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Are you excited to explore the best business ideas in Chennai, a bustling city known for its economic power and huge potential for new ventures?
Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the sixth most populous metropolitan city in the country. It’s a place with numerous opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to start their own businesses.
The city’s location along a vast coastline has led to the establishment of several ports, earning it the title of an industrial hub. According to FICCI, Chennai ranked fourth in tax collection, with an impressive INR 74,000 crore collected between 2018 and 2019.
Chennai’s economy rests on three strong pillars: the automobile industry, electronic hardware, and information technology and IT-enabled services (IT-ITeS) sectors.
The IT-ITeS sector alone generates a whopping revenue of over USD 18.51 billion and provides direct employment to more than 4,00,000 people in the city.
Additionally, Chennai is known as the “Health Capital of India,” attracting a significant number of health tourists, accounting for around 45% of all medical tourists in India.
Over the past few decades, Chennai has experienced remarkable growth across various sectors, creating numerous business opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs like you.
Are you ready to dive into the 18 best business ideas that Chennai offers, promising high profits and unlimited potential? Let’s embark on this exciting journey together!
Table of Contents
Chennai: A Thriving Hub for Businesses
Chennai, a city in Tamil Nadu, is well-known for many great things like delicious Chettinad cuisine, rich art and culture, and lots of travel opportunities.
But that’s not all! It has also earned a reputation as a top industrial hub, making it a fantastic place for businesses to grow and thrive.
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SEZ Policy
Chennai’s special economic zones (SEZ) policies have been a real game-changer. They attract businesses that focus on exporting goods because of the city’s friendly policies.
It’s easier for them to operate here, thanks to streamlined procedures and a helpful single-window clearance mechanism.
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Abundant Talent Pool
Chennai has a lot of talented people to offer. This is because many educational institutions are located near the coastline, attracting and nurturing skilled resources.
Plus, businesses can save on workforce costs, as the skilled labor here is 10% to 30% cheaper than in other big cities like Bengaluru, Pune, or Delhi NCR.
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Government Support
The government of Tamil Nadu has been really supportive of businesses. They’ve made things simpler for entrepreneurs to set up and manage their companies in Chennai compared to other places.
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Solid Infrastructure
Chennai’s infrastructure is top-notch. It has well-connected airports, efficient metros, busy ports, and a well-developed road network.
These things create a strong foundation for businesses to grow, and that’s why Chennai is considered one of India’s best industrial hubs.
18 Best Business Ideas in Chennai
Now let’s begin and read about 20 amazing and profitable business ideas in chennai:
1. Franchise Business in Chennai
Are you interested in starting a business? The franchise model is one of the best ways to go! It allows you to sell different products and services under an established brand’s name.
Here’s how it works: You can approach a big brand that has multiple chains and buy their franchise. This lets you open your own outlet and be part of a well-known business. You can even work with famous national and international brands!
While the competition is tough, the potential for making money is significant. One of the most profitable and popular franchise models is in the food business, but it may require a higher initial investment.
Still, it’s undoubtedly one of the best business ideas in Chennai. So, if you’re up for an exciting adventure in entrepreneurship, the franchise model is the way to go!
2. Cafe
Chennai, being a lively city, has people always seeking a nice cafe to hang out with friends and family while enjoying delicious food.
Right now, several cafes are thriving in the city, making it a fantastic idea to start your own cafe venture. You can select a great location for your cafe.
Design the interiors beautifully and focus on hiring a friendly and efficient staff. Create an amazing menu that caters to all kinds of cravings people may have.
You can also offer home deliveries and takeaways while building a strong presence on social media to attract more customers.
With your passion and dedication, your dream cafe can become a beloved spot in Chennai, where people gather to create wonderful memories with their loved ones.
3. Travel and Tour Agency
Chennai has so much to offer! From exploring fascinating heritage sites to enjoying traditional shopping and trying out local delicacies, people visit Chennai for various reasons.
You have two exciting options in this industry. First, you can become a tour guide, creating wonderful tours that match people’s interests and offering them to companies and tourists.
Second, you can be a travel agent, handling bookings, reservations, and other important tasks. Whichever path you choose, you’ll get to meet many different people in this thrilling industry.
Get ready for an exciting journey as you dive into the world of travel and tours!
4. Food Business
Opening a local food stall or restaurant is a highly popular business idea in India, especially in the South. With a tempting variety of dishes like dosas, idlis, biryanis, and spicy Chettinad food, it’s a paradise for food enthusiasts.
Tourists are always eager to find the best place to try the most authentic local delicacies. If you have a talent for cooking delicious local food, you can start your own kitchen either at home or by renting a place.
Alternatively, you can hire a skilled chef who can create the most delightful local dishes, giving people exactly what they are looking for. Remember, the key is to provide a dining experience that truly reflects the local culture and flavors.
Get ready for a mouthwatering journey as you venture into the world of the local food business and share the rich taste of your region with the world!
5. Photography Business
In today’s world, capturing beautifully done photoshoots is essential for almost every occasion.
Whether it’s birthdays, weddings, pre-weddings, baby showers, pregnancy, or family portraits, there’s always a demand for a talented photographer who can capture these special moments in their most authentic and genuine form.
So, grab your camera and start seeking clients online or collaborate with various event management companies. Starting your own photography business can be one of the most profitable and fulfilling small business ideas in Chennai.
Get ready to preserve precious memories and embark on an exciting journey doing what you love!
6. House Help Services
In today’s busy world, many people struggle to find time to manage their homes, and they are in search of reliable house helpers.
There is a high demand for efficient and trustworthy house helps, but unfortunately, there is a shortage of such services. This creates an opportunity for you to start your own house help service and provide the assistance people need.
This heartwarming and helpful concept places it on our list of top business ideas in Chennai. You can offer a range of services, including cooking, cleaning, and daily household chores, to cater to people’s specific needs.
To make this business successful in Chennai, the key is to build a strong local network to connect with individuals seeking similar jobs.
Train your staff well to become professionals, and then spread the word to grow your business and earn a steady income.
Speaking the local language is essential for effective communication and to build trust with your clients. Get ready to take care of homes and bring smiles to people’s faces with your house help services!
7. Pet Care and Services
Many people love having pets, and in South India, the fondness for animals is even more evident, making the pet industry a clear business opportunity in Chennai.
You can start a pet store that caters to various pets like dogs, cats, birds, fish, and more. Offering everything from food to toys, clothes, and treats, this industry presents a great chance to serve pet owners who are willing to spend on their furry friends.
To expand your business, you can hire professionals to groom and pamper these adorable pets. To get started, make sure you obtain a food license if you plan to sell pet food.
Creating an online website will enable you to sell products beyond your physical store, and having a social media presence will help market your business effectively.
Another option to consider is operating a mobile grooming truck. You can travel to different neighborhoods, and by promoting your services on social media, pet owners can easily bring their beloved companions to you for grooming.
Get ready for a rewarding venture in the pet care and services industry, where you can spread joy and care to the beloved pets of Chennai!
8. Sell Spices
It’s a well-known fact that South India is famous for its aromatic and delightful spices. When people visit this region, they often take home bags of these flavorful treasures as souvenirs or gifts for loved ones.
Spices offer an excellent business opportunity, making it a smart idea to start a business selling them. You can open a physical store in a popular area, offering organic spices and ready-made spice masalas for various dishes.
To reach a wider audience, consider having an online shop where you can sell your products not only all over the country but also to customers outside India.
By embarking on this flavorful venture, you can share the richness of South Indian spices with people far and wide, creating a successful business that delights taste buds everywhere.
9. Food Delivery
Food delivery services have become incredibly popular all over the country, especially in big cities, where they are a lifeline for busy young professionals and students.
These individuals rely on food deliveries because they don’t have the time to cook meals themselves. You can start your own food delivery services by adding various restaurants, food stalls, and cafes of different kinds and price ranges to your app.
This way, people can easily order their favorite dishes through your app, and you can deliver the food right to their doorstep.
Additionally, you can also include home-cooked meals made by local women in your delivery options, offering a unique and homely touch.
By starting this food delivery venture, you can become a trusted solution for people seeking convenient and delicious meals. It’s an exciting adventure that opens up a rewarding business opportunity for you.
10. Tea Stall
Tea stalls are known for being highly profitable and always in demand. The best part is, they require low investment. You have two options: either make tea at another location and sell it at popular spots or prepare tea right at the main stall.
To make your tea stall successful, pick a location with lots of customers passing by, like near a college, office space, taxi or bus stand, train station, etc.
To make your offerings even better, consider selling light snacks like biscuits, namkeen, and other local treats that pair well with a nice cup of tea.
Starting a tea stall can be a rewarding and budget-friendly business idea, allowing you to serve delicious tea and create a cozy spot for people to enjoy their favorite drink.
11. Babysitting
Babysitting is all about taking care of young children when their parents are busy. It involves being a reliable and positive role model for kids.
In fast-paced cities like Chennai, there is always a demand for trustworthy babysitters. Babysitting jobs typically pay by the hour, and the pay can be quite good.
If you love spending time with children and want to work from home, babysitting is a perfect small business idea for you.
Besides enjoying time with kids, babysitting also helps you develop important life skills like patience, communication, first aid, responsibility, interpersonal skills, and childcare management techniques.
The best part is, you don’t need any investment! All you need is the willingness to invest time in developing your interpersonal skills.
Babysitting offers not only fulfillment but also a rewarding opportunity to run your own business from the comfort of your home.
12. Language training
Language training involves helping students become proficient in various languages like Tamil, Hindi, English, Spanish, and more.
Chennai, a popular tourist destination, attracts people from diverse cultural backgrounds who seek opportunities to learn new languages.
This creates a great chance for bilingual instructors and trainers to start a small business in language training, even from the comfort of their own homes.
You can become an accredited language teacher by taking online certification courses. These courses allow you to customize learning programs for different age groups, preferences, and learning styles of your customers.
Additionally, you may consider teaching at language institutes or schools after gaining the required qualifications.
While strengthening your language proficiency and teaching abilities may require investing in online courses, many of them are available for free.
Embrace the fulfilling journey of empowering language learners and helping them unlock new opportunities through the power of language!
13. Food Truck
A food truck is like a portable kitchen on wheels, where you prepare, serve, and sell food. It’s a mobile restaurant that can move around the city.
Food trucks are gaining popularity, especially among young people in big cities like India. The best part is, they can easily change locations based on demand, making them flexible and convenient.
It’s a cost-effective way to enter the restaurant industry without spending too much at the beginning. To start your food truck business, decide on the type of cuisine you want to offer.
Most food trucks in Chennai focus on fast food that can be prepared and served quickly. Then, make sure you get all the required licenses and permissions.
Lastly, choose busy and visible spots to set up your food truck, as these locations are great for attracting customers.
The average cost of setting up a food truck, including vehicle rental, equipment, utensils, raw materials, and insurance, is typically between INR 8-10 lakhs.
Get ready for an exciting adventure of serving delicious food on the go and making people happy with your unique culinary creations!
14. Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam classes involve teaching the graceful classical dance form to interested learners.
=Originating in Tamil Nadu, Bharatanatyam is a well-known Indian dance that expresses religious stories, devotion, and spirituality. Many people are passionate about Bharatanatyam, as it offers discipline, passion, and creativity in life.
If you have skills in Bharatanatyam, you can share your expertise with eager learners through online videos or tutorials. The best part is, starting Bharatanatyam classes requires little to no financial investment.
You can even consider renting or purchasing a space to create a dance studio, providing a dedicated place for your students to learn and embrace this enchanting art form.
Share the magic of Bharatanatyam with others and witness the transformative power of dance in their lives!
15. Dry Cuisine
Regional dry cuisine items include making podis (like gunpowder, sambar powder, health mixes, etc.) and dry health-food items like various herbal teas and spices for your kitchen.
In the current trend, everyone is looking for healthier alternatives to supermarket packaged goods. The good news is that this business is easy to start, and with some research, you can make and sell dry food items everywhere, even on Amazon.
Conduct research and experiments to discover nutritious dry items that enhance the flavors of dishes. You can also find a unique angle by offering items like ancient grains upma mixes, millet dosa mix, chukkukapi (herbal black coffee), and more.
To begin, you’ll need raw materials, a strong mixer-grinder, a sieve, and packaging materials to prepare your products for sale. Share the goodness of regional flavors with others and bring joy to their dining experiences!
16. Event Management
If you enjoy organizing parties, decorating spaces, and handling logistics, consider starting your own event management business.
Today, people love celebrating every occasion in a special and extravagant manner. You can begin by organizing small events like birthday parties, anniversaries, and dinners, and gradually expand to larger ones like weddings and corporate gatherings.
Alternatively, you can choose a specific niche, such as weddings, and focus solely on that. Weddings involve managing multiple events and intricate details, making it an exciting specialization.
The event management industry is booming, and people are willing to invest significantly in creating memorable experiences. This presents a fantastic opportunity for a highly profitable and fulfilling business venture.
Let your passion for creating extraordinary events pave the way to success and bring joy to countless individuals!
17. Curio Shop
A curio shop is a place filled with cute and unique items that people love to collect or give as gifts.
In Chennai, people are always searching for special gifts for various occasions or to add to their collections.
To start, find a suitable place to rent and set up your shop. If you’re starting from home, create a separate space for it.
Next, collaborate with vendors willing to display their creations in your shop, sharing a part of the sales profit. Alternatively, begin with your own and your friends’ or family’s creations.
To run a successful shop, be savvy in business. Smartly market your products, offer online delivery, have a returns policy, and set market-friendly prices.
Embrace the charm of curios and transform your shop into a treasure trove of delightful gifts that bring joy to your customers!
18. Vacation Rental
In today’s world, travelers look for genuine experiences that let them experience the local culture. If you have a beautiful house or an empty home, you can turn it into a BnB (Bed and Breakfast) and offer it to tourists visiting Chennai.
BnBs are becoming more popular as they give travelers a taste of the local culture and a personal touch. If you don’t have an empty house, you can still list one room from your current house as a BnB and invite guests to stay.
With a significant number of tourists in the area, this is a great opportunity to earn good money. It’s not too much work, and you have the freedom to decide who stays and who doesn’t.
Embrace the idea of creating a welcoming retreat for travelers, providing them with memorable experiences and enjoying a rewarding and profitable business venture.
Government Support for New Businesses in Chennai
Tamil Nadu plays a significant role in our country’s economy and is a highly industrialized state. Chennai, being a great city for business, offers various government schemes to help new ventures.
The state government has introduced different initiatives to attract both foreign and local investments. Here are some key government schemes for new businesses in Chennai:
- Agriculture Subsidy: Both capital subsidy and Employment Intensive Business subsidy are available for agricultural businesses in all 385 blocks in Tamil Nadu.
- [NEEDS] Scheme: This scheme aims to assist educated youth in becoming first-generation entrepreneurs. Eligible youth can get a capital subsidy of 25% of the project cost, up to Rs. 25 lakhs, for projects not exceeding Rs. 1 crore.
- Capital Subsidy: Micro Manufacturing units investing in capital assets (plant and machinery) can receive a capital subsidy of 15% on eligible machinery, up to a maximum of Rs.30 lakhs.
- Employment Intensive Business Subsidy: Businesses set up in Backward Blocks of industrial estates promoted by the Government can get an additional capital subsidy of 5%, up to Rs.5 lakhs, if they employ at least 25 workers for a minimum of 3 years within the first five years from the commencement of production.
Moreover, the government has implemented several favorable policies to support business growth in Chennai:
- Subsidies: Small businesses can avail financial assistance for infrastructure development to support their growth.
- Infrastructural Development: The government invests in projects to improve transportation networks and power supply.
- Single Window Clearance: A streamlined system for licenses and permits makes it easier for businesses to start and operate in Chennai.
- Business Incubators and Accelerators: Start-ups and small businesses receive resources and support through these initiatives.
- Tax Incentives: Businesses may enjoy reduced corporate tax rates and exemptions from certain taxes to encourage investment and growth.
- Skill Development Programs: Support for skill development programs ensures access to a well-trained workforce.
With these government schemes and supportive policies, starting a new business in Chennai becomes a promising and rewarding venture.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Why choose Chennai for investment and business?
Ans: Chennai is a highly promising city in India to start a business. It offers excellent infrastructure, a pool of untapped talent, a high literacy rate, and special policies that support small business owners in terms of investment, taxes, and labor regulations. Choosing Chennai creates a favorable environment for your business to thrive.
Q: Which are the small business ideas in chennai for Women?
Ans: Women can explore various business opportunities in chennai , some of which include:
- Food Delivery Service: Providing homemade or specialized food delivery services.
- Pickle Making: Preparing and selling homemade pickles.
- Tuition Classes: Offering tutoring services for students in specific subjects.
- Blogging and Social Media: Starting a blog or social media management service.
- Running a Store: Operating a boutique or a shop with unique products.
Q: How good is the Taxi Business in Chennai?
Ans: The taxi business in Chennai is indeed profitable due to the city’s high population and demand for transportation services. With many people relying on taxis for their daily commute, it offers a great opportunity for a successful venture.
Q: Name some Low Investment Business Ideas in Chennai?
Ans: For those looking for low-investment options, consider these ideas:
- Courier Shop: Offering courier and parcel services.
- Fast Food Shop: Setting up a small fast-food outlet with limited menu items.
- Laundry Shop: Providing laundry and dry-cleaning services.
- Candle Making: Creating and selling handmade candles.
Q: What are some good franchise options to start with?
Ans: Some profitable and low-investment franchises in India include well-known brands like Khadims, Career Launcher, Kidzee, Jawed Habib, and Firstcry. With franchises, you can benefit from learning from successful businesses, receive support from experienced franchise owners, and focus on key areas for long-term success.
Read more: 45 Best Business Ideas for Women to Become Successful and 1200+ Unique & Catchy Event Names Ideas for Your Business.
