Best Profitable Business Ideas in India to Start Business for 2017-18. List of Businesses with huge Profits (NPCS Newsletter – Issue 102017)
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. Contents1 Best Profitable Business Ideas in India to Start Business for 2017–18. List of Businesses with Huge Profits1.1 1. Agro-Based Food Processing Units1.2 2. Mini Solar Panel Assembly Unit1.3 3. Detergent and Cleaning Product Manufacturing1.4 4. Packaged Drinking Water Plant1.5 5. Sanitary Napkin Manufacturing1.6 6. Paper Cup and Disposable Cutlery Production1.7 7. Herbal and Ayurvedic Cosmetic Products1.8 8. Readymade Garments Manufacturing1.9 9. Spices and Masala Powder Production1.10 10. Notebook and Stationery Manufacturing1.11 11. Organic Farming and Retail Outlet1.12 12. Bakery and Confectionery Unit1.13 13. Mobile Repairing and Accessories Business1.14 14. Candle and Agarbatti Making1.15 15. Mushroom Farming2 Conclusion2.0.1 Contact Us 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,