Planning to start a venture in Pune, India? Well, you’re in the right place! Here, in this article, we’ll help you explore 25 cracking low-investment business ideas in Pune. Despite what your interest or preferred field is, you’ll find a suitable startup idea to leverage India’s fifth-largest metropolitan economy.
Pune, also known as ‘Oxford of the East’, is recognised for its esteemed educational institutions and multinational enterprises. It’s one of the richest and most economically developed cities in the country and has approximately a total GDP of INR 5,724.93 billion (USD 69 billion) currently, contributing nearly 0.81% to the Indian Economy.
What Makes Pune a Good Location to Launch a Business?
Pune is a renowned industrial and manufacturing hub in India, with the Pune District being the third-largest contributor to the Maharashtra economy after Mumbai and Thane.
The Government of Maharashtra has established many programmes to encourage entrepreneurship in Pune, creating a conducive business environment. They have designed rules and incentives that attract investment. Therefore, It’s a land of opportunities for startups. Many significant tech players rose from this city, like Wipro, Infosys, and more. The presence of these tech giants makes the city a lucrative location for Information Technology and manufacturing businesses to flourish.
Moreover, you’ll find ample accelerators, incubators, and co-working spaces in the city to get started. Well-known brands like Firstcry, Letsintern, Fasoos, etc. also began their journey from Pune.
Besides, the city is an educational hub with numerous universities and technological institutes. Consequently, you can find a well-educated and talented workforce for your enterprise. The logistics will also be a smooth deal due to the city’s brilliant transit system and connectivity to major Indian cities, which helps you reach markets and customers easily.
A few more advantages include Pune’s rich cultural heritage that blends so well with its contemporary vibe, creating enchanting experiences for people. The vibrant nightlife and culinary scene of the city offers startups the scope to cater to a diverse and thriving market.
The luxurious residential enclaves, like Kalyani Nagar and Koregaon Park, exemplify the refined tastes of Pune’s elite class living a lavish lifestyle. Moreover, the upper-middle class with high per capita income is on the rise in Pune, which makes the city a perfect venue to commence a new business. In fact, Pune holds the sixth-highest per capita income in the country.
StartUp Statistics: Evaluating The Prospects of Small Business Ideas
India is leading the charts globally, being the third-largest ecosystem for startups. It’s home to over 1,12,718 DPIIT-recognised startups spanning 763 districts in the country as of 03rd October 2023. Our country ranks #2nd in innovation quality, which is not limited to a few sectors. The recognised startups are from 56 diverse industrial sectors, including 13% startups from IT services, 7% from education, 9% from healthcare and life sciences, and 5% from agriculture and food and beverages industry.
The country is thriving with several flourishing unicorns, which are privately held startups with over USD1 billion in valuation. These startups give the economy the stars it needs, developing innovative solutions and technologies while creating large-scale employment. Some of the notable ones are Zomato, PolicyBazaar, Nykaa, Paytm, and Freshworks.
In the last four years (since FY 2017-18), India witnessed a whopping 66% YoY growth in the number of unicorns added each year. There are 111 unicorns holding a total valuation of USD 349.67 billion.
In Maharashtra, 84% of new startups are based in Mumbai and Pune. There are 461 startups in Pune, which amounts to roughly 5% of all startups in India. Pune boasts India’s fourth-best startup ecosystem. Pune’s startup environment had significant growth in 2023, rising up 12 positions to reach 78th in the Global Ecosystem Index.
Lucrative Business Ideas to Start With Low Investment in Pune
As you’re aware of India’s growing startup culture and Pune’s potential as a thriving business hub, it’s time to dive into some amazing business ideas in Pune. You can expect good profit margins with a meagre investment in the businesses listed below:
1. Designing Websites
With the rise of eCommerce businesses, there’s a dire need for websites in every industry. Almost all businesses today have a business website. Pune, being a commercial hub, is home to numerous firms and often has many startups coming up as well. Therefore, starting a web design and development firm is one of the most profitable business ideas in Pune.
You can start at a small-scale business from home by learning skills for designing a website, such as knowing website layouts, website functionality, and graphics.
2. Software Development Business
As mentioned earlier, Pune is known for its raving IT sector and has enormous business potential in that segment. Big IT players like Tata Consultancy Services, Amdocs, Cognizant, and more laid their foundation in Pune. So, starting a software development venture is a great business idea in Pune as you can seize this opportunity to tap into the IT market. Brush up on your skills in computer programming languages, like C, C++, HTML, JAVA, etc., to make this venture work.
3. App Development
Your customers are always looking to make their shopping experience more convenient. Ever since eCommerce and quick-commerce became the way of living, apps have gained massive popularity. Moreover, the growing culture of customers shopping using smartphones created all the more demand for apps. Hence, app development is another fruitful business idea in Pune.
However, you must have adequate knowledge of mobile technology, user experience, and the right skills to collaborate with customers to develop apps that fulfill their needs and expectations.
4. Event Management
A wide variety of events take place in Pune throughout the year as the city has a rich heritage and vivid cultural scene. You have a lot to gain from an event planning and management business set up in Pune. The scope is pretty wide, with weddings, corporate events, exhibitions, concerts, etc., happening on a large scale in the city frequently. You’ll require a network of vendors and a solid team to organise and execute these events perfectly.
5. Coaching Institute
Pune is an educational powerhouse that attracts students from around the country. The city is renowned for its educational institutes. Many aspirants come here to prepare for their competitive exams. You can start a coaching business by offering courses and programmes with expert staff, study materials, and a well-drafted curriculum to help students crack examinations like IIT-JEE, UPSC, NEET, and banking exams.
6. Online Tutoring
The demand for online tutoring has gone up immensely after the Covid-19 pandemic. Pune is popularly known as the ‘Student City’ due to an enormous number of students pouring into various prestigious institutes of the city. So, there is even more demand for such classes in this city. Starting your online training courses for college or school students is an excellent business idea in Pune.
7. Digital Marketing
Establishing a digital marketing firm is an ideal low-investment business idea in Pune. As businesses want to leverage the growing digital marketing trend, you can utilise this opportunity to start your business. Creating a strong online presence is the most effective and pocket-friendly way for a business to reach its customers and promote products or services.
Build a startup to assist businesses in enhancing their online brand presence and image through digital marketing techniques, like social media management, content creation and optimisation, SEO practises, and more. You could either start a specialised service with one or two of these techniques or have a 360 degree digital marketing company to provide all the services under one roof. Develop a comprehensive portfolio of your services and experience to showcase to and attract customers.
8. Apparel Wholesaler
Pune has a booming fashion sector and is famous for its readymade garment segment. The wholesale garment supplier business idea in Pune can give you substantial profits since the city is known as the ‘fashion capital of Maharashtra’. There are over 200 textile manufacturing facilities and factories in the city that you could tie up with to start your wholesale business. You can find a huge variety of fabrics and readymade garments such as western wear, ethnic wear, and fashion accessories for retail outlets and online stores.
9. Photography Business
Pune’s rich cultural heritage makes it a picturesque location for vivid and enchanting photo shoots. From personal to business photography for events like weddings, fashion shows, and product photography, you’ll have ample opportunities. Having a photography firm is a brilliant business idea in Pune due to its scenic views. A good camera and a creative eye will do the trick for your startup.
10. Beauty and Spa Salon
Who has the time to groom themselves in a fast-paced life? People of every age need beauty, grooming, and spa services to relax and feel good about themselves. They value wellness and self-care, which heightens the need for such services. In fact, experts claim the wellness and skincare market in India, valued at USD 10.1 billion in 2018, will reach USD 30 billion by 2024.
Open a spa center or beauty salon to help people rejuvenate from their busy lifestyles. In a calming set up, you can offer services like facials, massages, hair spa, manicures, pedicures, and many more.
11. Plant Nursery
Pune is renowned for its lush vegetation and deep-rooted respect for wildlife. People in Pune, like gardening enthusiasts, landscapers, or homeowners, are fond of shopping for outdoor or indoor plants, gardening stuff, pots, and other accessories to accentuate their premises. Starting a nursery with all these gardening essentials and assorted plants may serve as a profitable business idea in Pune.
12. Pet Care
Pets are a beloved of many these days. Pune is no exception when it comes to pet lovers. But most people in this bustling city have hectic schedules, which makes it difficult or nearly impossible for them to care for their pets. Initiating a pet care service or center may be a superb business idea in Pune due to its exclusivity. There is a high demand for such centers, but the city has only limited avenues to cater to this need. So, you can earn hefty profits with this startup idea.
Moreover, experts predict India’s Pet Care Market size to touch INR 21,000 Crore by 2032, growing at a 19.2% growth rate during the 2022 to 2032 forecast period.
13. Electric Car Rental
An electric car rental service is likely to strike chords with many eco-conscious customers. Sustainability is a priority for many nowadays, thus, this business idea in pune may prove as an innovative and ecologically beneficial one. Moreover, electric cars are gaining importance recently among environment enthusiasts.
Along with the residents, even tourists may prefer renting out an eco-friendly car in Pune. You can start a company that offers reasonable electric car rentals to consumers and other firms for both the long and short term. You may also add a battery charging station for electric vehicles for additional profits.
14. Interior Designing
People like to live in aesthetically pleasing spaces today. The demand for interior design firms is on the rise. India’s interior design market size was USD 31.5 Billion in 2023, which is predicted to reach USD 67.4 Billion by 2032, with an 8.81% growth rate (CAGR) during 2024-2032.
Pune is witnessing notable growth in its real estate sector, with many residential and commercial projects coming up across the city. This burgeoning real estate market is one of the reasons for the high demand for interior designing firms in Pune. By implementing this business idea in Pune, you can cater to clients who want to spruce up their homes, offices, restaurants, and other spaces.
15. Home-Based Organic Products
There’s a huge market for organic products today due to consumers turning more health-conscious over the years. The first thing a customer likely does today is read the ingredients at the back of every product they use on their skin or consume. The organic products market has witnessed a 25% year-on-year growth, highlighting the increasing health consciousness among Indian consumers.
You can start selling organic soaps, shampoos, body lotions, and other skincare products. This is undoubtedly an outstanding business idea in Pune, with a considerable potential for consistent growth.
16. Personalised Gift Shop
People are growing fond of personalised products day by day and love gifting these items to their loved ones. 80% of buyers believe that personalised gifts are more thoughtful than general ones. They want customised gifts for different occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, festivals, etc. Some people even like to get their own belongings personalised. For example, an accessory brand ‘Prerto’ customises women’s handbags with their initials on them.
Opening a personalised gift shop with a customisation service for gift cards, jewellery, home decor, clothing, tech gadgets, and other items is a fantastic business idea in Pune.
17. Breakfast Takeaway
Pune has a fast-paced culture where people are always rushing. It creates a growing need for quick and easily accessible meals. Establishing a takeaway joint that caters to the hyper-busy people wanting ready-to-eat meals or quick snacks to start their day can be a high-profit bargain.
18. Personal Health Trainer
Pune’s population is catching up with the health and fitness trend, as more people want to work towards staying fit and healthy. But these fitness enthusiasts need assistance with training and achieve their health goals. Beginning a personal fitness training business would be a smart business idea in Pune. You can hire professionals to train clients or do it individually by taking one-on-one sessions, making customised diet charts, etc.
19. Cloud-Kitchen Tiffin Service
Many people who work staying away from home in cities like Pune need home-cooked food that they may be unable to cook due to their hectic routine. At times, people also want such healthy meals delivered at their offices for the lunch hour. This culture is especially prevalent in fast-paced cities with a somiant corporate or student culture. There is a huge population of students in Pune, and a decent number of working professionals.
Starting a cloud kitchen at home to provide tiffin service is a low-budget yet profitable business idea in Pune. You can prepare fresh and healthy home-cooked meals in your kitchen and collaborate with food apps like Swiggy or Zomato to deliver the tiffins. Tiffin service is a popular and tried and tested concept in many cities, with high success rates.
20. Food Truck
Pune is known for its culinary delights and foodie adventures. Food Trucks are the new fancy way of serving delectable cuisines on-the-go to people. These trucks are famous among students, food aficionados, and office workers looking for quick and tasteful meals. Park a food truck on the streets of Pune to appease the taste buds of these foodies with a menu full of fusion and exotic dishes.
21. Bhel Puri Shop
Street food is another delicacy of Pune, and bhel puri is the king here. Pune people love stopping by Bhel Puri shops. So, opening one of these can help you capitalise on this trending business idea in Pune. You can serve a variety of street food, like bhel puri, paani puri, and other chaat treats to lure residents and tourists craving street food or bhel puri.
22. Coffee Shop or Cafe
Coffee shops are becoming massively popular among the urban population. People find a perfect space to relax and enjoy a small snack and drink at such cafes or coffee shops with their friends and family. Many people prefer meeting their clients in these shops as well. Therefore, opening a coffee shop with attractive elements like modern or unique decor, variety in the menu, etc., maybe a lucrative endeavour under a small budget of nearly INR 15 Lakhs – INR 20 Lakhs.
23. Online and Offline Cooking Classes
Utilise your love for cooking by starting an online vlog on YouTube or offline center for cooking classes. You can even host events to teach special cuisines. For example, a 2-3 days Pizza making event is quite popular these days. Such events are also fun for people.
Make a well-equipped kitchen, use high-quality products, and promote your classes to Pune’s aspiring home cooks. You can also create a loyal customer base by providing personalised attention and exciting culinary events.
24. Chikki Making Business
Pune drools over the famous sweet snack ‘chikki’. It gives you a mind-blowing opportunity to take advantage of this profitable business idea in Pune. You can sell a wide variety of unique chikki flavours in appealing packages to win the hearts of people in Pune. Residents and tourists both want to stock up on these delicious chikkis. Many tourists even like to take them home as souvenirs for their loved ones or acquaintances.
25. Residential Rental Business
Pune has an increasing population of professionals and students, which has led to the development of residential apartments, complexes, and individual homes.
Many IT companies and educational institutes in Pune attract migrants from various parts of the country. This migration has automatically spiked the demand for residential rental properties. The third prominent city, after Bengaluru and Hyderabad, to see substantial rental value growth was Pune. So, this business idea in Pune can earn you huge profits.
Conclusion
Pune serves as a magnificent business platform for startups in almost all sectors. From IT ventures like web designing, software development, and app creation to food and pet care firms, you can implement many low investment business ideas in Pune to begin your entrepreneurial journey. The strategic position, favourable business environment, supportive ecosystem, and dense population of the city make it an attractive place for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to set up a new business in the country.
