§1What this business is
Mild-steel tubes and sheet are bent on a roller pipe-bender, gas-welded, drilled, ground, spray-painted and stove-enamelled into carriers that fix on car roofs. Buyers are car accessory shops, taxi and tour operators, and vehicle body builders. It is a small fabrication workshop with low machine cost.
Capacity: Not clearly printed (the table shows 24.00 under capacity); cost of production ₹14.60 L a year at full capacity.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A welder or fabricator near a car-accessory market or taxi hub.
Who it is not for
Someone looking for a large, fast-growing market.
Advantages
- Very low investment (₹5.12 L)
- Simple fabrication skills
- Taxi and tour operators need carriers
- Can make other tube products (racks, stands) on the same tools
Drawbacks
- Car makers now offer roof rails and branded carriers
- Small, seasonal market
- Steel price swings
- Paint shop needs care
Skills you need
- Pipe bending and gas welding
- Painting and enamelling
- Fitting to different car models
- Selling to accessory shops
Why difficulty 2/5: Simple workshop, but a narrow market.
§3Market
Who buys
- Car accessory shops
- Taxi and tour operators
- Vehicle body builders
- Car owners (direct)
How it sells
- Accessory market dealers
- Direct orders from fleet operators
- Online sales
Good to know
- The profile describes carriers made from MS tubes and sheets, fixed on car roofs to carry personal luggage.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe bending machine, roller type | 1 | — |
| Gas welding set with accessories | 1 | — |
| Portable drilling machine ½-inch | 1 | — |
| Double-ended bench grinder 8-inch wheel | 1 | — |
| Spray painting set with 2 HP motor and stove enamelling oven | 1 each | — |
| Hand tools, fixtures, installation, office furniture | 1 lot | — |
| Total equipment (all items above) | 1 lot | ₹2.62 lakh |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Luggage Carriers (PMEGP)
- Mild-steel tubes and sheetsraw material ₹6.00 lakh a year in the profile
- Paint, enamel, fasteners and rubber padsfinishing and fitting
- Labels and packing material₹50,000 a year in the profile
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST
- Trade licence from the local body
- Pollution board consent for the paint shop if your state requires it
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP fits (KVIC profile); MUDRA covers loans up to ₹20 L; CGTMSE.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile: equipment ₹2.62 L (roller pipe-bending machine, gas welding set, ½-inch portable drill, 8-inch double-ended bench grinder, spray painting set with 2 HP motor, stove enamelling oven, hand tools and fixtures, installation, office furniture) + working capital ₹2.50 L = ₹5.12 L. Land own, shed rented.
Working capital: Raw material ₹6.00 L a year; working capital ₹2.50 L.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: EEPC India
- Confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Falling demand for add-on carriers
- Steel price rise
- Rust complaints from poor finish
- Small order sizes
§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 car roof luggage carriers unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST), 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
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Car Roof Luggage Carriers?
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.