Top 10 Business Ideas & Opportunities in Chennai

Do you want to start a small business in Chennai? Find here a list of profitable business ideas along with franchise opportunities you can explore in Chennai. Chennai is formerly known as Madras. It is the capital city of the state Tamilnadu in India.

Chennai has a diversified economic base. The major industrial activity includes automobile, computer, technology, hardware manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. The city is one of the largest exporter of information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) services.

According to the Confederation of Indian Industry, Chennai is estimated to grow to a US$100–billion economy, 2.5 times its present size, by the year 2025. Also, the city is home to several malls, due to its status as an IT hub. So, here you can explore huge potential in the retail business.

10 Best Business Ideas in Chennai

This list of business ideas in Chennai will help you in making an informed decision in selecting the right one.

#1. Start Salon Spa in Chennai

If you are a trained beauty therapist or interested in setting up a beauty business, starting a salon spa business is a good business proposition in Chennai. Opening a beauty salon or spa business requires startup investment. Also, you need to select a good retail location for it.

Generally, the business requires professional training. If you are a beginner, you consider buying a franchise from a reputed company and start this business.

#2. Open a Fast Food Restaurant in Chennai

Initiating fast food restaurant is one of the easy and lucrative opportunities in the food retail segment. Getting the right location and selecting the right menu are the most crucial aspects of this business. Also, you will need to price the foods in a reasonable manner.

You can select a wide choice of foods under the fast-food segment. The list includes the restaurant, cafeteria, pizza, ice-cream, fine-dine restaurant, fast food outlet, juice lounge, sweets store, etc.

#3. Courier Service

The Chennai city has a high population density. Also, it is one of the most important cities in South India. And if you want to start a business in the service industry, a courier is a lucrative option for you. Also, it requires a small startup investment and a small retail space. The business doesn’t need any inventory stock also.

Nowadays, the courier is an essential service not only for domestic but also for business purposes. Due to the growth of eCommerce in India, the demand for responsible courier service has grown exponentially.

#4. PCD Pharma Franchise Business

PCD stands for Propaganda cum Distribution. It is also popular as franchise marketing. Generally, small pharma companies come under this segment. They have a large base of Stockists & Distributors in the region of their operations.

Healthcare is a recession-proof industry. And the industry has the good potential of fetching a good amount of profits. If you have some previous experience in the healthcare industry, you can consider starting a PCD pharma franchise business with small startup investment.

#5. Kids Related Business

Do you enjoy spending time with children? If so, you can definitely turn your passion into a profitable business. Just put your effort into offering the products for them and make money. Broadly, you can open a kid’s store in several ways. These are kidswear, baby care products, books & stationary, toys & games, furniture, etc. And in a country like India, every product has good demand thus the potential domestic market.

If you don’t have any experience or you don’t get the confidence in inventory procurement, you can consider opening the business as a franchise partner of a reputed brand.

#6. Entertainment Business in Chennai

Chennai is the base for the Tamil film industry, known as Kollywood. Also, the city is the major cultural center of the state Tamilnadu. So, starting an entertainment-related business is quite a profitable option here. Also, there is a wide list of options available in this category.

Generally, starting an entertainment-related business requires a startup investment. Also, in most cases, you will need to secure a space also. Some of the most profitable options are small screens, gaming lounge, party planning, etc.

#7. Start a Travel Business in Chennai

Chennai is one of the most visited cities in India. The city has a rich presence of beaches and centers of historical and cultural significance, including the UNESCO Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram. Also, the city attracts record numbers of foreign travelers every year. So, starting a travel business is a financially viable option here.

There are so many options you can explore in the travel business. However, starting a travel agency is one of the most profitable ones. Here your primary responsibility includes online ticketing, hotel booking, package tour, site seeing, etc.

#8. Launch a Computer Training Institute in Chennai

Chennai ranks second among Indian metropolitan city centers with a 90.33 percent literacy rate. So, people are very conscious of the need for proper education here. In the current digital era, computer education is a basic need for every individual.

Also, specialized courses have huge job potential. Some of the popular job oriented courses are animation, digital marketing, web designing, graphic designing, etc.

#9. Gym or Fitness Center

Due to the rapid growth of lifestyle diseases, people are becoming more health-conscious than ever before. It enhances the potential of the gym and fitness industry in India. Generally, a fitness center is also popular as the gym or health spa or fitness club. However, all they have fine differences in fixing the target and activities.
Opening this type of business requires a medium to large space and startup investment. Also, the business demands specific skill, expertise, and business planning. If you are a beginner, you can consider buying a fitness franchise.

#10. Car Wash

Chennai ranks third in the automobile industry in India. So, the vehicle population density is very high here. These days, the car wash has gained much prominence these days including smaller cities, metros, and big cities. Hence, it is a lucrative opportunity for new entrepreneurs.

The car wash is one of the most profitable opportunities in the automobile service industry. However, the business demands a large space (apart you start as mobile only) and startup investment. Also, the business demands specific skills, expertise, training, and local brand promotion.