With India’s economy roaring, now is a great time to start a small business to gain financial independence, and satisfaction. There are various industries to choose from - you need to select the one that caters to your passion, interest, and knowledge.
The middle class, which forms a major chunk of the Indian population, has been spending more than ever in recent times. So, whether you want to start a small business as a secondary source of income, or as a full-fledged venture, this is the best time to cater to the increasing demand of the spending class of India.

Here is a list of 20 best profitable small business ideas in India to choose from:
Organic Farming
Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of what they are eating. As a result, the demand for organic food is rising. If you’re one with green fingers, you can cater to this health-conscious population by producing organic vegetables, fruits, or dairy products from your yard.
Online Teaching
Online education has been seeing a massive boom since the pandemic. Hence, the demand for online tutors has also increased. From academic subjects to coding, music, or art, online teaching is a very good small business option with minimal investment.
Handicraft Business
Handicrafts are an indispensable part of Indian culture. The Indian government is pushing local handicraft manufacturers through schemes like One District One Product. Thus, if you have the talent for creating beautiful handicrafts, now is the best time to make a small business out of it.
Fitness Trainer
Health and fitness took the center stage during the pandemic and it’s only here to stay. If you are a certified fitness trainer, you can offer online or home-based fitness classes with minimal investments. You can start small, and gradually grow your clientele.
Home Bakery
If you’re one who knows their way around an oven, you’re in for a treat (pun intended)! Custom-made cakes, cookies, cupcakes and muffins are all the rage for special occasions and gifting. You can easily reach your customers with food delivery apps like Swiggy, Zomato, etc.
Dropshipping
In simple terms, dropshipping is like being a mediator between the buyer & seller. You don’t need to maintain an inventory of the product. After receiving an order from the buyer, you place the order with the supplier. The supplier then ships the product directly to the buyer, leaving you with an easy profit.
Social Media Management
All brands want to have a strong social media presence. Keep up with ongoing trends, and gain a good understanding of how social media works and voila – you have the opportunity to start your own social media management business. Manage social media posts, engage with the followers, and ultimately help your clients stay relevant online.
Photography
Nowadays, everyone lives their lives on social media. And so, there is an increasing demand for high-quality images for social media, websites, etc. You can offer photography services like wedding photography, event coverage, stock photography, etc., making for a profitable small business.
Event Planning
People with good management skills and creative minds can venture into the field of event planning, as it is a booming industry in India. You can start with planning local events, and with growing experience and contacts, you can earn more, with wedding and corporate event planning. Most of the revenue comes during the wedding & festive seasons.
Blogging
If you like playing with words and have an extensive vocabulary, you can explore the field of blogging. You can blog about food, travel, sports, personal development, or upcoming technologies, and can earn through ads, affiliate marketing, and brand sponsorships.
Freelance Web Development
Websites have become a must for businesses these days. If you know coding, you can earn money from the comfort of your home, through freelance web development. Your clients can include businesses, e-commerce platforms, or even individuals wanting to establish an online presence.
Mobile Food Truck
Food trucks are gaining momentum in cities, thanks to their low upfront costs, compared to full-fledged restaurants. If you are a wizard in the kitchen, you can consider investing in a food truck, and serve local delicacies or innovative fusion dishes.
Coaching Classes
Many leading ed-tech businesses grew out of small coaching classes. With increasing competition, students need a personalized learning experience. You can tap into this ever-growing education industry by starting coaching classes. After gaining enough trust amongst the student community, you can scale this into a fully-fledged business. You can further go digital or open new coaching centers to help more students succeed.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn passive money by promoting products and earning commissions through sales. You can share the links of the products through your social media, blog, or YouTube. You can also make unboxing or review videos of the products, which can lead to more engagement with the affiliate links.
Pet Care Services
With the rising number of pet parents in urban and even semi-urban settings, pet care services like grooming, walking, and pet-sitting have opened up new opportunities that can be well paying. You can establish a pet-care business catering to busy professionals who need assistance caring for their fur babies.
Beauty Salon
In today’s world, looking good every day is important for many Indians. Therefore, beauty salons can be a good idea for a small profitable business. You can provide a variety of beauty services ranging from hair & skin care packages to spas. Beauty salon businesses with good services and a loyal customer base have a good scope of revenue growth and expansion.
Mobile Repair Shop
Smartphones have become indispensable in our day to day lives, and their demand is projected to grow exponentially. Hence, the demand for smartphone repairs has also boomed. You can start a mobile repair shop with minimal investment and can offer services such as screen replacements, battery repairs, etc.
Tiffin Services
For working professionals and students living away from home, daily deliveries of home-made food are true blessings. You can tap into this demand by setting up a tiffin service that caters to the palette of the working youth.
Translation Services
India is a country known for its cultural diversity and with that comes the 100+ languages. This provides an opportunity for translation services for websites, brands, chatbots, YouTube video subtitles, and many more. If you are a multilingual person, you can leverage this to provide translation services from the comfort of your home.
Interior Designing
People prefer aesthetic and functional homes and offices, which only an interior designer can provide. If you are a design maestro, a small business focused on interior design can become profitable as your portfolio grows.
Conclusion
Business opportunities in India are endless in today’s time. You just need to explore your calling, follow your passion, and strategically monetize it. Do good planning, set up a good rapport with your clients, be patient, and grow your small business to new heights. Good luck!