§1What this business is

You run an office with computers and licensed design software. Clients — architects, builders, engineering firms and government bodies — send you work such as architectural drawings, structural and engineering drawings, AutoCAD drafting, 3D models, map digitising and logo vectorisation. The report prices an architectural drawing job at ₹25,000, map digitising at ₹20,000 and a CAD drafting and modelling job at ₹50,000.

Capacity: At full capacity ₹50 L of work a year: 4 architectural drawing jobs, 6 map digitising jobs and 4 CAD drafting jobs a month.

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

A civil or mechanical engineer, architect or draughtsman who knows AutoCAD well and has contacts with builders or firms.

Who it is not for

Someone who cannot judge drawing quality — one wrong drawing on a site can end a client relationship.

Advantages

  • Very little machinery — mostly computers and software
  • High value per job
  • Work can come from anywhere in India or abroad over the internet
  • Builders and government projects always need drawings

Drawbacks

  • Most of the money goes on salaries
  • Licensed software is costly and must be renewed
  • Clients often ask for many free revisions
  • Strong competition from freelancers

Skills you need

  • AutoCAD and 3D modelling
  • Reading building codes and engineering standards
  • Managing a team and deadlines
  • Finding clients among architects, builders and firms

Why difficulty 2/5: Little machinery, but you need drawing skill and a steady flow of clients.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Architects and builders
  • Engineering and project consultancy firms
  • Government departments needing map digitising

How it sells

  • Direct contracts with architect/engineering firms
  • Online outsourcing of drafting work

Good to know

  • The report says design fees are shared among professionals according to project guidelines.
  • Clear written workflows and regular project-status meetings are advised to keep jobs on time.

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Computers with Windows and MS Office5₹1,35,000
Design software licences5₹80,000
Network installation1₹10,000
Fixtures and fittings1 lot₹50,000

From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Drawing & Design Consultancy (2018) — private guide — confirm locally

  • Design software licences and updatesrenewed as needed for the services offered
  • Printing of drawingsthe report says agencies use a printing partner

From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Drawing & Design Consultancy (2018) — private guide — confirm locally

§5Licences & registration

  1. Udyam registration
  2. GST
  3. Shops and Establishments registration
  4. Professional tax where the state levies it

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

₹14.25 L fits PMEGP (service units up to ₹20 L) and MUDRA; the bank loan of ₹10.68 L is within Stand-Up India's ₹10 L–₹1 crore range for SC/ST and women founders.

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: Plant and machinery ₹2.95 L (5 computers ₹1.35 L, 5 software licences ₹0.80 L, networking ₹0.10 L, fixtures ₹0.50 L, application cost ₹0.20 L), furniture and electrical ₹1.00 L, preliminary expenses ₹0.30 L, working capital ₹10.00 L = ₹14.25 L. Premises rented.

Working capital: The working capital table totals ₹10.00 L (margin ₹4.38 L, bank ₹5.63 L), though the text above it says ₹1.69 L — the project cost uses ₹10.00 L.

Prices from 2018 — machinery and building costs will be higher now.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Export council / board: Not verified yet

  • No HS code or export body has been checked against an official list yet.

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Too few orders to cover salaries
  • Errors in drawings that cause losses on site
  • Staff leaving with clients
  • Software licence costs

§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan

A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.

  1. Days 1–30: Visit a working drawing and design consultancy (cad drafting) unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
  2. Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
  3. Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.

§11Who to connect with

Not verified yet

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 Drawing and Design Consultancy (CAD Drafting)?

DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Drawing & Design Consultancy (2018)

Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.