What are the Cheapest Businesses To Start?

. 7 min read
What are the Cheapest Businesses To Start?

Starting your own business is a dream of many individuals in India. While some people believe that businesses are about ideas, they’re not. They are about making ideas happen.

But many individuals aren’t able to make ideas happen as they struggle with investment and funds. They feel that successful businesses require a lot of capital. However, that isn’t the case.

A good business can also be started with low investment, as long as a solid idea backs it.

In this blog, we’re going to cover some of the most profitable business ideas that you can start with low investment. You can choose the one that suits your personality and skill set.

Profitable Business Ideas That You Can Start With Low Investment

1. Bus Service App

People in India are always using a bus to travel from one place to another. Some use it for travelling to their workplace while others use it to reach another city.

They prefer to know beforehand the schedule and details of the bus they’d be using to travel. From the bus route to ticket rates, they want every information.

You can make this an online business by creating a website or an app and let your customers make their bookings from the same. This business can be started with a meagre investment and yield exponential profits in the long run.

You’d have to research intrastate and interstate bus routes. Plus, IT skills are a must for the website and App to come to life.

2. AgarBatti

Also known as incense sticks, Agarbatti has a sizeable demand in India. Individuals use it for both religious and aroma purposes. Plus, their demand increases multifold during the festive season.

You can get raw materials like bamboo sticks, sandalwood, and jasmine for affordable prices in various parts of India.

If you’re looking to produce them in bulk, you can also go for an automatic Agarbatti making machine that costs around INR 45,000-50,000. Moreover, as there's been a rise in meditation practitioners, there’s more demand for Agarbattis across the world.

Also Read: Agarbatti Manufacturers in India

3. Designer Lace

You can start a designer lace business with minimal investment from the convenience of your home. Lace is commonly used for craftwork and in apparels and has a lot of demand in the market.

They can be designed manually, on computerised machines, and even through bobby machines. You can pick the one that’d fit the size of your operations. The investment required for this business is around 25,000-35,000.

4. Handmade Chocolates

As a country, India has a lot of chocolate consumers. The reason is that chocolate is both a stress buster and a mood uplifter. Some people like having it with coffee while others have it as dessert.

So if you’re looking to start a business with low investment, manufacturing chocolates could be a viable option. You’d also be needing a product line for packaging purposes. The business would require an investment of INR 45,000-50,000 for raw materials and branding.

5. Papad

A common accompaniment to numerous meals in our country is Papad. It is a thin and crispy food that’s fried. As it is mandatory on various occasions and celebrations, the demand for this food item is usually high. And here lies a business opportunity. You’d have to source raw material like wheat, oil, spices, and flour.

It’d cost you INR 35,000-40,000 to start a small scale Papad Business. You can start by selling to local departmental stores.

If you want to take things one step forward, you can experiment with flour made from rice or lentils. It’d allow you to differentiate your offerings.

Designer jute tote bags on display at a handicraft exhibition at shop

6. Jute Bags

As more and more people are going green, it’s a great time to invest in a business that offers biodegradable and reusable products.

Plus, the process to make these bags is also pretty straightforward, and you can use these jute bags for multiple purposes. If you have an artistic inclination, you can also create unique designs on these bags.

Many people are willing to pay more for customised products these days, and you can benefit from it. You can start production in a small area. With an investment of INR 60,000-90,000, you can effortlessly commence a jute bags business.

7. Tempered Glass For Mobile Phones

Another industry that’s rapidly growing in India is the smartphone industry. There’s a massive demand for smartphones and their accessories. An accessory like tempered glass is not a luxury but a necessity.

Did you know these glasses get made in high-temperature machines? The glass is first heated and then left to cool down. After which, they have to pass numerous tests and quality checks.

The cost of a tempered glass making machine is somewhere between INR 75,000-1.5 Lakhs. You can go with the one that fits your capital.

8. Paper Bags

As more and more individuals are shying away from plastic bags, it’s an impeccable opportunity to invest in the paper bags business.

You can market them as shopping bags for food items, jewellery, medicine, and more.

You can start this business on a small scale with a low investment. You’d have to invest in raw materials like printing chemicals, ink, paper sheets, and tags.

9. Customer Made Gifts

It is 2021, and customisation is at its peak. Plus, ours is a country of many festivals and occasions. We love exchanging gifts. So why not provide an opportunity for people to add that personal touch to their gifts?

It could be customised jewellery, personalised cards, or videos. You’d have to research the different gift providers in the market and have an eye for quirky gifts. Wrapping the present in an eye-catching manner is as important as the gift.

You can ask your relatives and friends to promote you via word of mouth and Whatsapp. Having a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram is vital. It’d take you at least 2-3 months before you start earning significant profits.

10. Cooking Classes

If you have the gift of making lip-smacking meals, why not use it to make a few bucks? Many individuals do not want to work in a restaurant, and for them, cooking classes are a potent alternative.

You can start this business with significantly low investment and make profits pretty soon. In urban cities, cooking classes are also a hobby that couples do together on weekends.

As a result, they have a massive demand. You can also use your culinary skills to offer online cooking classes.

Group of people and female chef at cooking classes

11. Cotton Buds

With increasing awareness for hygiene, more people in India are demanding hygiene-friendly products. One such product is cotton buds. Starting this business would require you to source the absorbent material, spindle or stick, and packaging.

Cotton buds making machines are available as per the output requirement of the business owner. One can start this business with an investment of INR 25,000-40,000.

12. Tuition Classes

With an ever-increasing population in our country, there is a lot of demand for teachers. Tuition classes are a business that you can start with super low investment. They can be commenced by renting a small place or even from the convenience of your house.

You can achieve financial break-even easily in this business. But you must have proper knowledge of the subjects you’d be teaching and the skillset for teaching.

Conclusion

India is a land of business opportunities. A person can choose to start a business from numerous industries and sectors. However, many individuals have a myth. They believe that for your business to be successful, a lot of capital needs to be invested. Luckily, that’s not the case.

You can start various ventures with a low investment if you have the necessary skills required to function properly. All the businesses mentioned above are some of the cheapest ventures that you can start in India.

But before entering any of these ventures, make sure to go through the legalities and concerned licensing procedures. If you execute any of these ideas well, you’d be a proud owner of a successful business.

Also read:

1) Online Business Ideas You Can Start Quickly
2) What online business can I do to make money? Here are the top-6 ideas for you.
3) Where Do the Best Business Ideas Come From?
4) Best Home Business Ideas in 2020

5) OkCredit: Simple, Paperless & Secure solution for businesses

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FAQs

Q. Can I start a business with low investment in India?

Ans. India has several low investment business opportunities that yield significant profits. Be it a metro city or a rural area, India is full of low investment business opportunities.

Q.  What is the start-up scene like in India?

Ans. India is the third-largest start-up centre across the globe. In the last couple of years, more and more ventures have opened up in the country and earned significant profits. India opened over 1300 new start-ups in the year 2019 alone.  

Q. What is the best and cheapest business in India?

Ans. Tuition classes, Agarbatti business, and Cooking classes are the best and cheapest businesses in India.

Q. What is a profitable business that I can start with low investment post-Covid?

Ans. Opening a small grocery shop is a profitable business that you can do with low investment.