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100 Brilliant Business Ideas - Entrepreneurindia - in PDF
100 Brilliant Business Ideas - Entrepreneurindia - in PDF
100 Brilliant Business Ideas - Entrepreneurindia - in PDF
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Home People Cover Story Share
March 2014
We give you 100 reasons to quit that job, cash out those savings,
and take the plunge that makes lions out of lambs. The plunge into the world of business
1. SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANCE SERVICE
We have previously talked about how big social media is for big and small businesses both. This kind of
business is merely an extension of how well you know your social networks and how best to use them for
business clients. Under this service, you could be doing ghost-writing for businesses, posting on their
blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and twitter accounts. You could also actively monitor the networks for
mentions of your client and manage them accordingly
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: You should know your social networks. Guides on how to effectively use social media for
businesses are available online. Social media workshops have also begun in Indian cities
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.50 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
2. HR AND RECRUITING SERVICE
Not every business can afford a human resources department. Not everyone can afford a big recruitment
firm either. There is a gap here that can be exploited, especially by human resources professionals, to start
building their own recruiting firm. Further on, you can also actively manage these firms HR processes for
them, all the time putting yourself to be one of those big firms as well.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: If you are not trained already, pursue a short course or workshop at an institute like Symbiosis
Centre for Distance Learning or IGNOU
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
3. TRANSLATION SERVICES
Globalization and the positives in business infrastructure mean that even small and medium businesses
now work across at least a few nations. But this comes with the hurdle of language in which they
invariably need assistance. So, if you know any language of business, you are going to be in business
yourself as translators are in big need. A translation service would be required to interpret all sorts of
documents, but their greatest source of revenue will be legal and medical companies. You can specialize
in the one or two languages you speak fluently, or you can hire other linguists to translate dozens of other
tongues.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: If you are not trained already, pursue French at Alliance Francaise, German at the Max
Mueller Bhavan, Spanish at Instituto Hispanico, Chinese at the India China Chamber of Commerce &
Industry and Japanese at the Language School of Indo-Japan Chamber of Commerce
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.40 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
4. BOARDROOM FACILITIES
This is a business idea that, though a tad expensive, can bring in huge revenue over time. Most small and
medium businesses do not have boardrooms of their own owing to the space crunch in most big cities. In
addition, some do not want to commit that much investment towards a boardroom of their own. Hence,
they rent boardrooms for meetings, events and general socialization. So, if you have space of your own,
you can easily modify it to suit a business needs.
Seed capital: Rs.2 lakh (Assuming you have space)
Can be started from home? No
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: No training needed. One must look up the internet to see what business facilities are in trend
Expected revenues: Rs.30 lakh (5 years); Rs.60 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads). Projectors, laptop, broadband connection, tea and coffee
machines, fax, and stationery needed for boardrooms too
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. You also need a fire safety clearance from local fire department in
some cases
5. MEDICAL TOURISM SERVICE
That India has some of the best-trained and qualified medical professionals is a foregone conclusion.
What is of note to us, however, is that medical costs in India are also one of the lowest in the world. This
is why many foreign nationals come to India for surgeries or medical treatment. This has created an
opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs to offer services to overseas patients looking to get treated at local
hospitals.
Seed capital: Rs.30,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: No specific qualification is essential but industry knowledge helps
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.25 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), and lots of material on hospitals in India
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
6. DIETARY CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Eating right is as big as working out amongst the fitness crowd in our urban cities. However, that cannot
be done without a bit of external guidance and this is where a dietary consultant comes in. This is a
business for the dietitian or nutritionist to startup. Given that more and more of urban India has
progressively lesser time to eat and take care of their diet, clientele size will always be growing in this
sector.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: A course in nutrition would be necessary here. You can do such courses at the National
Institute of Nutrition, the International life Sciences Institute and J. D. Birla Institute
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
7. USED CAR DEALERSHIP
Buying a car is a status symbol in our country now, and many middle-class Indians think it is necessary to
own one. But, given that costs of new cars are very prohibitive, the need for having used cars on the
market is justified. You can start a dealership with not much if you make your first sales on a commission
basis rather than a buy-and-sell basis. Also, the used car market tends to do better in a slow market and
that is one big positive.
Seed capital: Rs.1 lakh
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: No specific training needed, but knowledge of RTO procedures will come in handy
clients. All you need is a car of your own, and good-enough patience to be able to teach people how to
safely drive their cars.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000 (Assuming you have a car)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: No specific training needed
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. Also, you will need permission from the local RTO to run a driving
school
11. CAR STORAGE
This is a new business concept in India and one which is still in its nascent stages. Here, your customers
will be people who need to store their cars in a safe environment for short or extended periods. The first
step to establishing a car storage business is to secure low-cost indoor storage space, such as a vacant
warehouse or manufacturing building. The next step is to simply market the business, which you do by
joining auto clubs and auto associations.
Seed capital: Rs.4 lakh (To lease a space)
Can be started from home? No
ROI period: 2 years
Resources: No specific training needed
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.40 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), and at least two caretakers
Licensing and permissions: No specific permissions required, though the local RTO or corporation may
have something to say if it classifies your area as a paid parking space
12. HOBBY CLASSES
More and more parents are now interested in more holistic development of their children. And, thankfully,
that means they get time do things other than deep-dive into their books. Hobby classes are one such
getaway for kids. If you have a skill in art, crafts, music or any other such discipline, you can offer hobby
classes in your neighborhood. This can be started in your home and will expand quickly via word-ofmouth through the kids themselves.
Seed capital: Rs.1 lakh (Assuming you have space)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months to 1 year
system in our country, more and more parents are looking for nannies who will bring something more to
the table, like helping with the childs education, keeping a watch on his dietary needs as well as able to
give an educated feedback when needed. A nanny service would see you hunt for such nannies, train them
if needed and then place them with the right families.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: No specific training needed
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
16. SPORT COACHING
Thanks to the rise of Indian sportsmen in the last three years on the global stage, more and more parents
are now opening up to the idea of their children pursuing sports as a career. If you are a professional or
state level-plus player of any sport, you have the opportunity of starting your own coaching service for
kids. There is no shortage of children wanting to be the next superstars. You make one, and you would
have made millions.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000 (Assuming you have free access to sporting facilities)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: You must be a player of some repute and level. For some sports, you will also be needed to be
certified as a coach by the relevant sporting body
Expected revenues: Rs.25 lakh (5 years); Rs.50 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), and at least 1 assistant
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
17. COURIER SERVICE
This is one of the oldest business services in the world and as such may not seem the biggest business idea
either. But the fact is that a lot of businesses are always on the lookout for better shipping costs and times
locally, and thats your cue to start up in. A local courier service, which relies upon public or private
transport, and has a knack for efficiency, would always find takers here in India.
Seed capital: Rs.2 lakh (Assuming you are using public transport)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
to pay RTO tax appropriately. Also, your vehicle will need an all-India permit from the RTO
20. CARPOOLING SERVICE
This might be one of the dark horses amongst our business ideas. Carpooling means that a few people get
together to use one car to go to the same destination, splitting the fuel costs, thus saving money
individually. While office goers and school children both do this informally, there is a need for this to be
done formally as well. You can start a service by identifying potential customers, linking them up and
charging a fee on facilitation of such a service. The best way to do this, however, has to be online.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000 (Assuming you are going to hire a web developer)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months to 1 year
Resources: No specific training needed
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
21. SAFE DRIVER SERVICE
The concept of partying hard has hit India in earnest. After work meet-ups and casual drinking on
weekdays is on the rise, not to mention the huge number of people who frequent pubs and bars in the
major cities during the weekend. Alas, some overdo it. For them, a safe driver service is like a boon. For a
fee, a driver can either drive the pub goers car back to his home after the night is over, leaving him
tension-free during the partying itself. This service can also work well for girls who go out partying on
their own and might need a safe service to take them back home.
Seed capital: Rs.30,000 (Assuming your patrons have their own cars)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: No specific training needed. Just your own organizational skills
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), and at least 2 certified and police-verified drivers
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. If you run your own car, it may be classified as a taxi and you may
have to pay RTO tax for it
22. RAINWATER HARVESTING
The concept of rainwater harvesting, though not new, is only now gaining popularity in urban India.
Rainwater harvesting is a process by which one simply collects rainwater and then stores it until required.
Corporations in cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai have made it mandatory for new buildings to have
rainwater harvesting facilities. In some cities, this includes private bungalows as well. This translates to a
windfall for people who have learned the process of rainwater harvesting.
Seed capital: Rs.20,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 3 months
Resources: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi, offers a five-day certificate course on
rainwater harvesting that teaches topics like principles, components, planning and designing among others
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.40 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads) and at least one assistant
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. Also, you will need to be certified in some cities by local
corporations, as fit to set up a harvesting system
23. GREEN CONSULTANCY
More and more businesses are going green today. But they need to be showed how. This is a business
opportunity for people with an environmental bent of mind. They can put their skills and knowledge to
practice by helping other businesses to go green implementing green practices and reducing
inefficiency in energy consumption. Crucially, this business has clientele across the board from mediumsized businesses to even government authorities.
Seed capital: Rs.20,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: A lot of best practices on going green can be picked up on the Internet. Besides that, formal
education at schools teaching environmental sciences also has modules on such practices
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.40 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads) and at least one assistant
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
24. RECYCLED FASHION
For all those fashion designers out there, this is as much a business ideas as it is a challenge. Materials
like rubber, leather and others are known to be used in apparel as well. Reusing old material to make
apparel that is wearable and usable is one of the more green businesses you can start. All it takes is a bit
of ingenuity and an ability to innovate.
Seed capital: Rs.20,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi, offers courses in recycling and
reusing of material that can be used in clothing
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.25 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads) and at least one assistant
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
25. REFURBISHED FURNITURE
This is a business idea for those who have the ability to find beauty in old things. As they say often now,
the same kind of furniture is not made anymore in the country; not the same wood, not the same work.
Interior decorators have a chance to set up a business here where they can hunt out old furniture, refurbish
it and sell to it to customers keen on old, solid furniture.
Seed capital: Rs.20,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: An eye for furniture trends as well as a penchant for places like Chor Bazaar in Mumbai and
the timber markets in Delhi
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads) and at least one assistant
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
26. GREEN PRODUCTS STORE
As more and more people become aware of how the earth is being damaged by us, the more is their
leaning towards products that are green in nature and do not harm the environment. However, access to
such products is not always easy. A green products store, preferably an online one, can be a great problem
solver here as well as a good business idea.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000-Rs.5 lakh (Depending on what you sell and whether you outsource your IT )
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 to 2 years
Resources: The Internet is your best resource on tips to sell online. Green business blogs on the web will
direct you to products which are hot. Also connect with the major shipping firms to find out who will give
you the best deal
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years), but depends a lot on what you are selling
Office requirements: One 2020 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), merchant account
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
into the country. However, one cannot just buy them off the shelf and install them. Experts are needed and
this is where a team can start a business. Mind you, alarms have a market not only at homes, but also
shops and corporates.
Seed capital: Rs.1 lakh
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: The Internet is your best resource on alarm installations. It would help if you take a course in
electronics
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), electric gear and 1 assistant
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
40. DISASTER MANAGEMENT SERVICE
This kind of business takes the concept of security management to another level. After the floods in
Mumbai and the terror attacks, corporates are keen on managing the risk associated with disaster more
efficiently. A disaster management firm can put in processes and solutions to minimize risk for a company,
in terms of both property and lives.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: You can attend courses on Disaster Management from the National Institute of Disaster
Management and IGNOU
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
41. DETECTIVE AGENCY
This business is in high demand now. Availing the services of detectives has seen a boom with the rise in
western culture, as the moralists call it, and also the increased competition between businesses. One can
start this business armed with nothing more than common sense and an eye for detail.
Seed capital: Rs.20,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: You can study criminal forensics as well private investigation at the Indore Christian College,
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
61. PLACEMENT SERVICES
Every year, India churns out thousands of skilled graduates and post-graduates out of the management and
engineering schools. But not all of them go into jobs of their own choice. A placements service for
students, which works closely with them to find them the correct job, presents itself as a viable business
opportunity. Students can be charged upon placement as much as businesses can be charge for the
recruitment of an asset.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: While a qualification in human resources is helpful, this business mostly requires your
networking and organizational skills
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
62. SPECIAL SCHOOL
Start a school for children with special needs. You can run this school out of home or from a leased space.
You will need to hire faculty and staff with extensive experience working with special-needs children. As
a special school, you will have access to government grants and subsidies in pursuit of this noble deed.
The scope of your schools operations can be progressively made bigger as you go on.
Seed capital: Rs.2 lakh (assuming you have space)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: You will need to be skilled in handling children with special needs and dealing with their
unique requirements
Expected revenues: Rs.8 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. You will also need permission from the charity commissioner
63. SUSTAINABLE HOUSING
This one is for the architects amongst our readers. Many Indians in rural India still do not have access to
pucca housing that is cheap to build and easy to maintain. Using best practices and local materials, it is
possible to build sustainable housing in such areas for a vast number of people. This is a social business
with a direct impact.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 2 years
Resources: You will need to be skilled in the science of sustainable housing in Indian conditions. Various
online resources are available for such housing techniques
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), and architects tools
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
64. CLEAN AND CHEAP ENERGY
Given that almost one-fourth of India still lives in darkness, including 1,25,000 villages, the supply of
clean and cheap energy becomes vital to the nation as a whole. Entrepreneurs can get into this social
business via the solar route and supplying solar lanterns as well as panels for housing in rural areas. Given
that the cost of solar PV cells is going down fast, such solutions can soon be implemented on a large scale.
Seed capital: Rs.5 lakh
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 3 years
Resources: You will need to be skilled in the science of solar power technology and the low-cost models
of harnessing it
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
65. PEER-TO-PEER LENDING
While the microfinance business model has come under scrutiny in some states like Andhra Pradesh, peerto-peer lending is still a viable social business if implemented and regulated correctly. Since the business
works on an individual model, there is no institutional or mass risk on either side of the lending. It gives
an individual the right to choose who he wishes to fund and to what extent. This would preferably be a
web-based business.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: You will need to be skilled in web development to be able to maintain lower running costs for
the website. You would also need to research and choose individuals in the rural areas who may need
loans
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
66. FIRST AID
This business idea is aimed at reducing fatalities in cities and towns across India. It involves providing
low-cost first-aid training for individuals and organizations as well as supplying low-cost first-aid kits that
can be specially designed and marketed to specific industries, such as construction and transportation for
rural areas where such facilities are scarce. The business is amongst the most-needed one in India as of
now.
Seed capital: Rs.5 lakh
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 2 years
Resources: You will need to be skilled in first-aid yourself and preferably have certification. You would
also need to source the best and most cost-effective material for making the first-aid kits
Expected revenues: Rs.25 lakh (5 years); Rs.50 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), packaging material and teaching tools
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
67. SPECIALTY TRAVEL AGENCY
At the base of it, what you need is an eye for what trends are catching up with travelers and what needs
are they looking to be fulfilled. They want to travel with their pets? Find them a pet-friendly airline and
resort. They want take children taken care of? Find and book one with a nanny service. Be the concierge
for your client, even before the trip has begun.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000-Rs.2 lakh
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: Study courses available at Kuoni Academy, Amity Institute for Travel and Tourism and the
Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), no manpower
Licensing and permissions: You will need a license from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
68. GUIDED TOURS
Do you live in a place that is catching up on the world tourist map? Can you hold your own with English
and maybe a couple of other languages? Are you social by nature? Then this may be just the right
business for you. Walk them, cycle with them or even take them around in your car. Just show your clients
your city like only you, a local, can.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000-Rs.20,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: You can take short courses at Kuoni Academy, Amity Institute for Travel and Tourism and the
Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), no manpower
Licensing and permissions: You will need a license from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India,
as well as a local tourist operator license, if applicable
69. ADVENTURE SPORTS OUTFIT
In the last budget, the government made the import of adventure equipment into the country free of tax.
Which means all that expensive gear is going to get a whole lot cheaper. If you have the need for speed
and you live to thrill, why dont you do it for others too? India is your playground as far as adventure
sports go.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000-Rs.20 lakh (Depending on what kind of sports you will offer)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 to 3 years
Resources: Depending on your need. For example, you can study mountaineering at the Himalayan
Institute of Mountaineering or the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering
Expected revenues: Rs.30 lakh (5 years); Rs.50 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), two to three assistants, adventure equipment, radios, first aid kits
etc
Licensing and permissions: You will need a license from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Then you will need specific permissions, like you may need permissions from the Indian Mountaineering
Federation to climb peaks above a certain height
70. MOTORCYCLE EXPEDITIONS
Thanks to bigger and better motorcycles coming into India, the urge to go across the length and breadth of
the country on two wheels is increasing amongst the 9 to 5 crowd. A good evidence of this is the few
thousands of motorcycles you see climbing up to Leh during the open season. And the growing number of
yuppies and motorcycles only means that you have a fabulous business opportunity. Just know your roads.
Seed capital: Rs.20 lakh-Rs.1 crore (Depending on what kind of motorcycles you will offer)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 3 to 5 years
Resources: No formal training needed besides the ability to ride. First-aid courses recommended
Expected revenues: Rs.30 lakh (5 years); Rs.1 crore (10 years)
Office requirements: 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), 3 to 4 co-riders, riding gear, first aid kits, radios
Licensing and permissions: You will need a license from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Then you will need specific permissions to enter certain remote parts. You will also need RTO licenses for
motorcycles classified under tourist vehicles.
71. BED AND BREAKFAST
Slowly catching up in India, even after the debacle of the Commonwealth Games, when the tourists did
not show up in the same numbers for the Games as expected. Still represents a very lucrative out-of-home
business opportunity for people with some extra space and a sunshine attitude to life.
Seed capital: Rs 20,000 (assuming you already have the a suitable house)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: The state tourism board is your best option for assistance and standards in this case
Expected revenues: Rs.12 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), 1 extra assistant
Licensing and permissions: You will need a license from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Then you will need specific permissions from your local tourism board.
72. CHILD CARE CENTER
The population is still growing. And so are the number nuclear families where both parents tend to work.
As such, taking care of the child becomes a heavy job parents are ready to outsource, as long it is
advantageous towards the child and of a certain quality. Day care centers not only take care of the child,
but also educate him along the way.
Seed capital: Rs.5 lakh-Rs.10 lakh (Depending on the size of your center)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 to 2 years
Resources: Best to go with a franchise in the child care business, as you will not only get adequate
support, but also training for your staff
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.40 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: Four 1010 rooms minimum as office/care space, laptop (with internet), phone,
printer, fax, own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), 2 to 3 assistants, first aid kit, toys, education
books and equipment etc
Licensing and permissions: You will need a license from your local authority to run a child care business
out of your home. In some cases, fire safety certification may also be needed
73. TUTORING SERVICES
Children dont study much at school these days. While this statement might seem wrong to you, it is
reflective of our educational system where children at the end of high school, looking to get into colleges,
need extra help outside to crack competitive exams. If you are a qualified teacher, there is more money to
be made here than in a school.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000-Rs.30,000 (Assuming you have the space)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: You need qualifications. Besides your basic graduate degree, get an advanced degree in your
field of study as well as Bachelor of Education from an accredited university
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: 2020 room as teaching/office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), no manpower
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. In some cases, fire safety certification may also be needed
74. OVERSEAS EDUCATION GUIDANCE
Though the Indian story is booming, there is still no decline in the love and prestige foreign universities
and their degrees hold for Indian students. It speaks sadly of our education system, but nevertheless
presents a business opportunity for entrepreneurs willing to dive deep into the world of foreign varsities.
With a steady stream of clientele ensured, this is a business option best not ignored.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000-Rs.30,000 (Assuming you have the space)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months to 1 year
Resources: You need certain necessary educational qualifications. Get an advanced degree in your field of
study from an accredited university. Link up with government entities overseas that look into international
student admissions. For example, for the U.S., link up with Education USA
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), 1 assistant
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission to run a commercial business out of your
home from your local authority. In some cases, certification may also be needed from governmental
agencies overseas
75. CAREER COUNSELING
Not everyone wants to be an engineer or a doctor anymore. With a booming economy, there are careers in
almost every field. And parents and children alike are now eager to go left of the center. Exploring these
avenues and helping match children to them is what career counseling is all about.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000-Rs.30,000 (Assuming you have the space)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months to 1 year
Resources: While a career counselor does not need a specific degree, a qualification in child psychology
helps in evaluation of subjects. Many psychologists do turn towards career counseling as well
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), 1 assistant
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission to run a commercial business out of your
home from your local authority
76. REVOLVING LIBRARY
It may seem like the most ancient of businesses, but a library for school and competitive exam books has
more takers than you would imagine, especially in small towns. Out of the metros, children in grade II
towns still want to have access to as many books as possible. These books dont come cheap and, hence,
their preference to borrow or rent. And no, the Internet has not yet eaten the schoolbook.
Seed capital: Rs.20,000-Rs.50,000 (Depending on the number of books you want to stock)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 2 years
Resources: You need to be well-informed about the books that school and college children want to
borrow. It would help if you are a teacher or have a teacher as your guide here
Expected revenues: Rs.5 lakh (5 years); Rs.10 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: Two 2020 rooms as office/stock/reading space, laptop (with internet), phone,
printer, fax, own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), no manpower
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission to run a commercial business out of your
home from your local authority. You may also need fire safety certification if you are going to have a
reading room
77. PERSONAL SHOPPING SERVICE
This one is for all those budding fashionistas out there. A personal shopper goes shopping based on a
customers list or accompanies them to pick out that perfect outfit or even an entire wardrobe. Its a lowcost business setup that is mostly an extension of your personality.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: You need to be well-informed of the latest fashion trends at home, office and play. Short
fashion appreciation course can be taken at institutes like National Institute of Fashion Technology or its
private peer, the National Institute of Fashion Design
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock/reading space, laptop (with internet), phone,
printer, fax, own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), and lots of catalogues
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission to run a commercial business out of your
home from your local authority
78. ONLINE STORE
Selling online is the easiest way to sell anything. And more importantly, you can sell it to the world and
not just to the neighborhood. The key here is to know your product and the market for it. Whether going
niche or mass market, an entrepreneur here will always have the flexibility to tweak his business model
later. This is something prohibitively expensive to do with a physical store.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000-Rs.2 lakh (Depending on what you sell and whether you outsource your IT )
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 to 2 years
Resources: The Internet is your best resource on hot tips to sell online. For more tips and guidelines, visit
entrepreneurindia.in or entreprneur.com. Also, connect with the major shipping firms to find out who will
give you the best deal
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years), but depends a lot on what you are selling
Office requirements: One 2020 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), merchant account
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission to run a commercial business out of your
home from your local authority. You have to stick to eBays policies on items that you can or cannot sell
as well as their strict policy against intellectual property infringement
79. PERSONALIZED GIFTS
An all-season business idea, the concept of personalized gifts has taken off with both personal and
professional gifting growing as a trend. Everyone wants to give the perfect gift, one that is customized to
suit the giver, the recipient, the occasion and the budget. You could be making a customized chocolate
box one day or a corporate gift set on another. You could be arranging for a date on a chartered plane or
gold plating an iPhone. What you can be doing under this business is limitless, both in creativity and fun.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: You need to be well-informed of the latest gifting trends at home and office. The Internet is
your best resource for that
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock/reading space, laptop (with internet), phone,
printer, fax, own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), and lots of catalogues
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission to run a commercial business out of your
home from your local authority.
80. eBAY BUSINESS
ebay is the best thing to happen to armchair entrepreneurs since the armchair itself. eBay lets you start off
with the most minimal of costs to reach the most maximum of audiences. It lets you sell products across
2,000 categories. Reselling of products and even distributing products officially for companies is a done
thing on eBay. You could even sell Indian products overseas and vice versa. The world is your market.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000 (If you are first going to buy products to resell)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: Go to eBay.com to learn more about selling on the site. Also, visit the entrepreneur.com
website to explore the various articles on how best to open and run an eBay store
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years), but depends a lot on what you are selling
Office requirements: One 2020 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), merchant account
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. You have to stick to eBays policies on items that you can or cannot
sell as well as their strict policy against intellectual property infringement
81. VENDING MACHINES
Thanks to big IT and BPO offices and a whole generation brought up on western culture, vending
machines are just cool enough to be accepted in India. These machines can stock anything from
chocolates and ice-creams to beverages of all kinds. Starting up here might be a tad more expensive than
other retail businesses, but the running costs are much lower. Placement of vending machines and the
stock will make or break it for you though.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000 (cost of one vending machine + location rent) or Rs.10,000 (If renting the
machine)
Can be started from home? No
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: The National Automatic Merchandising Association is the go-to association for all support
and information in this case
Expected revenues: Rs.5 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years), but depends a lot on what you are selling
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), merchant account
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission from the location owner to set up a
vending machine. You might also need a fire safety certificate from the local fire department if the
location is inside a mall or an office
portion of the performance fee paid to entertainers for work the agent has secured
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: Would help if you have qualification in event management, but your social networking skills
are the best training you need
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
85. KARAOKE DJ SERVICE
The next best thing to hit parties after the disc jockey. A Karaoke Jockey business is in big demands these
days, especially at corporate events, bars, and even weddings. And the best bit about it is that you do not
need to be a student of music here, just an avid follower. This business is booming right now and wannabe
disc jockeys may want to look at it for a start.
Seed capital: Rs.1 lakh
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: No training required. But the Internet is a good place to see the latest trends at karaoke bars.
Also, you can get cheaper and better karaoke CDs in China and South-East Asia
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.35 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), karaoke equipment, CDs and sound systems
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. Might also need a phonographic license to play copyrighted music
86. POKER PARTY SERVICE
Do you know your poker? Have you played online poker to the death? Why dont you go teach others
then? Poker is taking the party world by storm in India. A game that had no takers till a year back has now
tournaments held almost every month. Everyone wants to learn and everyone wants to play socially. This
is a money-spinner that will spin some money for you as well.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: The Internet. Thats the best place to learn about poker and also how best to organize such
parties
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
89. HEALTH FOOD SERVICE
Indians are getting fatter, stated a recent study. And that spells a gold mine for nutrition experts and chefs
who can combat the evil of unhealthy food. Health food catering is taking off in a more aware urban
India, especially to offices, training institutes as well as homes. This is a low-cost business that needs a
personal touch and knowledge of dietary requirements.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000-Rs.1 lakh
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: A course in nutrition would be of help here, along with a cooking background. You can do
such courses at the National Institute of Nutrition, the International life Sciences Institute and J. D. Birla
Institute
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.20 lakh (10 years0
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), extra manpower for delivery and kitchen staff
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. You may also need a license from the fire department and the local
corporation if you run a separate kitchen
90. ORGANIC FOOD SERVICE
Another business that is a result of a more health-conscious India is that of organic foods. Organic foods
are the biggest thing in healthy eating right now, even though they come at a premium. Which, however,
also means that you will always get high-end clients. Here, you dont necessarily have to be an organic
farmer. Instead, you can be a supplier who takes orders online and offline and delivers to the clients
home.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: No specific training needed
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: Two 2020 rooms as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), extra manpower for delivery and order-taking
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. Also, you will need to make sure the produce you source is
according to set organic food standards
91. COOKERY CLASSES
Call it the curse of the city life, but gone are the days when every family had cooks or the mothers and
wives would stay back home for cooking. Everyone needs to know their way about their kitchen now.
Also, being able to cook adds a whole new spin to hosting people as well. So, if you know how to cook
and have time on your hands, you have a business idea in the kitchen.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000-Rs.1 lakh
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 6 months
Resources: Theoretically, you need to be a trained chef before you can impart training to others. Such
courses are best taught in hotel management and caterings schools. The Internet is also a good resource to
self-train
Expected revenues: Rs.10 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: Two10x10 rooms as office/kitchen space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), 1 assistant, extra kitchen equipment
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. A separate license may also be needed if you run a separate kitchen
from your corporation as well as the fire department
92. CONCIERGE SERVICE
This business continues to take off in urban India where time is short and the things to do are many. A
concierge service enables a professional to get certain tasks done by paying a fee, per task or even as a
package. These may include bill payments, car servicing, booking tickets, gift delivery etc. With more and
more Indians getting into the professional fold, the business opportunity is huge within the corporate
offices of the country.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000-Rs.1 lakh
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: No specific training needed besides social skills and an ability to get things done
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.50 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office/stock space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax,
own stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), extra manpower for delivery and order-taking
Licensing and permissions: You will need specific permission to run a commercial business out of your
home from your local authority
93. RESUME WRITING SERVICE
This one is for the writers amongst our readers. A zero-cost business, this one works on the fact that most
people have no idea how to write a winning resume. You can, however, get the job done here. Youll
interview your clients to find out where theyve been, what theyve done and where their talents lie, then
design and write a resume that showcases them from both business and personal viewpoints. You must
have excellent grammar, punctuation and spelling skills and tiptop people talents.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), extra assistants when needed
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
96. SENIOR CARE
This involves providing non-medical care services for retirees who typically live on their own. Since their
kin would largely be involved in their own work lives, seniors and family members of older relatives are
looking at alternatives to old age and nursing homes. One of these alternatives is senior care service. This
door-to-door home care service requires you to be a professional caregiver. Your responsibilities may
include getting the laundry done, reading the newspaper out loud and preparing meals for the seniors.
Seed capital: Rs.10,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: Immediate
Resources: No specific training needed besides great listening skills and a caring attitude
Expected revenues: Rs.7 lakh (5 years); Rs.15 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), extra assistants when needed
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
97. FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICE
Everyone wants to manage their money better, be it businesses or individuals. But, at most times, they
might not have the intelligence or the bandwidth to do the research and plan their financials themselves.
Thats where a financial planning service can come in, doing it for a fee, and along the way letting the
individual or the company focus on their core business areas or functions.
Seed capital: Rs.20,000
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 3 months
Resources: If you are not trained already, pursue a course at an institute like the Indian institute of
Financial Planning, Association of Financial Planners, International College of Financial Planning, and
the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysis of India
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.50 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads)
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority. You may also need to be certified as a planner from the Financial
Planning Standards Board
98. GYMNASIUM
This is a no-brainer. Starting a gym in India is a sure-shot winner, given the whole bend towards looking
good, thanks to Bollywood and glam television. Gyms can be started in all towns in India, thanks to the
aforementioned two. All you need is some extra space, a workout ethic of your own and a generous dose
of young people in your vicinity
Seed capital: Rs.2 lakh (Assuming you have space)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 to 2 years
Resources: If you are not trained already, you could take classes to train as an instructor yourself at
centers such as Talwalkars, amongst others
Expected revenues: Rs.20 lakh (5 years); Rs.30 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), 2 to 3 assistants and lots of gym equipment
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
99. AEROBICS CLASSES
An evergreen fitness trend. Aerobics has dedicated fans in almost all parts of the country. The good bit
about starting aerobics classes is that you do not really need space in the beginning you could offer it
in the park or at a clients house. However, once the operation grows, you will need to find your own
space. Of course, you need to be well-versed in aerobics yourself.
Seed capital: Rs.50,000 (Assuming you have space)
Can be started from home? Yes
ROI period: 1 year
Resources: If you are not trained already, you could also take a class to train as an instructor yourself at
centers such as Talwalkars, amongst others
Expected revenues: Rs.15 lakh (5 years); Rs.25 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), and lots of aerobics equipment such as mats, music, towels etc
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
100. DAY SPA
The spa is the biggest rage in urban India right now with not only women from the homemaker segment,
but also men and women professionals going to a spa at least once a week in some cities. The initial
capital to get a day spa up and running is substantial. However, the income potential is outstanding if you
provide services such as manicures, seaweed wraps, aromatherapy and massages. Of course, like in most
such businesses, location is vital.
Seed capital: Rs.10 lakh (Assuming you have space)
Can be started from home? No
ROI period: 2 years
Resources: Some franchises have started in India that will help you get trained manpower as well as give
you business support initially
Expected revenues: Rs.40 lakh (5 years); Rs.70 lakh (10 years)
Office requirements: One 1010 room as office space, laptop (with internet), phone, printer, fax, own
stationery (visiting cards + letterheads), trained assistants, lots of spa equipment
Licensing and permissions: You will need a specific permission on running a commercial business out of
your home from your local authority
5 Financing Trends for 2011
How your startup could benefit from these funding sources this year.
By Eileen P. Gunn
When it comes to funding options for startups, new ideas seem to come along every season. Some may be
old ideas dressed up in a new way, while a few may be something we really havent seen before. It isnt
certain which ones will become the new black of small business and which will disappear with this years
hemlines. But here are five financing trends for 2011 that could have an impact on your company.
1. Crowdfunding
Kickstarter popularized the idea of crowdfunding, which is when a large group of people help fund a
project or business through a cluster of small donations. Kickstarter began as a new way to help artists get
projects off the ground. In return for funding, donors receive goods or services, or even just a well-crafted
thank-you, in lieu of equity or interest payments. Now, the same idea is spreading to business ventures.
Diaspora, a tech company that wants to build a social network to rival Facebook got more than Rs.9
million in seed money from a Kickstarter campaign.
Of course, the Securities and Exchange Commission frowns on companies offering equity to the public
without filing with the government to do so, so when it comes to crowdfunding, backers always get
something other than equity. Take Catwalk Genius. Its members fund fledgling fashion designers and, in
return, get a share of the revenue generated by the designers clothing lines. Then theres Indiegogo,
which leans toward creative and tech business ventures, and peerbackers.com, a community of people
specifically looking to support entrepreneurs, which are similar to Kickstarter in that they encourage preselling products as a way to raise funds. Look for more niche-oriented crowdfunding sites in 2011.
2. Microlending
The idea of offering very small loans, even just Rs.4,500, has its roots in helping women in
underdeveloped countries start small business ventures. But as the recession tightened credit offerings, the
popularity of microlending has extended to the U.S.especially as aspiring entrepreneurs are starting
ventures with far less than the Rs.22.5 lakh business loan threshold common at many U.S. banks. Not-forprofit Accion is the largest organization putting that idea into action with loans that start at Rs.22,500 and
average a little more than Rs.2.25 lakh. You can also research other microlending programs around the
U.S. through the Association for Enterprise Opportunitys searchable database.
3. Credit unions
These cooperative financial institutions are among the most active in giving smaller loans to entrepreneurs
and have only gotten busier in recent years, according to the U.S. National Credit Union Administration
(NCUA). Its figures show credit unions made more than Rs.148,500 crore worth of business loans in
2009, up from Rs.54,000 crore in 2004. They have relatively low default rates and terms that are often
better than traditional banks, according to the NCUA and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). Credit
unions also can be a resource for aspiring business owners whose credit score might not pass muster with
other banks. The catch? You will likely have to become a member of the credit union to borrow from it.
4. Bootstrapping
If youve trimmed your startup costs down to a couple of thousand rupees, why not skip the loan
altogether and bootstrap your business? When you tap personal savings, get vendors to front startup
supplies for delayed payment terms, hit up friends and relatives, or use one money-making venture to
fund another, then youre bootstrapping. Its a good way to test an idea and make sure it has legs before
investing heavily in a new venture. Think of it as the business equivalent of going retro. Its an idea that
has been around forever, but is making a big comeback as people who have lost their jobs in the recession
increasingly look to start a small business as an alternative to traditional employment.
5. The slow money movement
Woody Tasch, longtime chairman of Investors Circle, a hugely successful angel network for sociallyresponsible companies, is spearheading this fledgling movement. Its ambitious aim is a million
Americans investing around 1 percent of their assets in local food systems within a decade.
The idea is to help entrepreneurs who buy, use and sell local food or who engage in sustainable agriculture
get seed funding from people they know in their communities. The terms are set on a deal-by-deal basis,
which can range from a loan to equity to a credit extension. Backers are encouraged to invest in ventures
that wont just turn quick profits but will benefit their communities over the long term by creating jobs,
supporting other local businesses and the fostering local food chain.
Its ambitious and will likely evolve as it goes. But in its early days so was Investors Circle, which has
facilitated over Rs.603 crore in investments in more than 200 companies since 1992. Were interested to
see how Tasch will sustain this movement.
A Fund-tastic Year Ahead
Indias top venture capitalists predict what will rule in 2011.
By Team Young Turks
Alok Mittal
Managing Director
Canaan Partners
Looking back at 2010
Last year has been good for entrepreneurs and investors. We invested a lot on the internet; and ecommerce is finally taking of. I think thats a big hit, not just for e-commerce businesses, but even for
online advertising because e-commerce gives rise to more such advertising. The other notable thing that
happened in the year 2010 was that venture investors started seeing exits. For example, public market
exits like MakeMyTrip or SKS Microfinance or private exits like Dr Lal Pathlabs. Finally, there is some
proof that venture investing works in India and thats a big endorsement that will allow more money to be
Sandeep Sinha
Managing Partner
Lumis Partners
Looking back at 2010
I think it was an interesting year. We look at three specific sectorseducation, healthcare and techas a
private equity fund. The challenges one faces in India have remained constant over the years; valuations
are souring and there are a few good players in the industry. For entrepreneurs with proven track record,
the valuation tends to go through the sky. But there are very few players in that segment in India. Again,
you often see some unrealistic performances in the market. For example, if you look at the education
sector, there are a couple of listed players here who have significantly exuberant valuations.
That becomes a challenge because some ventures are not sustainable and when these fail, they bring down
the whole sector. These usually see abnormal traction in the first couple of months and then go down,
setting a bad precedence for everybody across the board. It also creates wrong expectations. You will
notice that many entrepreneurs run to the education sector but very few people have really understood its
challenges from a regulation standpoint. They also fail to grasp the challenges from the scalability and
profitability standpoints. But we should hopefully see some level of correction happening in the year
going forward. It is much better for any company to get listed on reasonable grounds.
Big bets for 2011
We are a focused-fund, and primarily look at the sectors we are interested in. Within the education sector,
vocational training is one space where we are seeing a lot of traction and employability. In healthcare, the
focus is to look more at the services side and less at capital. In tech, the BPO segment is becoming more
and more niche now that generic service is moving away. Its going to the next level of knowledge process
outsourcing where there is significantly more intellectual arbitrage involved, apart from just manual labor.
So, those are some of the areas we are focusing on.
A word of caution
As an entrepreneur, you should first focus on assembling the right people for your venture, both within the
team and as an ecosystem of mentors around them. Look at business models which are sustainable,
scalable and profitable. It all sounds very simple, but these are things which get left out in the overall rush
to start your venture.
I also think it is important to stay away from some of the flash and pan events because these try to create
the herd mentality where everybody starts running after an idea without understanding their own abilities.
But undue passion in something they dont understand well will just lead to failure. So, entrepreneurs
should go back to the tried and tested methods of focusing on their core strength, the team and scale.
Regulations will be a challenge in the education sector, because these keep getting altered. You should
focus on the supplementary side of education, which is less regulated and has far more value to add. In the
healthcare sector, regulations can play a significant role in the core care-giving segment.
If you are setting up a brick and mortar facility providing core care-giving, you should keep your eyes
open to the means of driving profitability and how it infringes upon government regulations.
Opportunities ahead
We are yet to enter the market in a big way, so we are looking at making significant investments. We are
looking at large-scale entries but we wont be exiting any of the businesses in the next 12 months.
Saurabh Srivastava
Chairman and Founder
Indian Angel Network
Looking back at 2010
Last year was a very pleasant surprise. We were coming out of a bad crisis, there was talk of a double-dip
recession, of global markets not picking up and yet, as far as we were concerned, India saw a booming
economy. In just about every single way, as far as investors were concerned, they found their investments
doing well. Entrepreneurs found a much better market than they thought they would. Those entrepreneurs
who were focused on the Indian market did much better than those focused globally, which was a huge
change from three years ago. That was a good sign because it told our entrepreneurs that when they look
at creating businesses, they should also look at the local market which is getting bigger. The middle class
is rising and as incomes grow, disposable incomes grow disproportionately which creates huge consumer
demand. So, 2011 promises to be a very good year. Over the last 12 months, entrepreneurs have become
bolder with much better-defined and better-differentiated propositions. Not everyone is looking at only IT
services and the BPO model.
There are products, technologies, business models and internet models. Within tech, there are new spaces
like cloud computing, where we already have world-class entrepreneurs. So, for both investors and
entrepreneurs, 2011 should be a very good year.
Hits & misses in 2010
If I look back at what clicked last year, it surprises me to find that some tech companies, which actually
have a global market, did very well. Angel investing worked exceedingly well. As for the duds, sectors
like retail and hospitality have witnessed some failures last year. This is because many entrepreneurs
rushed into these sectors because statistics predicted that these are high-growth areas. But these
entrepreneurs did not offer enough sops to differentiate their business from that of their competitors. They
did not come with proper long-term plans, of plans to convert their restaurant into a chain. Some
entrepreneurs are getting a little too casual about their businesses but those who dont do due diligence
and have proper business plans are bound to fail.
Hotspots for 2011
The Indian economy is growing steadily, so there is plenty of scope for entrepreneurs. Education is a
hotspot but watch out for government policies and regulations. Any venture in healthcare, tech (consumer
internet and wireless mobile) and pharma should do well. Look at clean technology, this sector is evolving
and promises high profitability.
A word of caution
The biggest thing entrepreneurs should watch out for is that there can be a bubble when things go well.
Everybody rushing to do the same thing is a bad idea. Dont follow blindly what the herd is doing, step
back, figure out what it is that you can do well, where is it that you can have differentiated propositions
that you can sustain. Ask yourself if you have a compelling reason why people should invest in you. If
you cannot answer the question, dont do it.
Opportunities ahead
2011 will be a year of some exits, like last year. But this year will also see many entries because the
quality of entrepreneurs, their ambitions and the sophistication of their business plans, is improving. That
increases the chances of VC funding to a great extent. The Indian Angel Network will always continue to
look at tech. The other focal areas are affordable healthcare and different aspects of education.
Vani Kola
Managing Director
Indo U.S. Ventures
Looking back at 2010
The hits that we saw continued to be in the niche telecom sector, which showed tremendous growth and
companies were able to successfully scale.
We saw scaling in retail and also some new industries. We saw e-commerce entry getting very hot, with
many young companies starting up in this space.
There was tremendous scaling across the board in niche internet companies, in gaming and the travel
sector. The misses were primarily in sectors related to outsourcing where even young companies missed
their targets.
Values of deals done in 2010
Last year, funds could close only half the deals compared to years before. This was mainly due to the
caution in the market; also, many funds took longer than usual to raise fresh capital due to the economic
crisis.
Emerging entrepreneurs & profiles
There are some concepts we like to use, like the concept of arbitrage. We invested in couponing and saw
exciting traction. After our initial investment in a company called Snapdeal, we saw 20 other companies
come on board. These are sectors where the first-mover advantage is everything, and our company was
able to go to 28 cities in India in just eight months. We then saw some rapid scaling in these new markets.
In merchandising, we have a company called Myntra which was making IPL jerseys. The rest of the world
understands soccer jerseys but in India tremendous traction was achieved overnight, thanks to the IPL
jersey. So, emerging sectors in the consumer services space succeeded well last year.
Opportunities in 2011
Education and e-commerce will continue to be hot in 2011. Some aspects of mobile VAS will see growth.
We are also expecting a recovery in terms of global services models that can show new traction.
A word of caution
Raise and keep money in your bank. Dont be oversensitive to valuation. There is euphoria in the market
now around valuation and many entrepreneurs are holding back in terms of raising good capital because
of valuation. But if you are in the game of creating long-term value, dont be myopic about minor
valuation differences today. If the markets go into regression again, you will regret not having raised
capital. So, take advantage of the market now and raise money sensibly.
Of exits and entries
If we have the scale, this is certainly the year for exits. If companies are at a very high scale and are
attractive for M&A, then it would definitely be a year for exit in that sense.
As a year of entry, we continue to enter the market every year. If you are an entrepreneur and have
achieved scale and are contemplating an exit within the next couple of years, then 2011 may be a good
year to exit.
Investment size and India budget
We dont have an Indian budget because we only invest in Indian companies and our entire fund is
allocated for India. Typically, we invest about Rs.15 crore-Rs.25 crore and we are a long-term investor
which is why we keep entering every year. We hold our investments for five to seven years and hence we
look to invest in companies on an annual basis.
Looking ahead
Whenever there is a successful idea or a good market, there will be 20 similar companies, so it is
important for an entrepreneur to differentiate his venture from his competitors.
I am very heartened to see that entrepreneurs now come up with unique propositions and pull out of the
pack of the 20 similar companies that exist beside him.
Services: Still the big bet?
The trend we see is that services companies are 25 percent of our portfolio and we expect that to continue
in the foreseeable future.
It is not that services companies are not viable anymore; its just that there are other apparent alternatives.
Hence, they become consumers of pools of capital because there is tremendous domestic consumer
growth.
Anand Lunia
ED and CFO
Seedfund
In education services, you will not have the CBSE board focusing much on grades; schools are changing
so there is a lot of demand for services to schools.
Healthcare is also a sector worth looking at since there will be a lot of tech intervention in the healthcare
space.
Differentiation among entrepreneurs & ideas
You need to differentiate your product or service. We look for non-linearity, not just differentiation. When
you want to expand, you dont need capital all the time; you dont need a product which needs to be
marketed.
In healthcare, there are still many states uncovered by basic healthcare. We have come up with a format
with Vaatsalya.
Some of the interventions we have come up with will go to the hinterland and create a lot of
differentiation. We should not focus on differentiation.
Lack of ventures beyond services
Unfortunately, a lot of hardware or product innovation does not really emerge out of India; It is mainly the
MNCs and the JVs that rule the roost there.
I will be happy to fund a product innovation out of India but the larger opportunity in India is in the
services sector.
People need to move up the value chain at the moment. Start with basic first and then go into complex
products.
10 Steps to Small-Business Success in 2011
Try these forward-thinking strategies to improve your business now.
By Rosalind Resnick
A bonus plan can work in all types of businesses, including manufacturing, sales, even restaurants. Goals
can be tied to easy-to-measure numbers such as revenues, new business volume or gross margin. Theres
more about open-book management practices on The Great Game of Business website, greatgame.com.
10 Team up.
Working with channel partnerscompanies that target the same market but with products or services
different from yourscan be an ultra-efficient marketing strategy. Theyve already spent the time and
money to attract the customers you want, and you can piggyback on those efforts. Naturally, your partners
are going to want reciprocal benefits. Vinelli, the business coach, says, Set aside time each week to
brainstorm new ways to create added value to your relationships, fostering more referrals and new
partnerships.
Anne Maxfield, Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Accidental Locavore, a new-media venture in
New York that demystifies farmers markets for shoppers, is partnering with companies that appeal to
food- and health-conscious consumers.
Shes pitching a show to the Food Network and forging alliances with NYCH2O, a New York bottledwater company, and EcoPlum, a website selling green products.
Our success in the year 2011 will come from partnerships (with certain companies) that consumers
believe in and also trust, she says.
Entrepreneur December 2010 by Entrepreneur Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Disrupters: Forces Driving Change in 2011
From crowdsourced shopping to new ways to go green. Here are the trends that will define opportunity
the next year.
By Team Entrepreneur
On the growth path
A burst of creativity ahead
Looking at the revised growth projections announced early December by the Indian government, one
wonders if the recession ever visited our country. The officials in the government offices in Delhi have
enhanced the economic growth projection for 2010-11 to 8.75 percent, with the possibility it could
breach the 9 percent mark, but warned the situation could be more volatile due to a spillover of Europes
economic woes and an increase in global food prices. The earlier growth projection by the finance
ministry was 8.5 percent.
These statistics were revealed as a part of the Mid-Year Analysis 2010-11 placed in Parliament. A
resurgent Indian economy also means high growth and innovation among SMEs, often described as a
growth engine of the Indian economy. Resource constraints are stimulating great business practices
among SMEs and feeding innovation, and the survival rate of new ventures is also improving.
Innovative workplace solutions provider Regus polled the opinions of business owners worldwide to
obtain a snapshot state of the nation picture of the SME sector in November 2010. This survey showed
that Indian SMEs are more bullish on recruitment than their counterparts abroad, with two-fifth of
entrepreneurs (40 percent) surveyed saying they will go on a hiring spree in the next six months compared
to the 36 percent global average. About 78 percent of businesses are flexible about their employees
working location, 37 percent net intend to add staff, and fully 60 percent of businesses plan to hire
mothers returning to the workforce.
With such high growth at the cusp, innovation among SMEs is also catching up. Eric Jackson, innovation
specialist and VP of research and development at Gap International, a global management consulting firm
in Philadelphia, says, The world is screaming for innovation, and companies can capitalize on the
resources they already have to spark the next possibilities. So forget about the recession. Since the
financial crisis laid waste to business as usual, the world is brimming with potential. The economic future
will be populated by the movers and shakers, who even now are poised for greatness. Just ask Socrates,
who doled out this gem more than two millennia ago: Let him that would move the world, first move
himself.
Its the silvers (again!)
They age. Opportunities bloom
Though the young in India rock the world with their abilities and achievements, the senior citizens are not
to be neglected. A special report carried by The Statesman in November 2009 says that in France, it took
120 years for the grey population to double from 7 percent to 14 percent. However, in India, the grey
population has doubled in 25 years. Though a majority of Indias population is below 35, there is also a
growing number of the ageing population who need specialized care and services. Take smart homes for
example. The global smart homes market is expected to reach a size of Rs.60,300 crore by 2014, growing
at a rate of 16.5 percent from 2009 to 2014. Smart homes enable senior citizens to live independently for
much longer spans of time.
And senior citizens in India are living long. The same The Statesman report mentioned above spells life
expectancy in India as 62 years today vis--vis 20 years in the beginning of the 20th century. Hidden in
the maze of this demographic data lie many opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures. Sectors like
healthcare, retirement homes, financial consultancy, media, and flexi-work and second career consultancy
all hold immense potential.
Besides, these days, being old doesnt automatically mean you lose cool points. Responding to the needs
of Indias burgeoning silver population, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) located in Mumbai
launched a one-year diploma course in gerontology in 2008. Two important subjects were added to the
curriculum in 2010: media and elderly; and creative arts and fieldwork for elderly.
Heres the clincher: Hollywood got in on the cool retirees movement with the fall action flick RED, which
stars Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman as four retired and extremely
dangerous (RED, get it?) ex-CIA agentsthink The Bourne Identity, but funny, and with old people. Old
man, my ass, Malkovichs character smirks in one scene, right after taking out a rocket with a single
bullet.
Get packing
Travel and tourism take off
Mark Twain described India as the one land that all men desire to
see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of
the world combined. Looking at the growth figures of the travel and tourism industry in India, his
Commerce remains no exception. Gone are the days of one-way, private online shopping.
Research shows that social media users spend, on average, one and a half times more time online than the
typical web surfer. In fact, heavy Facebook users spent an average of Rs.3,015 online in the U.S. during
the first quarter of the yearcompared with less than Rs.2,250 for the general netizen, according to recent
comScore research.
The first to really socialize shopping were online flash sale sites, where steep discounts are offered to
members for a limited time. These sites rely heavily on online conversations to drive sales. Smartly so,
because a recent MediaPost study revealed that 59 percent of consumers rated personal advice from
friends as the most influential source of information for their purchase decisions, and 51 percent of
Twitter users reported that they follow companies, brands or products on social networks.
The viral effect that social networks generate cannot be taken lightly. Opportunity lies hidden in their
power.
Home Sweet Home
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18 comments
1 Rajesh On 17 March 2011 at 11:21 pm
Simply Great Ideas .. too good
2 Tor bap Barata On 24 March 2011 at 12:19 am
baaaler idea bara ta.
3 ketan chougule On 12 October 2012 at 7:22 am
bravo////
4 Bhargav Kesavan On 3 April 2013 at 10:13 am
Good topic. Thanks for the ideas.
5 ravi khadse On 22 April 2013 at 7:42 pm
i need the idea to start new industry new idea for manufacturing product like electrical product
hardware product or any other who i start manufacturing in india
6 RAJAT KUMAR On 5 May 2013 at 1:37 pm
i need the idea to start a business with 10 to 20 lakh capital
7 jyoti On 4 July 2013 at 8:44 am
I want to start a wooden handicraft business,at a very low budget of 20 to 30,000.is it possible to do
so?or what should I need for initially setup.how to marketing my products.help
8 chain link fence On 3 November 2013 at 10:42 am
Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web
site is fantastic, as well as the content!
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