§1What this business is
Nonyl phenol ethoxylate and water are stirred together, diethylene glycol and SLES are added, then perfume and colour; cool water controls the temperature and the cooled liquid is bottled. The same unit can make liquid body wash. The report notes a licence is needed under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act.
Capacity: 225 kg a day, 67,500 kg a year; first year at 65% at ₹140 a kg (₹28 per 200 g bottle), sales ₹58.35 lakh.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone who can build a local brand and reach cosmetic shops.
Who it is not for
Someone who wants to skip licensing and testing.
Advantages
- Low machinery cost (₹3.19 lakh)
- Simple cold-mix process
- Popular in cities, towns and villages
- Same unit makes body wash
Drawbacks
- Cosmetics licence and testing required
- Many big brands (the report names Ponds, Lakme, Himalaya, Garnier, Nivea, Neutrogena)
- Bottles are a big share of cost
- The report's two project-cost figures do not match
Skills you need
- Formulation and mixing
- Quality testing
- Licence and label compliance
- Branding and distribution
Why difficulty 2/5: Easy process and low machinery cost; licensing and selling are the main work.
§3Market
Who buys
- Young people, students and working people
- Families in cities, towns and villages
How it sells
- Cosmetic, general and chemist shops via distributors
- Online marketplaces
Good to know
- The report says the product is popular in metros, small towns and rural areas, and there is room for good-quality, economical brands.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| SS jacketed vessel with stirrer and speed control, 300 kg | 1 | ₹2,00,000 |
| Semi-automatic bottle filling machine | 1 | ₹50,000 |
| LLDPE storage tanks, 200 litres | 5 | ₹5,000 |
| Tools and miscellaneous equipment | 1 lot | ₹5,000 |
| Water circulating pump, ½ HP | 1 | ₹2,500 |
| Testing and laboratory equipment | 1 lot | ₹30,000 |
| Installation and electrification (10% of machinery) | 1 lot | ₹25,000 |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Face Wash (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Nonyl phenol ethoxylate30,420 kg a year at ₹100 a kg (full capacity)
- Diethylene glycol6,780 kg at ₹60 a kg
- SLES3,420 kg at ₹50 a kg
- Colour and perfumecolour 36 kg at ₹700 a kg; perfume ₹5,000
- HDPE bottles (200 g) and corrugated boxes3,37,500 bottles at ₹4 each; boxes ₹14,000
From: PMEGP sample project report — Face Wash (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
§5Licences & registration
- Cosmetics manufacturing licence from the State Drug Controller (the report says a licence under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act is required)
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Legal Metrology registration for pre-packed goods
- Trademark for your brand name (optional)
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP fits (the report was made for it); MUDRA gives loans up to ₹20 lakh; CGTMSE lets the bank lend without collateral.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: The report's summary prints ₹17.95 lakh, but its cost table adds up to ₹12.06 lakh: plant & machinery ₹3.19 lakh, furniture ₹0.50 lakh, pre-operative ₹0.50 lakh, working capital ₹7.88 lakh. Land and shed rented or owned.
Working capital: Working capital ₹7.88 lakh (bank ₹7.09 lakh); 30 days of raw material and finished stock.
Year not printed on the report — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
The project report gives no HS code — find the right 8-digit ITC(HS) code on the DGFT website before you export.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Skin reactions and complaints
- Brand competition
- Surfactant price rises
- Regulatory action
§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 face wash manufacturing unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Cosmetics manufacturing licence from the State Drug Controller (the report says a licence under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act is required), Udyam registration), 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 Face Wash Manufacturing?
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.