India’s economic growth and evolving consumer demands have created new avenues for entrepreneurs across sectors. As the startup ecosystem expanded rapidly during 2017–18, aspiring business owners sought ideas that promised not only sustainability but high returns. Whether it was tapping into rural markets, offering value-added FMCG products, or adopting low-cost manufacturing, the era welcomed innovation and boldness. This article highlights the best profitable business ideas in India to start business for 2017–18, curated from market trends, emerging technologies, and sectoral growth data. The list of businesses with huge profits, featured in NPCS Newsletter – Issue 102017, can inspire both new and experienced entrepreneurs alike.

Best Profitable Business Ideas in India to Start Business for 2017–18. List of Businesses with Huge Profits

The business ideas featured here are chosen based on market demand, scalability, raw material availability, and low-to-moderate startup investment requirements.

1. Agro-Based Food Processing Units

India’s agri-based economy made food processing a top trend in 2017–18. Entrepreneurs leveraged locally available crops to make value-added products.

Examples:

• Tomato puree and ketchup manufacturing

• Dehydrated fruit and vegetable chips

• Pickle and chutney production

Profit Driver: Minimal wastage, high domestic demand, and export potential

Investment: ?5–15 lakhs (small-scale)

See More  – Profitable Manufacturing & Processing Business Ideas in Haryana

2. Mini Solar Panel Assembly Unit

With a push toward renewable energy, small solar panel manufacturing and assembly units gained popularity.

Why it Worked:

• Government incentives for solar installations

• Rural electrification needs

• Growing demand from households, schools, and small industries

Profit Margin: 25%–35% depending on scale

3. Detergent and Cleaning Product Manufacturing

Daily-use essentials like detergents, soaps, and cleaning liquids continued to show strong demand in 2017–18. Low-cost formulas and strong local branding were keys to success.

Products You Could Launch:

• Dishwashing liquid

• Floor cleaner (phenyl)

• Washing powder and cake

Market Tip: Target regional and rural distributors for high sales volume.

4. Packaged Drinking Water Plant

Clean drinking water remains a basic need, and setting up a packaged water unit (20-litre jars or bottles) was a strong business idea.

Why it Was Profitable:

• Growing urbanization

• Demand from hotels, offices, factories

• High daily consumption

Setup Cost: ?8–25 lakhs depending on automation

5. Sanitary Napkin Manufacturing

Women’s hygiene awareness surged in 2017, especially after the introduction of government schemes and social initiatives. Low-cost sanitary napkin units offered both social impact and high profitability.

Machine Cost: ?2–7 lakhs (semi-automatic)

Margins: 40–50% with localized branding

Target Markets: Schools, NGOs, health clinics, rural areas

6. Paper Cup and Disposable Cutlery Production

With the anti-plastic movement gaining steam, demand for biodegradable disposables increased.

Best-Selling Products:

• Paper cups and bowls

• Areca leaf plates

• Wooden/bamboo spoons

Market Scope: Events, food vendors, cafes, online B2B orders

See More – Small Business Ideas for more Profits

7. Herbal and Ayurvedic Cosmetic Products

2017–18 saw a boom in natural skincare and personal care items. Brands like Patanjali disrupted the market and opened the gates for small herbal product manufacturers.

Product Ideas:

• Herbal hair oil

• Aloe vera-based creams

• Ayurvedic soaps and shampoos

Advantage: Low R&D cost, high markup on herbal claims

8. Readymade Garments Manufacturing

Garment manufacturing for men, women, or kids always stayed relevant due to high fashion turnover and increasing online sales.

Small-Scale Niches:

• Ethnic wear for women

• Cotton t-shirts for youth

• Kidswear in premium cotton

Profit Edge: B2B tie-ups with boutiques or Amazon sellers

9. Spices and Masala Powder Production

India’s spice market was valued in thousands of crores and continued to grow. Regional masalas became household staples and an easy entry point for new businesses.

In-Demand Products:

• Garam masala

• Sambhar masala

• Kitchen King or blended spices

Low Startup Cost: ?2–5 lakhs (with basic grinding and packing machine)

10. Notebook and Stationery Manufacturing

With India’s large student population and office expansion, stationery items like notebooks, registers, and files were in constant demand.

Business Scope:

• School & college notebooks

• Office stationery

• Custom branded notebooks for corporates

Margins: Up to 30% with bulk orders and contracts

11. Organic Farming and Retail Outlet

As organic products became trendy, even small farmers or agri-entrepreneurs launched local organic outlets or brands.

Products Included:

• Organic grains, pulses, and vegetables

• Herbal teas and dried fruits

• Organic jaggery and oils

Bonus: Government support for organic certification and retail

12. Bakery and Confectionery Unit

From homemade cookies to branded cakes, bakery products showed rapid urban and semi-urban growth.

Popular Products in 2017–18:

• Eggless cakes

• Brown bread and multigrain loaves

• Rusk and biscuits

Marketing Tip: Local delivery apps and weekend flea markets worked great for brand exposure.

13. Mobile Repairing and Accessories Business

The mobile phone boom led to demand for both repair services and accessories like chargers, earphones, and covers.

Start-Up Cost: ?1–3 lakhs

Income Potential: ?30,000 to ?1 lakh/month with right location

Growth Tip: Add pre-owned phone sales or trade-ins

14. Candle and Agarbatti Making

These traditional businesses saw continued demand from religious, domestic, and decorative usage.

Specialty Varieties:

• Scented or aromatherapy candles

• Bamboo-less incense sticks

• Festival packaging for higher profits

15. Mushroom Farming

With high protein demand and limited investment, mushroom cultivation became a hidden gem in agri-business.

Types Grown:

• Button mushrooms

• Oyster mushrooms

• Milky mushrooms

Returns: ?1–2 lakhs per crop cycle (2–3 months)

Conclusion

The years 2017–18 offered a wealth of opportunities for smart, passionate entrepreneurs. The best profitable business ideas in India for that period came from sectors like food processing, renewable energy, personal care, and rural-based manufacturing. Whether your interest lay in agro-based products, technology-driven services, or daily essentials, the business landscape welcomed small-scale ideas with high returns. This list of businesses with huge profits, as featured in NPCS Newsletter – Issue 102017, proves that with the right research, even a modest investment can deliver substantial success.

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