TOP 7 Small Business Ideas

profit-making small businesses you can start with as low as Rs 20,000

You may have a bunch of ideas in your mind, but there are times when those ideas lack proper direction and you decide to switch plans. This is the period where most aspiring founders struggle to find a balance.  Starting a business needs utmost determination and confidence, but you have to be very clear about your business idea before you step into the entrepreneurial arena.

1.Handmade candles

Candles are always in demand,
this is extremely popular business option.
The traditional demand for candles comes from religious and decoration purposes.
During festivals, the demand is extremely high. Otherwise too, these days the demand for scented and therapeutic candles is also on the rise with many restaurants, households, and hotels using them to create an ambience.

The candle-making business can be initiated from home with low investment of approximately Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000.

The raw materials used to start the business include wax, wick, moulds, thread, aroma oils, and more.

Apart from the major raw materials, you also need to have some candle-making equipment. This includes a melting pot, thermometer, pour pot, weighing scale, hammer, and an oven (to melt wax).

2.BUTTONS

Buttons are one of the most essential trimmings used in the garment industry and have huge market potential.

From plastic to fabric and steel buttons, there are various categories in this niche that you can select depending upon your choice of business.

You can either rent out a space or start at home with a basic investment of approximately Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000.

3.Ice cream cones

Everyone screams for ice cream, one of the most popular desserts today. The increasing consumption of ice cream has led to a rise in the demand for ice cream cones.

Therefore, if you want to start small, this idea could be a profitable business option.  You can start an ice cream cone manufacturing unit in a small space by investing approximately Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.

However, if you want to operate on a larger scale with high capacity machinery, the investment cost goes a little higher.

4.Handmade chocolates

When it comes to chocolate consumption, India is on top of the chart. Be it sweet or bitter, chocolate is a mood lifter and stress buster. According to Mintel, sales of chocolate confectionery in retail markets grew by 13 percent between 2015 and 2016 in India. Therefore, if you want to start your business and don’t have an idea, manufacturing chocolate can be a lucrative opportunity.

You need to develop a product line to start off. An approximate capital of Rs 40,000-Rs 50,000 will be required to purchase raw materials and packaging.

However, if you want to deploy a piece of machinery for a larger production scale, the cost may rise up to Rs 2 lakh-Rs 3 lakh. Your volume production will be easier with mixing, cooking, and cooling equipment. Select the type of equipment to fit the scale of your operation.

5.Noodles

Noodles, especially the instant variety, are a popular snack in India across rural and urban markets. The noodle manufacturing process is simple and requires basic ingredients such as wheat flour, salt, sugar, starch, spices, vegetable oils, etc.

Both semi-automatic and fully automatic noodle-making machines are available in the market. The process of making noodles involves blending flour, starch, and sodium bicarbonate, mixing the dough, and passing it through the machine. The noodles are cut into the desired shape and size, dried, and packaged.

Low capacity noodle-making machines cost over Rs 40,000 while premium ones cost anywhere upwards of Rs 1.5 lakh.

6.Disposable plates and cups

Disposable food-grade plates and cups are used extensively in India during events, functions, picnics, etc. They are also used on a large scale by street vendors and hawkers.

As they are widely used and have been inexpensive to make for a long time, the market has matured. They are usually made of paper, which has emerged as an alternative to plastic, steel, glass, etc.

To make paper plates and cups, paper can be acquired from local scrap shops at low rates. The major part of the investment goes into acquiring disposable plate-making machines. They cost over Rs 50,000, depending on their capacity.

7.Organic soap

Organic soaps are a really niche market to tap if you wish to start with a small business. It is a high demand product used by billions daily.

To start a small herbal soap business you need raw materials like glycerine, herbs, essential oils, moulds, microwave, and more. An investment of about Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh is required for scaled production.

You can start the business at home or rent out a separate small space. Various government courses are available if you wish to learn the soap-making process.