Small Business Opportunities India

Are you sometimes tired of working from 9 am to 6 pm? Do you feel stagnant doing the same work all the time?

Do not feel bad if you also share the same sentiment. It is normal.

However, you have a chance to change this if you know how to start a business and manage one.

Whether it is in India or any other country, there are plenty of low-cost business ideas you can start doing.

But why should you start a business?

Well, there are several reasons to cite, but one thing is for sure: it guarantees financial independence and a steady flow of income. This is even though you have stable full-time work.

What to expect from a low-cost business?

When starting a business, it is normal to feel tensed and doubt yourself if you can pull it off.

But, one thing to remember is this: you can do it.

Some questions to have in mind are:

  • What business to start?
  • Is it worth risk-taking?

It pays to remain optimistic and know that you can overcome all your doubts. Above all, it is best to manage your expectations to avoid disappointments.

Among the things you can expect are the following:

  • Start-up Challenges - starting everything from scratch has challenges. Just prepare yourself for any possible obstacles along the way.
  • Fund Sources - if you do not have enough capital, it may be hard to sustain. Hence, you should be ready to have some alternative sources.

So, now back to the main topic. Here are simple, low-cost business ideas in India in no particular order.

1. Instagram Marketing

Aside from Facebook, everyone knows how popular Instagram is. Utilize the power of Instagram to earn money through product sponsorships. Start with a strong base of followers and a niche-specific feed.

Capital: not much; you can work on your current budget.

2. Kid’s Driving Service

If you have extra time in a day, use it to offer a driving service for kids. Unknown to others, three out of five parents have jobs to help support their families in India.

This makes it very difficult for them to maintain a work-life balance, and most of the time, the struggle is with dropping and picking up the kids from school.

So, yes! If you are a good driver, you can become a professional driver to drive kids from home to school and vice versa.

Capital: cost for the driver’s license (new application or renewal), vehicle maintenance

3. Matchmaking Services

Do you believe in soulmates? If yes, why don’t you try having a matchmaking service business?

A matchmaker is a person who engages in matchmaking. Simply, it is the process of finding the right match for another person using significant traits and qualities that complement each individual’s character.

However, it is a good business idea for anyone who prefers to work from home or has a big social network.

Capital: secure a fund you can use later on for advertising your business. But, in the early stages, you can stick to using your local connections to introduce your services.

4. Car Buy and Sellmoney

Having a personal car is everyone’s dream in India. But due to economic reasons, most Indians prefer using second-hand vehicles.

So, it is a good business idea to start a car dealership and earn money on commission by selling cars. They also have a high value in the market.

Capital: get enough funds to finance the buying of the secondhand car and securing of the papers. From there, you can roll your initial capital and make it grow.

5. Digital Marketing Services

If you are a marketer, you can also share your services with others by offering various digital marketing services such as search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, paid ads, social media marketing, and other marketing services that businesses need.

Capital: you can work on your own for the initial stages of the business. However, you will need later on funds to sustain the needs of your business, such as the salary of employees, tools purchases, etc.

6. Babysitting

Well, this one sounds odd, but this business is actually in demand.

Just think about the parents who cannot look after their children because of being busy at work or current business. How cool would that be to take something off their plate so they can focus on doing what they need to do?

However, one thing that you need to be aware of is the child’s need. You see, babysitting is not all about looking after a baby or a kid for several hours - it is always more than that. You need to be responsible so that nothing bad will happen to the kid as long as they are under your care.

Capital: nothing - just skills and dedication

7. App Development

Now, if your goal in life is to create something useful for everyone, then explore the world of app development.

Most developers have their passion, and that is where they get the ideas. Start developing your app and introduce it to the market.

Capital: app technology fees and other necessary equipment on the staging and testing periods.

8. Event Planning

Have you ever wondered if event planning is for you?

This business is a low-cost one in the sense that you pretty much have to connect with your network and source suppliers for the particular event you are trying to organize.

Capital: time and effort - nothing beats these.

9. Freelance Classes

If you are a freelancer with enough skills and expertise in a particular field, share your knowledge with others through in-depth classes and webinars.

Capital: time, recording equipment, tools. Just ensure you have enough to suffice costs for these until you have clients.

10. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is the answer if you want to start a business but do not want to stock up on stocks. Find your niche, discover the products you want to sell, look for a supplier, and start marketing the products to the customers.

Capital: pretty much - nothing. As per stocks, you do not need huge money anymore, but you must pay for tools to make your dropshipping stores possible such as Shopify and Oberlo.

11. Ebooks

Writing an ebook is also one way to start a low-cost business in India. First, find a topic that suits your niche, then write a few pages. Utilize the power of peer reviews to check if what you write is relevant and favored by readers.

Capital: time and effort, although you may have occasional minimal expenses to promote the book online.

12. Stock Images

Are you a photographer or someone who loves taking breathtaking photos?

Well, try to make some good money for that when you submit it on online image repositories in exchange for credit and possible licensing if you apply for one.

Capital: nothing significant as long as you can find the right sites. Some may ask for memberships for a minimal amount, but that’s it.

13. Computer and Mobile Repairs

If you are into fixing things, try starting a business repairing computers and mobile devices. It is one good way to make use of your skills without spending too much on capital.

These days, you can even run this business in the comfort of your home. So, there is no need to rent additional shop space.

Capital: Invest in the right tools to make the work possible and have the best results. It is best to have the best tools to ensure that you are actually fixing the problem rather than making it worse.

14. Blogging

Back in the old days, blogging is more on the person’s passion. But now, it is already a booming business. Bloggers these days are monetizing their sites in various ways just by sharing their valuable content with users.

Capital: hosting and domain expenses - you need to have enough budget to ensure your site is working well all the time. Do not worry! There are very affordable sites offering these services.

15. Vlogging

Same with blogging, vlogging is also a dynamic career these days. However, you are dealing more with video content than the written ones.

Capital: you will need more money on this as you should invest in some high-quality equipment to capture the best clips. But, of course, you have the option to use secondhand units as long as they are working properly.

16. Handicrafts

There is money in creativeness. If you are into making handicrafts, then share them with the world!

Making handicrafts is a low investment business. You either do the trading of the products, or you can let somebody do it for you. The key is to have saleable products that are sustainable and appealing to buyers.

Capital: start-up costs depend on the kind of materials you need for the product. It is best to conduct market research first before looking for suppliers.

17. Gardening Services

If you are into gardening and have a whole squad of people who love gardening, then start a business related to this.

You can start by offering personal gardening services to your network then begin offering the service outside your circle.

Capital: obviously, you need tools to ensure that you can finish the work on time and deliver good results. Invest as well in some protective gear to shield you from possible hazards while at work.

18. Binary Option

A binary option is a financial option in stock trading that pays off high amounts or no amount at all.

In other words, it is a gamble. But still, it can be a low-cost business opportunity if you are in good predictions. You can apply for the binary option from the platform like IQ OPTION.

Capital: sign up money to start trading depends on the platform. Do thorough research before committing.

19. Pet Care

Do you love pets? Well, if yes, you can be a pet trainer.

In India, families who have pets tend to look for pet care experts, especially if they have a busy schedule. At the same time, these families need a trainer who could teach their pets to be civilized or attentive about the stuff the owner is commanding.

Capital: start promoting your business to your personal network so you can have lesser costs. If you want to open a pet center, then you will need more capital on hand. Otherwise, you can just do it at the comfort of your home or visit your clients personally.

20. Animator

Today, animation and gaming tech is booming. So, if you are pro on this, start offering your services and earn just by staying at home.

Capital: you need to invest in high-quality editing software to ensure you can deliver the best outputs.

21. Translation Services

In this modern era, many companies working around the globe face language barriers. Hence, a translation service would be great to help these businesses navigate through the problem and let you earn simultaneously.

Capital: nothing, as long as you are fluent with the language requirement.

22. Water Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting means storing water for future usage. Though it may sound odd, it is a fact that every village these days faces water scarcity. Hence, it is necessary to save water.

It is a lucrative business idea because it will give you options to help your neighborhood. But it can be tricky, so you must not be complacent with the whole process.

Capital: you will need a storage and treatment facility, which can incur high costs initially, so be prepared.

23. Franchising

Most people think that franchising is always costly when it is not the case most of the time. The secret to successful franchising is finding the right business for the franchise and ensuring that it is a business you want to cultivate and manage.

Franchise costs depend on the business type, but some businesses exist for franchising with relatively lower franchise fees than others.

Capital: depending on the business, the overall investment may range from a few lakhs to a thousand or higher.

24. Religious Items Business

India is a devout country. People have faith in religious items such as pictures of deities, idols, incense sticks, holy candles, prayer beads, cotton wicks for lamps, and other things.

You can start a business with these items without investing too much. Just focus on the things you want to sell in bulk or stock up.

Capital: keep capital that can sustain the current demand. It is best if you have some working capital to use in the first few months.

25. Candle Business

The use of candles is not limited to illuminate houses during power cuts or religious centers. In fact, there is a high demand for the candle business, especially for the scented ones.

Capital: the initial capital needed to start is bearable since candle ingredients are not so expensive. But, be mindful because this is not always the case. You always need to find the right suppliers.

26. Tutorial Services

Now that classes have shifted online, why don’t you offer tutorial classes?

Every parent wants to provide the best education to their children while they are going to school. The need for a qualified and dedicated tutor for every child has become a requisite.

Hence, there is a demand for tutors in various disciplines and subjects. If you have the knowledge and expertise in a particular topic, grab this opportunity and offer this kind of business now.

Capital: no investment needed at all - just your skills, internet, and computer. But, if you are starting without any tools available, you may need to invest a certain amount that is enough to get you a working computer and a stable internet connection.

27. Catering Business

People love food, and even this time of the pandemic, the food industry is booming. The catering business remains viable, especially for occasions that need special food preparations.

So, if you are a good cook, start your catering business now and offer your services to people who are most likely to avail food packages - be it a wedding, christening, or just a simple family celebration.

Capital: you need to have sufficient working capital to keep the business going until you start having profit. So, strive to have at least enough funds so that you through for the company’s first six months.

28. Customized Gifts Services

So, yes! Everyone loves customized items. It is a viable business idea.

You can start this business even at home. Nowadays, everyone wants to give their loved ones a memorable gift on special days or occasions. This business does not require huge capital, and basically, you can work this out within your means.

Capital: best to have funds that can help you buy the initial materials you need. After that, you are good to go.

29. Pollution Masks Business

Aside from the medical-grade masks needed against the COVID, the business of pollution masks is also making a name in India.
With the rapid increase in pollution in all metropolitan cities, especially Delhi, the scope of manufacturing and trading these pollution masks would be like selling hotcakes in upcoming years.
So, take this chance to be the leader in the manufacturing of these pollution masks. It may require significant fund capital, but the returns are high. It is still a win-win situation.

30. Affiliate Marketing

Well, if you already have a good, monetizing site, and your niche is relevant, affiliate marketing is one key to earn without investing huge money.

Now you can earn good money with a click on the reference link. All you need to do is register as an affiliate, get a link, and post or share it within your network.

For every successful sale using your link, you get a commission. That’s simple, isn’t it?

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