10 Profitable Businesses You Can Start with Less Than ₹1 Lakh in India

Starting a business doesn’t always require a huge investment. With just ₹1 lakh or even less, you can launch a profitable venture. The key is to pick the right idea, manage costs wisely, and use smart marketing strategies. Here are ten business ideas that you can start with a small budget
With busy professionals, students, and working families looking for home-cooked meals, a tiffin service can be a great business.
₹30,000 - ₹50,000 for groceries, packaging, and delivery boxes.
Marketing using WhatsApp groups, Instagram, and food delivery apps.
You can charge ₹100-₹150 per meal. With 20-30 regular customers, you can make ₹40,000-₹60,000 per month.
If you are a person who loves to write, you could monetize this skill by setting up a blog or freelancing as a writer.
₹5,000 - ₹10,000 for domain registration and hosting.
These include writing skills, SEO knowledge, and social media promotion.
You could make above ₹30,000 per month with ads, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing on a successful blog.
With minor equipment and a presentable camera, you can capture events, products, or portraits.
A good DSLR, lens, and lighting setup would cost approximately ₹50,000-₹1 lakh.
Marketing through social media and networking.
Charging ₹5,000-₹15,000 per photoshoot allows you to earn over ₹50,000 per month.
Handmade and organic products are in demand. Selling scented candles and organic soaps could be considered a good business idea.
About ₹30,000-₹50,000 would suffice for raw materials, molds, and packaging. Sell via Instagram, WhatsApp, and craft fairs.
With 50%-60% profit margins, earnings could range from ₹30,000-₹50,000 monthly.
Using dropshipping, you sell items that your business advertises but does not keep in stock. The supplier or manufacturer only gets paid after you have made the sale.
₹20,000-₹30,000 to set up an e-commerce website and run ads.
Partnership with suppliers on Shopify, Meesho, or AliExpress.
Profits depend on the niche, but a successful dropshipping business can generate ₹50,000+ per month.
If you are great at a subject, you could always find teaching students to be rewarding.
Around ₹5,000-₹15,000 for marketing and basic study materials.
Online classes via Zoom, Google Meet, or YouTube.
Depending on the course, charging ₹1,000-₹5,000 per student can go on to earn you ₹30,000 and above in a month.
Custom T-shirts, mugs, or even mobile phone covers can be sold without carrying any stock. Just leave production and shipping to printing companies.
₹10,000-₹20,000 has been set aside for design and online marketing.
Printrove, Qikink, and TeeSpring are all recommended options to try.
A profit of about ₹200-₹500 per product can lead to a net earning of more than ₹40,000 per month.
Even the tiniest small-scale businesses need help managing their social feeds. This is a very good small business opportunity if you know content creation and can run ads.
Set aside between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000 for the laptop, software, and online courses.
Market through LinkedIn, Upwork, and Facebook groups.
If you charge ₹10,000+ for each client served, you could earn more than ₹50,000 monthly.
Handmade jewelry and umm much more are actually popular among younger audiences, such as women.
Sales for raw materials and packages cost around ₹20000 to ₹30000.
Sell through Instagram, Etsy, and local exhibitions.
You can earn more than ₹30,000 per month with a 40% to 50% profit margin.
This mobile service repair and accessories sales are large on the market with almost every person holding a smartphone.
Training may cost somewhere between 20000 and 30000.
50,000-70,000 is what you may need for tools and the initial stock of accessories.
That gives you the ability to earn over fifty thousand rupees monthly by charging per service and selling accessories.
It is possible to start any business under 1 lakh rupees provided it is the right idea and marketed properly. Be it a home-based food service, digital business, or simply a product-based venture, success is dependent on your dedication and smart strategies. Try to identify innovative ideas matching your skills and interests to make a start toward financial independence.