Retail Business Ideas in India. We all think of starting the business of our dreams shortly. But, one thing is the lack of capital- hinders us from achieving our goals. We look at successful small companies and wonder what they did to establish their business at all in the first place.
If you’re people who want to own a business, There’s nothing to be concerned about. There’s nothing to worry about, not even the absence of capital. This is because there are up to 30 low-cost and high-profit retail business concepts available in India, and you can select and begin your own business.
So, let’s begin by understanding what exactly are low-cost and high-profit retail businesses.
Low Cost & High-Profit Businesses
It is a general rule that businesses that draw many people to come in and make purchases and pay in cash are low-cost and high-profit retail businesses. In general, these businesses can start with a minimal investment of Rs.10,000 or less and up to Rs.500,000. However, the costs associated with starting other retail businesses can be as high as hundreds of millions of Rupees.
To operate any of these low-cost and high-profit retail businesses, it is necessary to need a license or at the very least an official shop registration from your local municipality or the local administrative (Gram Panchayat). This will make your company legitimate.
The cost to obtain these permits and licenses could range between several hundred and several thousand Rupees. However, the price is worth it since no one can remove you from the premises or pursue legal action against the company.
It is a fact that cities frequently demolish unlicensed stalls and businesses that are not licensed. By obtaining a permit or license, you can avoid destroying your business’s premises and the destruction from your investments.
Refer: A Complete Guide to Start a Small Business
Loans for Low-Cost Businesses
Today it is possible to get loans to set up an affordable and profitable enterprise in India. For instance, a small business owner can receive any amount from Rs.50,000 up to Rs.1 million to start an enterprise through MUDRA, the Micro Units Development, and Refinance Agency ( MUDRA) Bank scheme run by the Indian government.
The loans are offered by banks that are part of MUDRA. MUDRA scheme.
Additionally, we offer Startup India and Standup India programs that allow you to get loans for your small-scale startup retail business, too. Standup India, in particular, encourages women and entrepreneurs from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to apply for loans and start their business ventures of their own.
Credit societies cooperatives also lend small amounts of cash to entrepreneurs to help them start their businesses.
The only requirement for any of these loans is that you have appropriate permits and licenses for your company.
If this is something you’re interested in and you’d like the opportunity to establish a low-cost and high-profit retail company in India, read on. Since I’m writing about 30 low-cost and high-profit retail businesses in India, you might want to consider.
The licensing policies of each state and locality. So, make sure to check these policies before you enter any of these companies.
Also Read: Small Business Ideas From Home In India
30 Low Cost & High-Profit Retail Business Ideas
For you to start one of these low-cost and high-profit businesses I’ll be discussing, you will need particular expertise. Some businesses do not require special skills and, therefore, they can be set up by anyone with only basic knowledge.
Here’s my list of the 30 most profitable low-cost and high-profit ideas for retail businesses in India.
Also Read: 50 Most Profitable Small Business Ideas in India
1. Tea Stall
The tea stalls that are everywhere are the most well-known in India. You can enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee if you wish in the many tea stalls operating in towns, cities, villages, and along main roads and highways.
This is the most low-cost and high-profit company because you’ll always have customers who stop in to enjoy a cup of well-known Indian tea.
2. Health Drinks Stall
If you’ve ever been to an open-air jogging spot in large cities, there’s a good chance you’ve seen food stalls selling health drinks.
In essence, they provide juices and extracts from various Indian plants, including spices, herbs, herbs, and fruits, to runners, walkers, and other people who are out to walk around or run. It’s also a great business idea that requires very little investment but yields high returns.
3. Fruit Juice Stall
Who doesn’t enjoy fruit juices? That’s why that you will find stands selling juices from fruit everywhere in the country. Stands selling fruit juices are always in high demand throughout the year, no matter the time of year.
This is because many people love drinking a glass of refreshing juice following meals, covering a delayed or skipped breakfast or lunch or dinner, or sometimes, even without reason.
4. Tender Coconut Stall
If you’re a resident of one of the states with an extensive coastline in the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, or the Bay of Bengal, the most affordable and low-profit business you can start is to sell tender coconuts.
The people love the transparent and sweet coconut water and the fresh pulp contained in the coconut shells. The stalls that sell them record high-volume business outside nursing homes and hospitals and are always green.
5. Snacks Stall
Indians love to snack. This is not surprising. It has many snacks to provide at all times throughout the day. There are snack stalls in busy business areas and even in residential areas.
In all cases, the majority of snack stands earn profit and sell on a cash-only basis. All you have to do is make fresh and tasty snacks, usually just before customers arrive, to ensure a good business record.
6. Milk and Dairy Products
Dairy products and milk are staple items that everyone in the Indian family consumes. You can begin your dairy and milk products business in a matter of minutes. The company never is out of the market or is shut down because of a lack of profit.
Customers buy yogurt, milk, Lassi, and other similar dairy products at your stand. You can also ask an association of milk producers to sponsor the milk shop for you.
7. Cigarettes and Tobacco
Through all the years of my existence, I’ve never witnessed any stall selling cigarettes and tobacco products like Pan close down. Instead, they prosper and earn a profit.
The setting up of an establishment doesn’t require huge capital investment. It does require the ability to create a Pan that is made to the customer’s requirements. There are various items available from Pan products, bidis cigarettes, tobacco matchboxes and lighters, and everything else you can find in such stores.
8. Soaps Shop
You may have purchased soaps for washing and bathing from a stand in the market. These are the products that people use daily in their workplaces and at home. Profits from this industry are substantial since you will receive several wholesale discounts and sell these items at the maximum retail price (MRP) stated on the packaging.
Soap shops offer loose detergent powders and soaps that are homemade to the public. The majority of people today are using non-commercial soaps that are safe for the environment and protect your health.
9. Men’s Salon
Men’s salons require a lot of skill in the cutting of hair and shaving. If you’re not able to do it, then you can hire barbers with a wage.
A salon for men does not require an investment of a lot. The expenditure is one-time. The money comes from the customers in cash because nobody cuts or shaves on credit.
10. Aquarium Shop
A shop for aquariums requires no investment yet produces enormous profits. All you have to do is to stock some glass aquariums and rare fish in the shop. Also, you’ll need the breeding tank that allows the fish to reproduce and their numbers to grow.
Aquariums are extremely popular as decoration for homes, and people go seeking new species of fish that they can add to their collection. There are many varieties of species from breeding companies and then sell them in your store too.
11. Religious Items Shop
India is a country the home of many religions. The shops that sell religious items will be popular. It is a high-profit, low-cost retailer that anybody could start with no prior knowledge.
There will be a lot of sales during the festival season and also on special occasions. You can buy the essentials of different religions, including incense sticks, candles, as well as images and pictures of gods, burners, and lamps in your store.
12. Florist
The shop that sells flowers is in high demand all through the year. This is because Indians are fond of draping their gods and notable celebrities, using flowers for funerals and religious occasions, or even decorating their homes.
If you have the skills to create wreaths and garlands, you can earn huge profits through this retail business. You can also create a professional florist shop, selling flowers and other items; however, setting up the business will be more. The company can be put in a short time and at a cost.
13. Laundry
Have you ever wanted to have your trouser or blouse, skirt or skirt ironed in a hurry? Perhaps you’ve enjoyed your sheets professionally cleaned? You’ll likely have to take your laundry to a laundromat to do this. Every laundry generates lots of money; however, the expense is little to establish.
You can offer only ironing services or the complete package, which includes washing, drying, dry cleaning, and darning, for instance. It’s a skill that requires some experience, and at a minimum, you’ll need one person who can handle the task.
14. Fruit Stall
Another business that is simple, to begin with, minimal investment and still makes a lot of money is an artisanal fruit stand. Generally, fruit stalls in bus stops, hospitals, railway stations, and public areas earn lots of money due to a large number of customers.
In the same way, any fruit stand is also a thriving business since people today are convinced of eating healthy. So, they consume plenty of fruits in their diet. While fruits are not seasonal, a company that sells fruits operates throughout the year.
15. Indian Railways Agency
It might be a shock to some, but the Indian Railways now allows private entrepreneurs to purchase and sell tickets. There is a five percent commission per ticket.
But, you’ll have to pay a tiny non-refundable deposit to Indian Railways and show that you have the required infrastructure, such as an office, computer, and printer, to begin this low-cost and high-profit business.
16. Mattress Store
Many people do not feel happy sleeping on factory-made mattresses and pillows. So, they prefer personalized ones made of foam, cotton, coir, and other materials. This kind of business is relatively inexpensive to establish.
Such a venture will require a lot of expertise and a lot of knowledge. There will be employees to manage the business, as one person can’t handle it in most instances. However, you could earn profits when you create mattresses that offer comfortable sleep for your customers.
17. Mobile Accessories
The people of India are obsessed with mobile phones. They search for all kinds of accessories, including cases, flip-cases, and back covers screens, earphones, and more. Thus, you should open a small shop that sells mobile-related accessories.
In reality, people seek the products, So you don’t need to wait around for your customers or invite them to visit or promote your services and products. Also, as more advanced models of smartphones come on the market, the demand continues to rise, increasing every month. The same goes for accessories.
18. Vegetable Vendor
Today, vegetable stores are rapidly becoming trendy because they accept online and card transactions via apps, feature electronic weigh scales and even refrigerators. If you’d like to, you can start a vegetable store in your area or another area.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are readily available each morning for wholesale prices, but you’ll be charging significantly higher retail prices to your customers. This is a type of business that doesn’t have an off-season.
19. Tailoring Shop
All you require to establish the business is top-quality sewing machine threads, measuring tapes, thread hangers, and other similar items. A tailoring shop isn’t expensive for the earth to establish. But it will yield huge returns. To start a tailoring business requires the skills needed to take measurements of people and create clothes that are appropriate for their size. It is possible to start a tailoring business catering to women, children, or even the whole family. It’s all in your skill as a tailor.
20. Tiffin Service
Since most couples live in the city and have their jobs, the reliance on Tiffin delivery services has increased dramatically. It’s a significant retail business if you’re skilled at cooking and can manage the cooks in a small group and delivery men.
In certain instances, customers visit the tiffin restaurant to eat takeaway food as well. It is possible to cater to an income segment or cater to the whole population for your tiffin services as customers. This can be a profitable business if you can effectively manage it.
21. Toys Stall
It doesn’t matter if you’re a Toys’R’Us store to market toys. A small stall on the street could be sufficient. Children require new toys all the time, and parents can’t buy them a lot because of financial limitations.
Thus, you could open an expo for toys that sells inexpensive toys available directly from manufacturers throughout the country. This is a great business since people buy these toys as gifts. The company is cheap to start and also earns enormous profits.
22. T-Shirt Printing
Individuals, companies, and even organizations wish to distribute customized T-shirts to their employees, staff members, or employees for promotional purposes. Thus, they purchase plain T-shirts and then have them customized with details like their logo or name, motto, and other information.
It’s an evergreen industry in India that is never out of stock. All you require is an ample supply of plain T-shirts and the right equipment to print on them.
23. Photocopy and Printing Stall
There are several times that I’ve been tempted to print or photocopy an item, and I’ve looked for a long time. Finally, I breathed an exhilaration when I came across one to finish my task.
In India, every person needs printing and photocopies of documents. All you need is a reliable photocopier as well as a printer, a PC and some space. It is possible to start a business at a low cost and will yield huge returns. Most companies are solely cash-based.
24. Luggage Shop
Selling bags and purses for women, suitcases, and briefcases are a lucrative business you can begin at an inexpensive cost. However, the profits from the company are very high. It doesn’t require ample space to start an enterprise.
In addition, you need the location to have a lot of customers. You could also offer other travel products at the stall or in the shop and provide repair services with additional charges.
25. Footwear Repair
You’ve probably needed the help of the local mochi at one point in your life. In reality, it’s a highly profitable business that anyone who has an essential skill at fixing footwear can begin.
If you don’t have the necessary skills, you can engage a professional’mochi paid on a pay-per-hour basis. Repair shops for footwear are open throughout the year and aren’t affected by epidemics or economic recessions, or other issues that affect big enterprises.
26. Homemade Sweets
A few months ago, I read an article about an older woman who had started her own company to sell homemade sweets. She began with a modest budget, just enough to buy the raw materials needed to make the sweets.
If you’re adept at making traditional Indian sweets, you could consider a venture and offer the sweets through shops and vendors. There’s no shortage of customers who prefer homemade sweets over commercially produced kinds.
27. Book Stall
This isn’t talking about a massive bookstall like Barnes & Noble or any known one in your area. What I’m talking about is a stall selling used as well as secondhand titles. You can buy a wide selection of secondhand books at scrap sellers.
In reality, I constructed my library by buying books from small book stores selling used copies. All you have to do is repair them and then sell them to readers who are willing to pay an affordable price for your book. It is possible to start this business with a minimum investment of Rs.10,000.
28. Newspaper Stand
We all read newspapers. Many of us get newspapers in our homes as well as at the office. So, a stand for newspapers company is one of the most beneficial options for those thinking of starting your venture with a small amount of capital.
Newspaper companies areas such with a substantial portion of revenue per copy that goes to news vendors. You may also offer the delivery of your office or home. This way, you can pay delivery costs too.
29. Soft Drinks Stall
There was a time that soft drinks were seen as an expensive item in India due to the price. However, that’s no longer the case. Nearly everyone drinks soft drinks at least once a month. Some drink every day.
Consider setting up a stall for soft drinks to sell soda and other products similar to it. The cost of investment is minimal, and the profits are more significant than you would think. All you need is the chiller. In most cases, the soft drink company will provide the chiller, provided that you own the location and a permit for a store from the municipal government.
30. Toddy Shop
Usually, a toddy shop is generally run by a cooperative of toddy makers. The only thing you have to do is put money into items such as furniture and an ice maker. Every toddy shop is a booming business. Toddy is fresh every day from sappers.
Toddy isn’t expensive anything. All you have to do is to sell the product for cash to your customers. But, every bottle or pot of toddy is sold at a premium cost in the retail market. It is a business that requires a license since sales of toddy fall under the umbrella of Indian liquor.
Wrap Up
You’ve probably noticed these 30 best low-cost, and high-return retail business concepts in India do not require any special education qualifications. Some might require particular capabilities. These companies can be set up without difficulty, provided that they are willing to put in a modest sum of cash and make an effort.
