10 New Business Ideas for Startups in India

In this modern world, people are moving towards starting businesses from 9 to 5 jobs. If you are also searching for new business ideas for startups in India, then you have come to the right place. To start a business in a country like India, you must research to understand the needs of the people. When you have the needs, you will have the best startup ideas in your hand. In this article, I have listed one of the top 10 completely new business ideas for startups in India that are profitable and need only less investment. Read the article further and find out your desired startup idea.

New Business Ideas for Startups in India

1. Digital Marketing

When everything in this world is becoming digital, why not start a digital marketing agency?! Digital marketing has evolved as one of the trending businesses in India over the years. There are a lot of customers waiting out there to enhance their businesses through digital marketing. And you can make use of them to make money by marketing their brands digitally.

You can help business owners set eye-catching logos, create attractive websites, and give them taglines to enhance the reach of their brands. It is indeed one of the best business ideas for startups in India and a creative niche where you can enjoy working!

• Appropriate Capital: Starting a digital marketing business in India on a small scale may require an investment of Rs. 2 lakh – Rs. 10 lakh.
• Market Need: Digital marketing is growing exponentially, with an estimated CAGR of 30.3% from 2024 to 2030.
• Customer Identification: Understand the demographics and online behavior of your target audience for effective digital marketing.
• Competitor Analysis: Analyze competitors’ digital marketing tactics to optimize your own strategy.
• Legal Considerations: Comply with legal requirements such as company registration and taxation laws.
• Location: Choose metropolitan cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi which are popular locations for digital marketing startups.

2. Blogging

If you are a good writer who can make better blogs, you can start your own company. If you ask me how, well, you can hire content writers and an SEO specialist. After doing so, you can generate content from writers and make it optimized by the SEO specialist. What next? Post it and get the revenue!

But, you need to make sure that you post user-friendly, readable articles in order to be recognized by Google. Once they are ranked, you make money and issue a salary as well!

• Appropriate Capital: The approximate investment may vary depending on the niche and scale.
• Market Need: Choose blogging niches such as travel, food, fashion, technology, and personal finance which are popular in India.
• Customer Identification: Identify your blog’s target audience to create relevant content.
• Competitor Analysis: Understand the content strategy and marketing channels of competitor blogs.
• Legal Considerations: Ensure compliance with copyright laws and content monetization rules.
• Location: Blogging can be done remotely, but cities with vibrant cultures like Mumbai and Delhi offer rich content opportunities.

3. Edtech Business

As I said earlier, we have moved over to the digital era, where everything can be obtained online. If so, why not education?! Gone are those days when children used to sit in the classrooms all day and keep looking at the blackboard. People have started using computers and software technologies to educate children.

Some of the prominent Edtech companies like Unacademy, Byju’s, and Vedantu set examples by enhancing the rote learning culture in children. You can start a smaller Edtech company, specify your targeted customers, and integrate gradually.

• Appropriate Capital: Investments can range from bootstrapping to seeking venture capital, depending on the scale.
• Market Need: The estimated demand for online education, is expected to reach $10.4 billion by 2025.
• Customer Identification: Target audiences such as students, professionals seeking to upskill, and educational institutions.
• Competitor Analysis: Study the major players like Byju’s, Unacademy, upGrad, and Vedantu.
• Legal Considerations: Follow data protection laws, education laws, intellectual property laws, and labor laws.
• Location: Major cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi are hubs; however, online nature allows for broader reach.

4. Network Marketing

If you are good at convincing people about something, you can opt for a Network marketing startup because It is a type of business model where person-to-person sales play a vital role. You can effortlessly market products by increasing the network of a particular person.

It involves 3 basic principles of marketing namely Multi-level Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, and Direct Marketing. If you understand these three aspects of marketing, you can become the boss in your niche.

• Appropriate Capital: Often low to moderate to start, with some companies requiring the purchase of starter kits.
• Market Need: A growing market which is expected to reach Rs.159.3 billion by 2025.
• Customer Identification: Look for Individuals searching for additional income.
• Competitor Analysis: Analyse firms like Amway, Modicare, and Herbalife who are the key players.
• Legal Considerations: Make sure to follow the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978, and Direct Selling Guidelines 2016.
• Location: Pan-India presence, with a significant number of distributors in non-metro cities.

5. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a prominent business in other countries but not in India. This itself makes it one of the best startup ideas in India, as there are fewer competitors. Even if you don’t have inventory, you can buy products at wholesale rates from others and sell them to your customers at retail rates. So, the difference in the rates is the money you make! Interesting right? That is why it is one of the best business ideas for startups in India.

Moreover, some companies develop applications to just set the shipping rates for some online store owners and earn money by making them install the applications. If you are an app developer, you can also create apps and help store owners to enhance their E-commerce business.

• Appropriate Capital: Dropshipping in India is accessible with limited capital due to no requirement for inventory or warehousing.
• Market Need: The e-commerce market in India is growing, with a projected $99 billion market and over 1.4 billion internet users by 2024, offering vast potential for dropshipping.
• Customer Identification: Target customers include the vast online shopping population, with a focus on those seeking a wide range of products without inventory limitations.
• Competitor Analysis: The market is competitive with various players, and businesses must offer unique advantages and efficient supply chain solutions.
• Legal Considerations: Dropshipping is legal in India, but it requires business registration and adherence to taxation and consumer protection laws.
• Location: Urban areas with high internet penetration and access to logistic networks are ideal.

6. Interior Designing

Are you an architect who can create sleeky designs? If yes, you can become one of the top interior designers in India! Interior design has been gaining popularity in India recently after the emergence of reliable technologies. This is the reason that interior designing stands as one of the best business ideas for startups in India.

It is also evident from the number of interior design companies that has risen. Moreover, you can see a lot of interior design firms in some of the important cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, etc. This can be your desired startup if you can satisfy people with your unique designs.

• Appropriate Capital: Starting an interior design business in India requires investment in office space, equipment, marketing, and professional fees.
• Market Need: There’s a rising demand for innovative designs due to urbanization, with the industry expected to grow significantly.
• Customer Identification: Clients include homeowners, real estate developers, and commercial entities looking for customized design solutions.
• Competitor Analysis: The industry is rapidly evolving with a focus on theme-based designs and smart home technology.
• Legal Considerations: Interior designers must comply with local regulations, and building codes, and obtain the necessary permits for practice.
• Location: Major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore are hubs for interior design due to their rich heritage and architecture.

7. Photography

Photography can be the right startup idea if you are good at clicking pics! And how can it not be profitable when there are so many social events and functions in India?! Event planners, photographers, and caterers are the most required professionals needed at every event. It is a convincing and one of the best startup ideas in India.

You can start a studio and make people happy by giving the best moments clicked. All you need is a camera, and if you want to go a little bigger, hire the best photographers and make sure you click attractive photos.

• Appropriate Capital: Starting a photography business can vary greatly in capital requirements, depending on the scale and specialization.
• Market Need: There’s a consistent demand for professional photography in events, media, advertising, and personal portraits.
• Customer Identification: Clients range from individuals and families to businesses and media houses seeking quality visual content.
• Competitor Analysis: The market has diverse players, from freelancers to established studios, each offering different styles and services.
• Legal Considerations: Photographers must ensure copyright compliance and may need business licenses depending on their business model.
• Location: Metropolitan areas offer more opportunities due to a higher concentration of events and commercial activities.

8. Catering Business

Again, catering is the most prominent niche that never sees a recession in India. It is always a profitable business because food is everybody’ love and you can’t see one who hates food. This makes the catering business one of the best startup ideas in India.

You can see a better profit margin within months if you set up things right in this business. Once you feel that you are making good money, you can also extend your business by having more branches.

• Appropriate Capital: Starting a catering business in India typically requires an initial investment of around 20 lakhs. This includes kitchen rent, licenses, equipment, and initial operating expenses.
• Market Need: The catering industry in India is driven by the cultural significance of food in celebrations and increasing events like weddings, corporate gatherings, and festivals.
• Customer Identification: Customers range from individuals hosting private events to businesses and institutions requiring catering for various occasions.
• Competitor Analysis: The market is competitive with key players offering diverse dish varieties and services. Understanding local preferences and building a unique selling proposition is crucial.
• Legal Considerations: Necessary legal steps include obtaining an FSSAI license, health trade license, food establishment license, and GST registration.
• Location: Urban areas with higher population density and disposable income are ideal. Proximity to event venues and corporate hubs can be beneficial.

9. Courier Services

Courier Services is one of the best business ideas for startups in India that is becoming popular day by day. All you have to do is send goods from one place to another. Before starting a courier service, make sure you can send goods faster, and safer with tracking technology. 

Moreover, you need to be more careful with goods like glass objects, chemicals, etc. Ultimately, you will just need transport, delivery agents, accountants, and logistic experts to make your business run successfully. You will accept that it is one of the best startup ideas in India once you get into this business.

• Appropriate Capital: Starting a courier service can range from INR 1 lakh if you have existing resources, to a larger capital if starting from scratch.
• Market Need: The demand for courier services is high due to the growth of e-commerce and the need for quick delivery services.
• Customer Identification: Customers include businesses requiring document delivery, individuals needing time-sensitive shipments, and e-commerce platforms.
• Competitor Analysis: Study the major players like DTDC, Blue Dart, and FedEx, with competition based on price, speed, and service quality.
• Legal Considerations: KYC requirements are mandatory for shipment clearance, including business registration and tax compliance.
• Location: Metropolitan cities and urban centers with high commercial activity are ideal locations for courier services.

10. Travel Agency

As transport in India has become easier, people tend to explore new places. And India also has so many tourist spots to visit. If you start a travel agency, you are assured of your business running so well very soon! You will have students, working professionals, and families coming to you to make their trip easier, convenient, and memorable. It is a satisfying and one of the best business ideas for startups in India.

With well-organized working and effective planning, you can succeed soon in your business. To attract people, market your brand, place attractive photos in your office, and handle customers with greater hospitality. And you will see your business doing wonders in no time!

• Appropriate Capital: The capital required can vary widely depending on the scale, ranging from a few lakhs to several crores for larger operations.
• Market Need: There’s a growing need for travel agencies that offer personalized experiences, package tours, and corporate travel management services.
• Customer Identification: Target customers include leisure travelers, corporate clients, and niche travel groups.
• Competitor Analysis: The market has both local and international players, with competition based on service diversity, pricing, and customer experience.
• Legal Considerations: Registration with the Ministry of Tourism, IATA accreditation, and adherence to local business regulations are essential.
• Location: Tourist hotspots, business districts, and areas with high footfall such as malls or airports are advantageous.