25 Food Business Ideas in India [With Low Investment]

India is one of the fastest-growing countries in terms of economy. As a result, there are many opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to start their own small food businesses in India.

25 Food Business Ideas in India [That Work]

Here are some food business ideas in India that you can consider starting right now:

Restaurant chain

Restaurants are a great food business idea for entrepreneurs in India. You can start with a single restaurant and expand as you gain experience and capital.

There are various types of restaurants that you can start, such as fast food joints, food courts, cafes, and even fine dining restaurants. You can choose any of these options depending on your budget, location, and target audience.

You will need to have good knowledge about food processing and preparation to run any kind of restaurant business. You will also need some cash reserves to purchase equipment like stoves, refrigerators, and other appliances if you plan to start an outlet right away.

Also, read – How to Open a Restaurant in India – The Complete Guide

Quick Service Restaurant

A quick-service restaurant (QSR) is one that serves a specific food item that takes the least amount of time to prepare. It is one of the best ways to understand if you use fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, or KFC as examples.

Also, read – A Detailed Guide on Quick Service Restaurant [Qsr Industry]

Cloud Kitchen

Cloud kitchens are centralized licensed commercial food production facilities where restaurants can rent space to prepare delivery-optimized menu items. One restaurant may operate multiple brands or virtual restaurants under one roof, or the kitchen may be run as an incubator, shared by various purveyors.

Pizza delivery service

Pizza is a popular food with people of all ages. It’s also easy to make, and you can get many varieties of pizza from different stores. A pizza delivery service is an excellent small food business idea because it lets you earn money while doing something that you love. Before starting this business, you should first learn how to make delicious pizzas at home so that your customers won’t be disappointed when they try your product.

Food truck

Food trucks are popular small food business ideas in India. They’re mobile, which means you can sell your food anywhere there’s foot traffic; they don’t require a lot of overhead costs (like rent or equipment), and they let you get creative with what you sell.

But before you start dreaming about quitting your day job and becoming the next celebrity chef, it’s important to know that starting a food truck business in India is no walk in the park—especially if you want to make money doing it.

Baking cakes and desserts

It is also one of the most profitable food business ideas in India. Baking cakes and desserts are one of the easiest businesses to start, as you don’t need any special training or skills to do it. You can start this business with minimal investment and even if you have little experience in baking, you can still be successful at it. However, there are some things that you will need to consider before getting started on this path:

● What type of cakes/desserts do you want to make?

● How many flavors should your menu offer?

● Do customers prefer traditional or modern-looking designs?

Also, read – How to start a Bakery Business in India [Business Plan]

Beverage shops

To start a business in this industry, you will need to make sure that the products you are selling are profitable. It is also important to consider maintaining a good relationship with your customers, especially if they are paying for their food items.

You can start by selling beverages such as coffee, tea or sodas at your shop. You can also sell snacks and sandwiches to customers who visit your store regularly on weekends or during the evenings. Furthermore, if you have an online presence then it would be a great idea to provide delivery services too!

Ice cream parlors

If you’re looking to start a small food business in India, opening an ice cream parlor is one of the best summer dessert ideas. It’s also a great way to keep cool this summer by making and selling delicious treats!

Ice cream parlors are still fairly new in India, so there’s plenty of room for growth. Plus, eating cold desserts on hot days helps people beat their heat exhaustion while they enjoy themselves with friends and family members.

The good news is that you don’t need much capital to get started in this industry: You can set up shop with just Rs 1 lakh. That’s because most of your initial investment will go toward basic equipment like freezers and mixers instead of actual ingredients (which cost very little). Once you’re up and running, all you really need are buckets full of toppings—and those are cheap too!

Also, read – Ice Cream Business Model – Plan, Ideas & Setup Cost

Dosa plaza

Dosa Plaza is an Indian dish that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s made from rice and lentils, and consists of batter poured onto a hot griddle to create crepes-like pancakes. Dosa Plaza is a great option for those looking to start their day with something healthy, as it contains a lot of fiber and protein.

Dosa plaza can be served with many different toppings: chutney, sambar, idli podi (a type of spicy powder), coconut chutney, and vadai masala (a dry curry made with lentils). The options are endless!

Cookie stores

Cookie stores are one of the best small food business ideas in India. There are different types of cookies such as chocolate chip, oatmeal, and peanut butter. It is important to know how to make homemade cookies. The ingredients used for making these include flour, sugar, baking powder, and butter or margarine. You can also buy them from the supermarket if you do not have time for the preparation of homemade cookies. You can sell them at a store or market them online through your website or social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram etc…

You need to focus on marketing your business so that it will be successful in terms of generating profit if it.

Chocolates and confectionery stores

Chocolates and confectionery stores are great small food business ideas for women, young entrepreneurs, and families. Chocolates and confectionery stores can be started with a minimum investment of 10 lakhs to 30 lakhs. You can also start your own chocolates and confectionery store in one corner of your house.

Chocolates are loved by all age groups including children and elders. It is because chocolates are made using different ingredients like sugar, milk powder, cocoa butter, etc., which makes them tasty as well as nutritious at the same time. This combination makes chocolate an irresistible food item for everyone around the world.

Become a personal chef

Do you have a specialty in any specific cooking styles? Then, look into a career as a personal chef. In the home kitchen or commercial space, chefs make meals for a large number of customers. It has modest startup costs and it is a flexible business concept with a high lucrative rate. Personal chefs work with a wide range of clientele, including individuals, businesses, and organizations. To advance in this industry, one must cultivate strong bonds with clients.

Fast food franchise

Fast food franchises are one of the popular food business ideas in India. Invest in a fast-food business to increase your earnings. Indeed, significant investment is needed. However, you get clients and the reputation of the brand right away. Fast foods are an expanding and simple-to-market niche. Although the profit margins are lower, the business is volume-driven. Pick a cuisine you love, then go for a company you trust. Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Wow Momo, and McDonnell are a few examples of well-known franchises.

Also, read – How to Start Fast Food Business in India (Business Plan & Profit)

Canning and preserving food business

You have access to a huge selection of items for canning and preservation. It could be a seasonal or year-round food business operation. To choose a specialty, you must be aware of foods and their shelf lives. Discover the various kinds of preservation techniques like drying, freezing, and canning. Keep an eye out for seasonal fruits and vegetables. You could market foods that are consumables or edibles in cans. Keep in mind that canning supplies could be pricey. Pick a niche and start promoting it.

Meat processing

The global meat business is largely fragmented, yet thriving. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many individuals now prefer ordering fresh meat from local butcher shops or meat markets online. This shift offers you an opportunity to start c old chain infrastructure, breeding farms, or hatcheries. Additionally, you can look into premium meat cuts for customers or restaurants or start your own meat business online.

Open a snack bar

The popularity of salty snacks has recently experienced an exceptional rise and is still flourishing. Discover a variety of slated snacks from many cultures and some of the popular ones are salted peanuts, roasted chickpeas, parmesan crisps, sev, sardines, bhujia, etc. There is a big market for these treats, and they won’t go away anytime soon. Do you know how to make delectable savory snacks? Then make a business out of it!

Homemade Pet Food

The pet food industry is thriving now more than ever. However, some pet owners do not always have access to high-quality organic pet food. So take advantage of this opportunity to create some delicious organic pet food. Pet owners who have pets with health or diet concerns often find it hard to buy personalized pet food as the supermarkets mostly stock regular pet food items. You can solve this problem by making high-quality, personalized organic pet food in your own kitchen.

Sauces

There is a large demand for various ketchup varieties. Sauces make other foods taste better. They are found in every household refrigerator. Think of launching a sauce-making company. You produce them and market them in shops or online. It is also a successful home startup business idea. Don’t limit yourself to the traditional sauce flavors, instead explore varieties, such as barbecue, spicy, taco, soy, garlic, marinara, etc.

Pickle making

Pickle-making business is one of the best small food business ideas. Apart from Asia, people have got a hankering for pickles throughout the world. A great variety of pickles are produced using a wide range of fermenting techniques. You have the option of preserving both fruits and vegetables. You can put your effort into this business concept if you’re a housewife or a cook who is simply trying to become financially independent.

Organic foods

People are becoming more aware of the dangers of eating chemical-laced food. This fact is driving demand for organic goods. The organic food industry has not yet undergone a full evolution, but it is safe to consider that it will continue to exist. You can start selling Organic foods by opening an online or offline store. This is a unique small food business idea with less competition.

Cooking classes

This is yet another brilliant small food business idea. You can start from the comfort of your own home without a large investment, and you can expect good margins. The main reason why owning a cooking class could be a perfect match for you is that you have complete control over your workload.

Diet Snacks

People who are trying to lose weight prefer diet snacks. This type of snack is made exclusively to be sugar-free and low in carbohydrates. Currently, many people are following low-carb diets. But there aren’t many snack varieties that fall under the category of “diet snacks.” So this is a fantastic small food business idea with a lot of potential for the future.

Catering service

Catering services are one of the popular small food business ideas in India. Depending on how big you want to start, you can start a catering service on your own or with a handful of extra helpers. Whether you are a professional chef or an amateur cook, a catering business will help you quickly increase your customer. Nowadays, most catering startups are profitable by dominating specific markets, such as business events, weddings, tea parties, etc.

Also, read – How to Start Catering Business [Ideas, Plan & Item List]

Seafood delivery

For beginners, processing seafood and selling it is a terrific home business idea. This can also be started as a side hustle. Seafood is always in demand, both fresh and frozen. You can buy clean and prepped seafood from wholesalers. Additionally, you can partner up with restaurants, and offer prompt delivery. Additionally, you can provide services to different local customers. As you receive more referrals, you can diversify your base.

DIY Food Kits

Meal kits come in quite handy for folks who don’t know how to cook or don’t have a lot of time to prepare meals. When people feel the need for a quick, scrumptious, and healthy supper, DIY food kits come to the rescue. If you think you can put up some nice food packages in the right proportions, this could be the ideal small food business idea for you.

Final words

In this article, we’ve looked at some of the best small food business ideas in India. These businesses can be started from anywhere and most of them do not require a lot of investment. So if you are looking for an interesting career option or want to start your own business then these ideas are sure to work out great!