimal investment, you can facilitate connections and earn through matchmaking services.
19. Accounting and Record-Keeping
If numbers excite you, start an Accounting and Record-Keeping business. With financial expertise, you can offer expert services, requiring special training but enabling a start with minimal investment.
20. Day Care Services
Cater to the needs of working parents by offering daycare services. A homely environment for children can make your business stand out in a market where some prefer a more personal touch.
21. Personal Chef
Transform your love for cooking into a business by becoming a personal chef. With expertise in various cuisines, offer your services and generate income, requiring investment mainly in cooking apparatus and ingredients.
22. Yoga Center
With the wellness industry on the rise, establish yoga classes at home to help individuals prioritize their health. A modest investment can lead to a business that promotes a healthy lifestyle and well-being.
23. Career Counselling
If you understand the work trends and the careers that are in demand you can opt to be a Career Counselling. You can start this business from home. Nowadays parents and teachers look for good Career Counsellors so they can guide children in pursuing a career for their future.
24. House Repair Service
Every now and then houses need maintenance and thus House Repair Service is a lucrative business idea. If you have knowledge about construction along with a few skilled workers, you can start this business.
25. Soap Making
Organic and herbal soaps are in demand in the market. If you have the skills to make soaps using various ingredients, then you can make this hobby a business.
Top 10 Online Business Ideas
1. Search Engine Optimization Services
Utilizing expertise in search engine optimisation, SEO consultants help businesses understand the impact of SEO on their online presence. Educating clients on analytics, strategic keywords, and content structure is crucial for transforming websites and increasing organic web traffic.
2. App Development
For those with coding skills, app development offers a path to entrepreneurial success. Collaboration with software developers can bridge knowledge gaps and lead to lucrative business opportunities.
3. YouTube Education
YouTube provides a platform for starting an online education business. Educational videos can be monetised, and consistent content creation can lead to a growing audience.
4. Online Podcast Network
The podcasting trend opens doors for entrepreneurs to start their own podcast network. By hosting diverse podcasts and allowing contributions, entrepreneurs can build a network with increasing revenue potential.
5. Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Helping job seekers craft compelling resumes and cover letters is a valuable service. Sharing successful examples builds credibility and attracts clients.
6. E-book Writing
Writers with a unique perspective can monetize their knowledge by writing and publishing e-books. Additionally, offering e-book writing services to other business owners can be a profitable venture.
7. Subscription-Box Service
Entrepreneurs can create and sell products through monthly subscription boxes. Building and marketing a brand can attract a loyal customer base.
8. Vlogging
Video blogging, commonly known as vlogging, offer s an affordable avenue for small businesses to thrive. It serves as an innovative method to enhance brand awareness. Utilising platforms like YouTube, individuals can monetise their vlogs with confidence in front of the camera and some basic
9. Brokerage Firm
Engaging in stock market trading involves buying and selling stocks, offering investors a share of ownership in a company.
A broker is simply a person who is licensed to trade stocks through the exchange. A broker can be on the trading floor or can make trades by phone or electronically. The brokerage firm business can be a profitable online business if you have good communication skills.
10. Data Entry
Data entry, a straightforward business idea, involves adding data using software hosted on a computer. Data entry operators perform these tasks, and this business is advantageous as it requires no previous experience to start.
Top 15 Retail Business Ideas
1. Hardware Store
Hardware stores offer a variety of products, including tools, building materials, plumbing supplies, and cleaning products. Success in this business requires detailed planning, research, and choosing a business location in a developing area to meet the needs of the community.
2. Grocery Store
Grocery stores, often referred to as supermarkets, cater to the essential needs of households by providing a wide range of food and household items. The success of a grocery store is assured with proper management, considering that grocery shopping is a fundamental aspect of daily life.
3. Organic Food Store
Specialising in organic produce, an organic food store requires meticulous planning to ensure a consistent supply of authentic organic products. Location plays a crucial role, with success dependent on setting up shops in areas where residents prioritise health and can afford organic products.
4. Cosmetic Store
With the increasing focus on beauty products, a cosmetic store caters to the demand of individuals striving for a more beauty-conscious lifestyle. This business requires a modest investment and addresses the growing market for cosmetic products.
5. Leather & Perfume Shop
Offering products like bags, belts, wallets, and perfumes, a leather and perfume shop taps into a market with enduring demand. These businesses, with good products and relatively small investments, are considered evergreen.
6. Medical Diagnostic Center
With the increasing importance of medical care, a medical diagnostic center addresses the need for timely health check-ups and advanced analysis. While the investment required is substantial, the demand for such services remains consistently high.
7. Gift Card Shop
With the growing enthusiasm for giving and receiving gifts, gift card shops hold significant revenue potential. Success in this business relies on the right location and a well-curated collection of gift cards for various occasions.
8. Optician Shop
Addressing the widespread use of eyeglasses, an optician shop offers sunglasses, contact lenses, and trendy frames for spectacles. The success of this business depends on product quality and location.
9. Scrap Store
Profitable recycling endeavors can be undertaken through scrap stores, collecting materials like newspapers, plastic, and other discarded items. The business involves contributing to environmental sustainability while generating revenue.
10. Tattoo Shop
The increasing fascination with tattoos presents a profitable business opportunity. Starting a tattoo shop requires skilled personnel and an understanding of the art of tattoo making, offering good profit potential.
Top 30 Big Investment Business Ideas
1. Rice Mill
The rice mill business involves post-production processing to make rice edible. As India remains the world’s largest rice exporter, this venture proves profitable, necessitating significant capital investment.
2. Textile Unit
Initiating a textile unit involves contributing to India’s GDP and export earnings. You can start this business taking into consideration the location choices for both shops and factories, to better optimise your supply chain.
3. Manufacturing Fabrication Plant
Metal fabrication, encompassing cutting, bending, welding, and assembling processes, offers value-added services. This business demands skilled manpower and extensive machinery to create machines, parts, and structures from raw materials.
4. Beer and Wine-Making
Amidst the high growth of the wine industry, starting a beer and wine company presents diverse opportunities. The industry’s $64 billion valuation for both domestic and international wines underscores the potential for business startups.
5. Crane and Lifting Service
Offering the right lifting equipment and services, a crane and lifting service business requires specialized maintenance and spare parts for industrial cranes and hoists. Success hinges on meeting customer needs in this specialised field.
6. Transportation Services
Starting a transportation business involves deciding on the type of service, such as taxi, bike rental, or bus service, based on the area’s needs and competition. The choice depends on the local demand and investment capacity.
7. Marriage Halls
Capitalising on the frequent occurrence of marriages and events in India, owning and renting out a large hall for ceremonies, weddings, and parties proves to be a profitable business.
8. Car Parking Services
Utilising a large outdoor area for car parking services taps into the increasing number of vehicles on the road. This business leverages available space for a profitable venture.
9. Imported Furniture Store
Importing furniture from countries like China or the UAE for resale requires a significant capital investment. Success in this business depends on offering high-quality imported furniture.
10. Electronic Store
In the age of electronics, starting an electronic store is a profitable venture. Knowledge about electronic products is essential, and the required investment varies based on the product range.
11. Art and Collection Shop
Starting an art and collection shop requires business planning, market research, and the ability to create artwork that resonates with customers. Success is driven by the appeal of the curated collection.
12. Night Club
For those inclined towards nightlife, starting a nightclub involves significant investment in licenses and sound equipment. Success lies in offering an appealing venue for music and dance enthusiasts.
13. Video Conference and Board Room Services
Meeting the demand for digital solutions in the global business landscape, providing video conference and board room services enhances convenience and productivity for companies, saving time and money.
14. Building Construction
As a capital-intensive business, construction companies require heavy equipment and materials. A solid business plan is crucial for securing funding and achieving successful outcomes.
15. Auto Modification Services
Catering to automotive enthusiasts, custom car shops specialise in vehicle customisation. A creative mindset is essential to succeed in this business.
16. UPS Business
Engaging in the buying and selling of UPS units, and collaboration with major companies can help in establishing a successful UPS business.
17. Solar Farm
Capital-intensive but with promising returns, solar farms generate renewable electricity. Replacing less profitable croplands, solar farms contribute to sustainable energy production
18. Printing Press
Operating a printing press in the digital age proves successful, involving the production of various printed materials. Specialized equipment is needed for this business.
19. Peer 2 Peer Lending Business
In the Peer 2 Peer lending business, lending money online to individuals or businesses involves inherent risks but offers profitable returns.
20. Internet Service Provider
As the demand for internet services grows, starting an internet service provider business meets the needs of customers seeking reliable internet connection.
21. Hotel Business
Operating a hotel business involves substantial investment in lodging and related services. Strategic location and quality services contribute to success.
22. Car Battery
Launching a car battery business capitalizes on the universal need for batteries in vehicles, requiring advice and insights from industry experts.
23. Cement Business
Tapping into India’s infrastructural growth, opening a cement business presents opportunities with the development of smart cities.
24. Microfinancing Institutition
Involving financial lending with careful documentation, a money lending business demands a cautious approach to lending. You may need a license and regulatory approval to function as a microfinancing institution.
25. Nursery School
With the growing demand for quality nursery schools, starting one requires trained staff and adequate space for educational activities.
26. Pathology Lab
In the thriving diagnostic market, setting up a pathology lab offers lucrative opportunities with increasing demand for diagnostic services.
27. Modeling Agency
Representing fashion models in the industry, a modeling agency earns commissions from deals made with models and agencies, catering to the fashion industry’s requirements.
28. Computer Class
Utilising computer knowledge to teach others, starting a computer class requires a few computers and dedicated space for business setup.
29. Petrol Pump & Gas Station
Operating a petrol pump offers various fuels to motorists, making it a lucrative business. Strategic placement is crucial for success in this beneficial venture.
30. Luxurious Car Services
The demand for luxurious car services has risen, allowing individuals to rent high-end cars for special occasions or convenient airport transport. This business involves purchasing and leasing luxurious cars.
Top 10 Profitable Business Idea
1. Mobile Sales and Repair
In the rapidly growing mobile phone industry, providing both sales and repair services can be a lucrative venture. Offering professional mobile repairing services alongside sales can attract customers seeking comprehensive solutions. This business requires minimal investment and can be started with limited experience.
2. Package Drinking Water
The escalating demand for packaged drinking water presents a continual opportunity, particularly in small towns and cities.
Starting a packaged drinking water business is considered evergreen, and success depends on business size and client base. The investment required varies, making it accessible for different entrepreneurs.
3. Restaurant
Starting an eatery requires meticulous planning and hard work.
While meals are typically served on-site, the option for take-out and food delivery services addresses the contemporary demand for convenient dining. With a moderate investment and a skilled team, this business can be initiated with the potential for success.
4. Jewellery Production & Sale
For those with a flair for fashion and jewellery design, establishing a business in jewellery production and sales is a promising avenue. Building a local market presence and leveraging customer referrals can contribute to the success of this venture, showcasing unique and creatively crafted jewellery.
5. Dairy
Operating a dairy business involves meeting the consistent demand for milk and milk products. With a small shop and cold storage facilities, entrepreneurs can provide a range of dairy products, including milk and sweets. The dairy business offers stability and opportunities for growth.
6. Commercial and Industrial Machinery Equipment Rental
Offering rental services for commercial and industrial machinery to sectors such as construction, mining, transportation, and forestry proves to be a profitable business.
Since heavy machinery incurs significant costs, many companies prefer renting over purchasing. This venture requires a moderate investment with high potential returns.
7. Travel Agency
A travel agency, a service-oriented business in travel and tourism, demands effective communication skills. Operating from home eliminates the need for renting physical space. Providing travel tickets for air, road, and railway journeys caters to the high demand for such services, especially in metro cities.
8. IT Hardware Shop
Specialising in IT hardware, this business involves offering a range of products, from building materials to plumbing supplies and electrical components. Knowledge of the products is essential for success, and a well-performing hardware shop can achieve a net profit of approximately 10% on daily sales.
9. Fashion Boutique
The clothing and fashion industry remains evergreen, especially when focusing on the latest trends. Currently, there’s a high demand for boutiques, making them potentially lucrative businesses.
Boutiques stand out by offering unique and often customized garments not easily found in mainstream retail chains and malls. The key to success lies in identifying a distinctive theme for your boutique, one that resonates with the specific demands and preferences of your target consumers.
10. Pet care business
Pet care services can be a great business idea. Pets hold a special place in our families, with an increasing number of households across the country embracing animals, including cats, dogs, and various other pets. Consequently, the demand for pet services such as training and grooming services has surged, transforming it into a thriving business.
Individuals are unwilling to compromise on any aspect of their pet’s well-being, making such businesses a reliable source of steady and consistent profit. If you possess a genuine passion for pets and a deep affection for them, this business aligns perfectly with your interests.
The assurance of love and care that your brand offers is likely to attract a steady stream of clients eager to ensure their pets receive the best possible attention.
Conclusion: The role Credit plays in Success of a Business
It might not be uncommon to observe that among the aforementioned most successful small business ideas in India, many such businesses would have taken credit at some point of time during their business journey.
Realising the differing requirements of such businesses, lenders too offer a plethora of credit products to businesses according to their needs and the nature of the business.
However, due to lack of effective communication, many businesses are unaware about the types of loans available to them and often end up availing the ones at higher interest rates.
With a goal to address this challenge, OneNDF helps such Small and Medium-sized Enterprises to check their eligibility with various lenders and apply for a suitable loan option through the platform itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which business is most profitable in India?
The profitability of a business in India is dependent upon several factors, including market demand, competition, and the necessary investment. However, some of the most money-making businesses in India include e-commerce, food and beverage, healthcare, education, real estate, renewable energy, as well as travel and tourism.
What is zero investment business?
A zero-investment business implies a business that doesn’t demand substantial upfront capital for establishment. Nevertheless, despite its literal interpretation, it necessitates an investment of time, ideas, skills, education, and a few essential tools that you either already possess or can acquire with a very small initial investment.
Which business is best in 1 lakh?
Many low-cost business ideas can be started within INR I Lakh and give a good return on investment. Some of them include food delivery business, online tutoring business, pet care business, hair business, landscaping business, consulting services, etc.
Which is the number one business in India?
Reliance Industries is the largest business in India in terms of market capitalisation.
Which business is in demand in India?
The output of the consumer goods industry is projected to grow by 6.7% in 2024 as with 2023 as the base year.
