If you are looking for the profitable business ideas to start your small business, then this is for you. We’ve compiled some of the best business ideas under ₹10 lakh investment in India to enable you to start your venture. We’ll discuss the minimum investments you will have to make to get started, infrastructure and operational requirements, and any insights and pro-tips required for maximising on your business idea and returns (ROI). Let’s get started!

List of 20 best business ideas with ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh investment

Listed below are the top 20 business ideas to start your business with low investment. Key points to remember:

• Some of these ventures will require specific certifications and business licences
• Timelines for setting up the business, operating it and getting returns on investments will vary (usually 6 months to 24 months to see profitable returns)
• Level of monetary investment and investment in infrastructure will vary
• Additional investment in resources, marketing and promotions, and office or factory space leases or rents might be necessary in some cases

Small business ideas with low-investment

• Gadget store
• Food catering
• Environmental-friendly bag making
• Art and dance classes
• e-Commerce stores
• Spa service business
• Classes for musical instruments
• Water purification business
• Home cleaning services
• Kombucha manufacturing business
• Dog breeding
• Printing and publishing establishment
• Gardening services
• Plant variety business – nursery
• Digital marketing agency
• Garment manufacturing business
• Handicraft products
• Homemade candles
• Organic produce business
• Ready to eat food

Which business is best to start?

When you want to start a business in India, the best business idea is one that –

• You have personal skills, experience and expertise in
• You understand and know the nuances of the business
• There is enough present and future market potential
• There is fair competition in the market
• You can hire talent to grow the business (even if you have limited skillset)

Keeping that in mind some recommendations on which business is best to start (i.e., considering low investments and high profits) are:

• Personal fitness trainer
• Carpentry and woodwork
• Freelance digital marketer, social media manager, graphic designer, content writer
• Pet care services or Caregiver services (for elderly, post-partum, new born children)
• E-learning courses or online training (e.g., courses on photography, Excel, Power Point, baking, candle/soap making etc.)
• Consulting services (business, finance, technology etc.)
• Professional services (e.g., CA, legal, etc.)
• Small business app development
• Translation services

Also read: Best business ideas in Delhi

Best business ideas under ₹10 lakh investment (for 2024)

Many of the top brands in India started with minimal investments. Whether it’s in technology, finance, marketing, fashion, travel/tourism, hospitality, or any other sector, there are lucrative small business ideas that you can explore with minimum investment.

Listed below are some of the best business ideas under ₹10 lakh investment that you can consider as a budding entrepreneur:

Logistics franchise

Logistics franchise is a business enterprise that can be easily started by people looking to get into the logistics industry. It involves starting a logistics business under an existing logistics solutions provider. The franchise can engage in activities including warehousing, distribution, courier, delivery and trucking.

Requirements to start a logistics franchise include a space between 400-600 sq. ft., basic equipment like computers, internet connections, generator for uninterrupted power supply, vehicles for transportation, barcode scanners, printers, etc., and a minimum number of personnel, including delivery executives, as specified by the franchisor.

Retail plant nursery

Next in our list of top  business ideas under ₹10 lakh investment is retail plant nursery. Retail plant nurseries are a profitable venture if you find the right location to set up your nursery. People are decorating their apartments and houses with plant varieties nowadays. They also keep it inside their homes as plants have air cleaning capabilities.

A small nursery within the city limits doesn’t need much investment to set up. All you need are a variety of plants that are in demand, pots, soil, manure, space to store all your plants and a greenhouse set up. This can be easily obtained as well. The only hard part is finding out the right location, as plants need a lot of sunlight and good water availability.

Cloud kitchen

Cloud kitchens are booming, especially in cities where food delivery apps are becoming successful businesses. These are delivery-only restaurants that have no physical space for dining. This means that all the space they have is devoted to cooking and packing the food for takeaway.

Cloud kitchens only require less space and minimal staff to start. You would also need kitchen infrastructure, depending on the menu you have decided on. You would also need money to sign up with food delivery apps.

The investment required will largely depend on the food you are planning to serve. If it is pizzas you are making, you will require an oven which will be expensive. But if you are planning to put homely food items on your menu, then the cost of the set up will be considerably less.

Homemade pickle business

Another business ideas under ₹10 lakh investment that has been practiced since ages is the art and science of pickle making.

Indians love homemade pickles, and it has a huge market in our country. This is a manufacturing business under ₹10 lakhs that you can start at home. You would require vegetables or meat that you want to pickle, cooking equipment, utensils for brining and jars for preserving the pickle. You would also need an FSSAI license to start the business and the cost to get this license varies from state to state.

Also read: Top manufacturing business ideas for MSMEs

Online travel agency

The interest in travelling around the country and even around the world is rapidly spiking among people. The young and the old alike are going on tours including package tours to see their favorite places.

Setting up a tours and travel business is another low investment business idea that has a lot of demand but also high competition. You will be a travel agent whose job is to research, plan, and book travel for your customers. You can offer standard package tours and personalised tour itineraries that offer a customised travel experience.

All you would require to start this business is a space to set up shop (which could be your home), a computer, a mobile phone and a printer.

Home and office cleaning business

A more popular and contemporary business ideas under ₹10 lakh investment is setting up a home and office cleaning and maintenance business. It only required minimal space, cleaning supplies and cleaning staff. The tasks of a cleaning business involve AC cleaning, floor cleaning, cleaning the restrooms with powerful cleaning solutions and sanitising them, wiping the glasses and mirrors, vacuuming the carpets and furniture, etc.

The requirement for starting this business include cleaning staff, cleaning supplies for deep cleaning and specialised cleaning, cleaning appliances like vacuum cleaners, vapor steam cleaner, jet pumps for AC cleaning, etc., and a space to set up your cleaning business enterprise.

Fitness centre

Fitness centres like gyms, yoga centres, aerobic centres, etc., are easy business ideas under ₹10 lakh. Gyms will require expensive equipment like treadmills, multigyms, rowing machines, etc. This will require some considerable investment because some of these equipment, especially if you want it to be from a reputable brand, are high priced.

However, setting up a yoga centre will require much less investment compared to a gym. All you would need is enough space, yoga mats and a professional yoga trainer.

All the above-mentioned business ideas with ₹10 lakh investment will require certain licenses to get started, most importantly the shop and establishment license. You would also need a GST registration to start your business.

If the money to set up the business enterprise exceeded your budget, then you can always apply for a business loan. There are startup business loans by the Government of India.

What business idea is most profitable?

Now that you know some of the creative business ideas under ₹10 lakh investment to start your business, the next question could be – What business idea is the most profitable?

There are several profitable small business ideas that you can consider for yourself. Some of the most recommended ideas to start a profitable small business are:

• Organic farming
• Dropshipping
• Event catering services
• Auto repair and car wash services
• Garment and accessory manufacturing
• Vacation rental homes/ homestays
• Accounting and bookkeeping services

What small business is the most successful?

The key to any successful business is:

• Consistency, strategic planning and listening and adapting
• Thinking short and long term when making decisions and investments
• Lowering operational expenditure and investing in areas of maximum returns

Keeping that in mind, some successful business ideas for small businesses in 2024 are:

• Garment and merchandise printing (i.e., custom designs for T-shirts, bedsheets, mugs, photo frames etc.)
• Photography and event photo studio (e.g., wedding, pre-wedding, birthdays, corporate events, portfolio etc.)
• Home/Office cleaning and maintenance services (e.g., cleaning, basic carpentry, electrical services, plumbing, etc.)
• Creche and childcare services
• Baked food items and meal services
• Online fitness classes and life coach services

Also read: Top 10 small business ideas in Mumbai

How to start a business with Rs. 50,000?

We’ve looked at some of the best business ideas under ₹10 lakh investment for you to start your entrepreneurial journey. But what if you have a lower budget? What if you want to know – How to start a business in India with only ₹50,000?

Before you start your business:

• Check if you want to go freelance or register your small business. While freelancing has its perks, when you register your business as a MSME or start-up, you can avail several government subsidies and loans (e.g., Udyogini scheme loan for women entrepreneurs).
• Decide if you want to have a physical store/factory/shop or you want to run your business online (e-Commerce)

With that in mind, let’s understand how to start your own small business in India with ₹50,000 investment:

• Identify your business idea and activity and conduct market research on the same (i.e., market trends, competition, threats, customer buying behaviour, future potential etc.)
• Create a business plan or proposal that highlights your investments and forecasts returns (Note – since budget is low, the business plan should demonstrate forecasts with margins)
• Select your target customer base, location, business strategy (i.e., marketing strategy, pricing strategy, etc.)
• Find vendors and distributors for your products/services and other service providers (e.g., 3PLs for transportation)
• Decide on a business name and check feasibility
• Check if additional funding from banks/NBFCs is available if required
• Get the business registered and get the required business licenses (e.g., MSME registration on Udyam to register your business as a MSME in India)
• Work on any marketing collateral required and business hygiene factors (e.g., build a website, start social media handles, set up an email account, Business WhatsApp, phone number etc.)
• Ensure you have a current bank account for all business related transactions
• Hire people for finance management, tax and legal compliance, payroll and accounting, customer services, and other functions (Note – this can be outsourced to an agency to other freelancers)
• Start promoting your business online for increasing brand visibility and awareness

Also read: Creative MSME business ideas with low investment

Author: Priyanka Babu

Priyanka is a seasoned content marketing professional with more than 6 years of experience crafting various forms of business and technology sector content. Her insightful writing tackles critical issues faced by small-scale manufacturing businesses. Priyanka’s clear and concise communication empowers businesses to make informed decisions and thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.