§1What this business is
The owner drives the auto himself, either point to point on a fixed route or on hire. The profile plans for 150 km a day for 300 days at ₹5 a km, which gives ₹2,25,000 a year; fairs and processions bring extra income. Fuel is the biggest cost, so mileage and preventive maintenance decide the profit. The profile was priced on a petrol auto; new autos are now mostly CNG or electric and cost much more.
Capacity: 150 km a day, 300 days a year.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A licensed driver who will run the vehicle himself and knows basic repairs.
Who it is not for
Someone planning to hand the auto to a hired driver from day one.
Advantages
- Cash income from the first day
- One vehicle and one person are enough
- Demand in every town and on village routes
Drawbacks
- Fuel takes about half of the income
- Permits are limited in many cities
- No income on days the vehicle or driver is down
Skills you need
- Three-wheeler driving with a commercial licence
- Basic repair and preventive maintenance
- Knowing local routes and fares
Why difficulty 1/5: One vehicle, one driver, daily cash.
§3Market
Who buys
- Daily commuters in towns
- Villagers travelling to the nearest town
- Visitors at fairs and festivals
How it sells
- Stand and street pick-up
- Fixed point-to-point routes
Good to know
- The profile takes ₹5 a km for 150 km a day.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol auto-rickshaw | 1 | ₹90,600 |
| Insurance, registration and number plates | — | ₹6,000 |
From: NSTFDC model project profile — Autorickshaw
- Petrol1,800 litres a year at ₹55 a litre in the profile
- Engine oil and consumables₹10,000 a year
§5Licences & registration
- Driving licence for a transport vehicle
- Vehicle registration as a commercial vehicle
- Permit from the Regional Transport Office
- Insurance, fitness and pollution certificates
Start it in your state
Pick your state: today’s cost, central + state subsidy, raw material, land and help, on one page.
§6Schemes & subsidies
A vehicle loan under MUDRA (Kishore up to ₹5 lakh, Tarun up to ₹10 lakh) is the usual route. ST borrowers can ask their State Channelising Agency for NSTFDC term loans, which the profile is written for.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Auto-rickshaw ₹90,600 + insurance, registration and number plates ₹6,000 = ₹96,600; preliminary expenses ₹1,000; working capital ₹1,000; total ₹98,600.
Working capital: Only ₹1,000: one day of fuel ₹330, a week of spares ₹300 and cash in hand ₹370.
Year not printed on the NSTFDC profile; it prices petrol at ₹55 a litre, so the vehicle cost is far below today's — get a current quotation.
§8Export potential
A local service; there is no goods export in this business.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Fuel price rise without a fare rise
- Accidents and traffic fines
- Competition from e-rickshaws and app cabs
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working auto-rickshaw (passenger) service unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Driving licence for a transport vehicle, Vehicle registration as a commercial vehicle), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Auto-Rickshaw (Passenger) Service?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.