Do not get confused over the thought of what business or industry sector shall be chosen. Every business has its pros and cons, it’s just about the best business ideas to make money. It is just about which business you have the passion and zeal to crack. Your skillset also matters a lot in achieving the target. You should be confident enough to implement the skills you possess and manage to overcome the upcoming challenges. Further, let’s discuss some small and low-cost business ideas for you to pick that match your skillset.

List of 21 Most Successful Small Scale Business Ideas in India

1. Breakfast Joint/Take-away

Food being one of the three basic necessities of life makes a top choice for people to indulge and open up a business in F&B (Food and Beverage) Industry. This is why as a small-scale business idea, food joints will never run out of customers, as long they serve delectable food. Of course, a start-up business does not need to be a full-fledged restaurant from the start. One can start with only a few key dishes such as a wholesome traditional breakfast with optional snacks as an add-on.

2. Juice Points/Shakes Counters

As more and more Indians grow health-conscious, fresh juices without preservatives are emerging as a popular healthy alternative to cold drinks. This is why the humble juice bar has made into this small business ideas list for India as a top option for a potentially successful venture. While one is at it, diversification into related drinks especially (perhaps less healthy) summer drinks like lemonade, buttermilk, and lassi might also work out well for this small business. Of course one can decide to go the whole hog and get started with a fully-loaded food truck instead. As long as the food/drinks provided are of high quality and all the requisite permits are in order, ensuring the success of this business idea should not be too hard.

3. Tailoring/Embroidery

As far as successful business ideas go, this one is based on another basic requirement of life – clothing, so the size of the market includes well, everyone. As a start-up business, tailoring and embroidery have been around for decades and most are usually home-based businesses that receive and complete orders on behalf of small boutiques. But being a tried and tested idea does improve its chances of emerging as a successful future business especially in larger cities where tailoring services are in high demand. Obviously one needs to undergo the requisite training and ideally should have sufficient experience in order to improve the chances of succeeding in this small-scale business venture.

4. Online Businesses

Small business ideas have the potential to grow into huge businesses over time and the emergence of the Internet along with related technologies can definitely help out. It is proven that small businesses with an online footprint tend to do better than those that do not have an online footprint. So amazingly, this start-up business idea is focused on providing a range of online services to various small and medium businesses. This is the reason why social media experts, bloggers, website designers, and developers are in high demand these days. Such businesses require only basic computer systems, software, and a high-speed internet connection to set up but they do require the entrepreneur to be skillful at what they do. Related businesses that can be successfully operated online include ghostwriting, freelancing, and online translation services.

5. Blogging

If one has to pick a single money-making idea from a list of internet-based small businesses from home, blogging, vlogging (video blogging) have the potential to be money-spinners. As long as it is interesting, it does not matter what one writes or makes a video about. Even many top-rated performance artists, including stand-up comedians, have considered this as a potential way to expand their reach. The goal is of course to maximize the number of views or readers of the vlog or blog through the creation of interesting content. In the case of certain vlog platforms, one gets paid based on the number of views while in the case of most blogs adverting revenues generated through Google Adsense helps the business make money.

6. Cookery Classes

In case a skillful professional cook does not fancy the idea of slogging it out at a restaurant or food truck business, there is an alternative – cookery class. This is a unique trend that’s catching on among urban families in India as something that couples do together and create something that’s delicious yet healthy. What’s more, it is even possible to carry out these classes both in-person and online or one could make a vlog teaching others the intricacies of culinary skills. The scope to expand and monetize from potential market segments that one might not be able to reach otherwise increases manifold by taking advantage of the online route.

7. Daycare Services

In India, the concept of crèches in the office for working mothers is yet to catch on and as more women enter into and stay on in the workforce even after marriage, it is obvious that the demand for daycare services will continue to rise in the near future. As a start-up business, daycare services and crèches have been around for years, if not decades especially in the larger cities that have a larger number of working women and nuclear families.

8. Dance Centre

If you are a good dancer or choreographer, you can easily start your own dance center by taking space for rent. Marketing your dance academy is the only investment required. If you do not dance well, still you can run a dance center by hiring dance teachers.

9. Photography

Sometimes your hobby can make you earn money, you just need to spend some extra time on your hobby to make it a profession and further into a business. Photography is one of those hobbies turned professions. Better the camera will be, enriched the pictures it will capture. Rest all in your precision and skill of taking pictures that will make you a good photographer.

10. Yoga instructor

Knowledge of Yoga and the habit of self-practicing all the ‘Yoga Asanas’ makes a good yoga instructor. Yoga is considered to be above all stress buster practices and has proven results worldwide. Yoga instructors are in high demand in India, as well as abroad. Zero investment is required in doing this business.

11. Wedding Bureau

Weddings are made in heaven but arranged down here. Besides marriage online portals, wedding bureaus are more prevalent in small cities and towns. Families consider meeting other families in person before coming up to any decision. Therefore, with small office space, 1-2 staff members, registration certificate and contacts can make you a successful businessman.

12. Travel Agency

A couple of certifications and an attractive office at a prime location can help you start and run a travel agency. A successful travel agent is one who can make others travel at ease and convenience. Good knowledge of worldwide itineraries, flight fares, and hotel rates can be helpful in the initial stages.

13. Salon

Opening a salon is the most trending business option in metro cities. The youth of young India is more cautious of looking presentable and groomed. Therefore, almost every salon has decent customers irrespective of location. Salon owners make huge profits during festive or marriage seasons, especially in metro cities.

14. Real Estate Agent

If you are a good seller with strong convincing power, then this business can turn your financial condition for good. Office space is the only investment required with good knowledge of types of properties and documentation processes. Honest public relations and impressive communication will help you become a successful real estate agent.

15. Placement Services

HR is the integral and important vertical in an organization and good recruitment makes a company grow and grow further. So to have tie-ups with reputed organizations and placing good employees with them makes it a low-cost placement business.

16. Ice cream Parlour

Despite being a seasonal business, still, ice cream parlor is a big hit in terms of small businesses. Investment required in doing this manufacturing business is buying the franchise of any specific ice cream brand and secondly having a shop to place the counter in the desired location.

17. Handicrafts Seller

The government of India has started promoting the sale of handicraft products in numerous states. Steps are been taken to make handicraft products reach every home in India. Some of these products include metalware, paintings, shawls, carpets, woodware, earthenware, embroidered goods, and bronze and marble sculptures, etc.

18. Coaching Classes

Education is a field of diversity and a good low-cost business idea. Financial break-even is easily achieved and it’s not a full-time business.

19. Consultancy

Almost every sector requires consultants to assist in its development and growth. People with decent knowledge of IT, finance, marketing, HR, accounts, law, healthcare, social media, etc. can open their own consultancy company and tie up with big corporates to make good money.

20. Boutique Store

One of the traditional small-scale businesses of the nation. Women who like stitching clothes and are updated with the latest fashion trends can run a boutique store anywhere. The boutique store can be managed from home itself and the only investment required is the sewing machine with apparel to sell.

21. Catering

Catering business requires investment in just hiring labor, buying raw material, and owning tents, tables, chairs, and utensils. The rest depends on your contacts, marketing techniques, and the quality of the food being prepared and served.

Additional Small Scale Business Ideas in India

Some of the additional small scale business ideas which are eyed by businessmen and become a success are:

Wedding Planner: It’s a never-ending business and people with creativity and passion make them successful.

Real Estate Consultant: It’s a small-scale business idea of an unorganized sector that you can start with by having good contacts and public relations. Less investment and high returns are expected of this small-scale business.

Professional Photography: All one needs is a good DSLR camera and contacts with reputed organizations. No office required just your talent and passion to earn a good amount of money.

The success of the best business ideas or the smallest business to start depends on multiple factors that include market conditions, the skill of the owner, proprietor, and much more. The above list is short and each carries its own unique set of risks but each and every one of those small business ideas holds the potential to emerge as a successful business of the future.

Low-Cost Business Ideas – 2021

Let’s further discuss some low-cost business ideas for start-up companies and first-time business owners.

The most popular idea among the low-cost business ideas for start-ups is a business related to the food industry that is already on a rise, especially in the metro cities

According to the studies and research, many food start-ups are running along with the help and collaboration of food delivery giants, such as Swiggy, Zomato, and Ubereats

The development of marketing strategy especially with the help of social media and digital markets is important for the success of such small scale food start-ups

The government and the financial institutions provide all the required financial assistance for the start-ups along with flexible repayment options

Another lucrative idea among the low-cost business ideas for start-ups is the fashion accessory and clothing business that has a great potential for earning high volumes of income due to the high level of accessibility

The idea is especially ideal for young women fashion designers and aspirants who inherit the desired knowledge and experience in the field of fashion and clothing

Design, if starts getting a fair amount of responses can be manufactured contractually to become a hit across the global markets with the partnership of e-commerce giants, such as Amazon, Alibaba, e-bay, Walmart, Flipkart, etc.

Another attractive idea from the low-cost business ideas for a start-up is an agriculture start-up especially the setting up organic fields for growing organic fruits and vegetables

The market studies prove that after the rise of grocery delivery companies, such as Big Basket and Grofers, agriculture has become a lucrative business to earn a decent income

All the above-mentioned small businesses can be started and managed from leading metropolitan cities like Delhi (Gurugram, Faridabad) Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata, and other Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, as well.