Searching for small business ideas with low investment in India? You are not the only one! In these times, most individuals are opting out of the 9-to-5 lifestyle and beginning something new. And the most terrific thing? It does not require much money to start.

At the student level, or staying at home, or a full-time job but wanting to earn an additional income, the low-cost business opportunities in India are plentiful. The only thing required is the idea that is right and the desire to make it happen.

Here is the list of the best 15 small business ideas with low investment in India; online services to hand-made products and local businesses. It has something to suit everybody. So, what are the most brilliant ideas that you can begin doing today, let’s look!

Which are the Best Top 15 Small Business Ideas with Low Investment in India?

In case you are interested in entering the world of entrepreneurship but do not have a massive budget at your disposal, you will find a lot of small business ideas with low investment in India to start with. You do not have to be a student or a homemaker or a person who wants to get out of the 9-to-5 routine; there are enough opportunities. Among the most viable ones are tiffin services, online tuition classes, blogging, pet care and even selling hand made products. Such low investment business ideas do not involve any fancy setup or huge teams. These are easily operated at home and hence the best home based business ideas. The most interesting thing? You do not have to be an expert, you just have to be a bit passionate and consistent.

Most of these businesses are categorized as business ideas under 1 Lakh, so they will not harm your pocket, but at the same time, it will give you optimal growth. Whether it is tailoring services or social media management, mobile repair or niche farming, these are indeed small scale business ideas that have big solutions. Most of them are also easy to start businesses in India, thanks to digital tools and platforms, especially those who are comfortable to use the internet to market and sell. These concepts are ideal to anyone aspiring to be an entrepreneur, who is in need of freedom and financial security with flexible working schedules, low overheads and a consistent demand.  Below are 15 of the top small business ideas with low investment in India.

  1. Tiffin / Homemade Meal Delivery Service
  2. Handmade Crafts, Soaps & Candles
  3. Tuition / Online Coaching Center
  4. Freelance Services (Writing, Design, Social Media)
  5. Dropshipping / Print‑on‑Demand Store
  6. Mobile / Computer Repair Service
  7. Pet Care Services (Grooming, Sitting)
  8. Blogging or YouTube Channel
  9. Home Bakery or Snack Business
  10. Social Media Management Agency
  11. Juice or Snack Stall
  12. Boutique or Tailoring Services
  13. Event Planning & Decoration
  14. Affiliate Marketing or Micro-Influencing
  15. Niche Gardening or Microgreens Farming

1. Tiffin / Home Made Meal Delivery Service

One of the most famous small business ideas with low investment in India is the launch of a tiffin or meal delivery business. Your food is home-style food and you deliver them to working people, students, or hostels. It is a low investment business and thus only needs basic kitchen equipment, packaging and ingredients-hence it is suitable to operate at home. Having a stable taste and hygiene, the customers are likely to remain loyal to your service and with time you can expand to cloud kitchens or collaborate with delivery services.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Basic kitchen setup and packaging
  • Target Market: Offices, students, hostels
  • Initial Investment: ₹5,000–₹20,000
  • Profit Margin: 30–40%
  • Marketing: Word-of-mouth, WhatsApp, flyers
  • Scalability: Grow into cloud kitchen or multi-city delivery
  • Certification: Simple food license/FSSAI registration

2. Handmade Crafts, Soaps & Candles

Another small scale business idea with low investment in India is that of making candles, soaps, decorative pieces or personalized gifts. Being a low investment business, you will require items such as wax, oils, molds, and packaging- most of them can be prepared at home. Customers can easily be attracted by unique and aesthetic products more during the gifting season and festivals. The products will be sold online through social media or offline in local markets which makes it a scalable flexible venture.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Small home-based workshop
  • Product Range: Candles, soaps, eco-gifts
  • Initial Investment: ₹10,000–₹40,000
  • Profit Margin: 40–60%
  • Sales Channels: Instagram, Etsy, weekly markets
  • Seasonal Peaks: Festivals, weddings
  • Scalability: Add apparel, decor items, or brand your own store

3. Tuition / Online Coaching Center

The low investment home-based or online coaching business idea is a safe bet in India that can be started in academic subjects, languages or hobbies such as music, art etc. It only needs a laptop, internet and teaching materials, and thus a real low investment business. This business has a high demand for quality education hence high profit margins and client retention is achieved by word of mouth and repeat classes.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Use home space or online platforms
  • Target Market: Students, professionals
  • Initial Investment: ₹0–₹10,000
  • Profit Margin: 60–80%
  • Marketing: Referrals, WhatsApp groups
  • Flexibility: Choose your teaching hours
  • Growth Potential: Add batch classes or recorded courses

4. Freelance (Writing, Design, Social Media)

A freelance job is one of the best small business ideas with low investment in India, and the freelance market in India is huge. Using a laptop and internet, which is a perfect low investment business, you can work with clients in any industry. This small scale business idea is associated with great profitability, the possibility to work at home, and you can eventually become the owner of your own agency. Most freelancers even begin as home based business ideas and then grow.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Showcase a portfolio online
  • Skills Needed: Writing, design, digital marketing
  • Initial Investment: ₹0–₹10,000
  • Profit Margin: 50–80%
  • Client Acquisition: Upwork, Fiverr, LinkedIn
  • Work Mode: Remote and flexible
  • Scalability: Build a team or agency

5. Dropshipping / Print‑on‑Demand Store

In small business ideas with low investment in India, you can also have dropshipping or print-on-demand stores, which are scalable since you do not keep any inventory. With the help of an online shop and the collaboration of suppliers, this low investment business allows you to concentrate on design and marketing. It is an intelligent small scale business idea, which can expand at a fast rate and most entrepreneurs start as home based business ideas.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Online store setup (Shopify etc.)
  • Product Focus: Apparel, mugs, phone covers
  • Initial Investment: ₹5,000–₹20,000
  • Profit Margin: 15–35%
  • Marketing: Social media, paid ads
  • Inventory Risk: None—supplier fulfills orders
  • Scalability: Launch multiple collections

6. Mobile / Computer Repair Service

The repair of phones or computers is a good small business idea with low investment in India. Being a low investment business, you will require only minimum tools and minimum training. It is a viable small scale business idea and the demand is repetitive and many technicians begin working in their homes- so it is a common home based business idea too.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Short technical training
  • Setup: Home or mobile workstation
  • Initial Investment: ₹10,000–₹30,000
  • Profit Margin: 20–60%
  • Target Customers: Students, offices, households
  • Recurring Revenue: From repeat repairs
  • Expansion: Add accessories or doorstep service

7. Pet Care Services (Grooming, Sitting)

Pet grooming and sitting services are the small business ideas with low investment in India that can be launched as a profitable business since the services require only a minimal equipment and skills. It is a perfect low investment business to those who love animals. It is a well-known small scale business idea that can be launched at home and grow into pet food delivery, which is one of the best home based business ideas.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Basic pet grooming training
  • Setup: Home-based or mobile
  • Initial Investment: ₹5,000–₹15,000
  • Profit Margin: 30–50%
  • Services: Grooming, sitting, walking
  • Marketing: Local ads, referrals
  • Growth: Add subscriptions or pet products 

8. Blogging or Youtube Channel

One of the best small business ideas with low investment in India is to start a blog or even a YouTube channel. It is a low investment business and the tools needed are minimal such as a domain or a simple camera. Content creation is a long-term small scale business idea, and it could provide passive income, and it is also started by many as home based business ideas.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Choose niche and platform
  • Content Focus: Tutorials, reviews, lifestyle
  • Initial Investment: ₹2,000–₹15,000
  • Monetization: Ads, affiliates, sponsorships
  • Reach: Global audience
  • Profit Potential: Variable, scalable
  • Skill Growth: Enhances writing, editing, SEO

9. Snack or Home Bakery Business

Opening a snack/bakery business at home is a wonderful idea for a small business idea with low investment in India. Being a low investment business, you may start with the tools you have at home in the kitchen with the basic ingredients. This small scale business Idea is suitable in local neighborhoods, festivals and online markets, and this fits perfectly in home based business ideas.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Home kitchen; purchase basic bakeware
  • Initial Investment: ₹10,000–₹50,000
  • Profit Margin: 30–40%
  • Target Market: Residents, events, weekend markets
  • Marketing: Instagram, local food blogs
  • Compliance: FSSAI, hygiene
  • Scalability: Add variety, pack for retail

10. SMM Agency

Management of social media accounts is one of the best small business ideas with low investment in India strategies. All that is required in this low investment business is a laptop and creativity. This is a small scale business idea that can be scaled up and you can begin at home, which means that it is one of the home based business ideas that are easy to handle and grow.

Key Features:

  • How to Start: Create packages (content, ads)
  • Client Base: Small businesses, startups
  • Initial Investment: ₹5,000–₹20,000
  • Profit Margin: High (after client onboarding)
  • Tools: Canva, Buffer, analytics tools
  • Work Style: Remote and flexible
  • Growth: Hire assistants or specialists

11. Snack or Juice Stall

Running a snack or a juice stall is a typical Indian small business idea with low investment. Being a low investment business, all you require is a kiosk and ingredients. This small scale business idea does well in places with high traffic and high demand periods. Usually it begins as a home based business idea in markets or fairs and can eventually be scaled up as packaged products.

Key Features:

  • Investment: ₹20,000–₹60,000
  • Stall or kiosk setup required
  • High footfall areas needed
  • Profit margin: 30–60%
  • License and hygiene compliance
  • Daily income potential
  • Expandable into packaged products

12. Tailoring Services or Boutique Services

Custom tailoring is an effective small business idea with low investment in India as it needs a sewing machine and a fabric. It is a low investment business that can be run at home. This small scale business idea is very much demandable particularly at the time of the festivals. 

Key Features:

  • Investment: ₹15,000–₹50,000
  • Skill via courses or apprenticeship
  • Fittings and custom orders on demand
  • Profit margin: 30–50%
  • Seasonal demand spikes (weddings, festivals)
  • Opportunity for online orders
  • Start from home; expand to boutique later

13. Planning and Decoration

The small business ideas with low investment in India that needs low capital includes event planning and decoration which is very entertaining. It is a low investment business, which uses simple supplies of decor. This small scale business idea can be started at home but through client events, it will become visible. It is one of the trendy home based business ideas of the creative entrepreneurs.

Key Features:

  • Investment: ₹20,000–₹50,000
  • Basic décor materials required
  • Local event partnerships useful
  • Profit margin: 20–40%
  • Seasonal demand peaks
  • Build vendor/supplier networks
  • Expand into full planning services

14. Micro‑Influencing or Affiliate Marketing

One of the small business ideas with low investment in India is affiliate marketing or micro-influencing. One of the low investment businesses, you can start with a blog or a social media account. This small scale business idea is suitable to the content creators and the influencers. It is suitable for home based business ideas and does not need much overhead.

Key Features:

  • Investment: ₹0–₹10,000
  • Passive income potential from commissions
  • Platforms: Amazon, Flipkart, affiliate networks
  • Monetization through content
  • High leverage of engagement
  • No product inventory required
  • Scale via audience growth

15. Microgreens Farming or Niche Gardening

A small business idea with low investment in India is growing microgreens or herbs which are green oriented. It is a low investment business that takes little space and small tools. The health-conscious consumers and local cafes will be interested in this small scale business idea. It is practiced mostly at balconies or terraces and can be described as one of the most viable home based business ideas in the modern world.

Key Features:

  • Investment: ₹10,000–₹50,000
  • Short harvest cycles (7–15 days)
  • High-profit margins (25–60%)
  • Local demand from cafes and health-conscious customers
  • Expand into herbs or specialty seedlings
  • Branding as organic produce
  • Low pesticide use cuts cost

Why Choose Finline To Create The Project Reports For Your Small Business Ideas?

Finding the proper small business ideas with low investment in India can be the key to a financially independent lifestyle, personal fulfillment, and sustainable development. Whether you want to begin with a home-based business or a scalable service, the possibilities are unlimited provided you make the right decision and begin intelligently. Nevertheless, to transform an idea into a successful business, it is also necessary to plan it and document it, particularly when you are seeking funding.

This is where Finline comes in. Finline assists you to prepare your project reports professionally structured, easily customizable and also accepted by all leading banks within 10 minutes. Whether you’re launching a tiffin service, digital marketing agency, or any other small business, Finline ensures your business plan is solid, bank-ready, and future-proof. Start your entrepreneurial journey today with confidence—and let Finline support you every step of the way. Go here to make your project report with Finline!

FAQs

 The most suitable small business is the one that is based on your abilities and the place of residence. Homemade food, tuition classes, mobile repair and digital marketing services are some of the great options. They require minimal capital and one can start them at home. 

 You may begin a business such as making crafts with your hands, tiffin services, blogging, or online reselling. They require lower set up cost and can be operated with less than 50,000.

 Some of the best small business ideas that can be done easily are tuition classes, home bakery, YouTube channel, freelance writing and tailoring. These do not require massive investment and you can begin at your home.

 Begin with a simple concept, such as a home based or online service. Market using free tools and social media. Be frugal and be small.

 Home tiffin service, digital marketing, online coaching and mobile repair are highly lucrative. These enterprises require minimal capital to initiate and have decent earnings provided they are done well.