§1What this business is
A starter has two bimetal electrodes in a small helium-filled glass bulb. When the tube light is switched on, a glow heats the bimetal, the contacts touch and current flows through the tube filaments and choke; they then cool and open, and the tube strikes. The unit buys the glow lamps, condensers, brass contact sets, cans and hylem sheet, tests the components, assembles them with hand presses and a riveter, gives a final test to IS 2215:1968 and packs them.
Capacity: 1,20,000 starters a year (10,000 a month), worth ₹6 L at ₹5 each.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A small electrical shop owner or self-help group wanting low-cost assembly work.
Who it is not for
Anyone planning a long-term business: the product is fading as LED lights take over.
Advantages
- Tiny investment (₹1.69 L)
- Pure assembly; learnt in days
- Many small units already run in the Vindhya region (profile)
- Good home-based or self-help-group work
Drawbacks
- Tube lights with chokes and starters are being replaced by LED battens
- Very low price per piece (₹5)
- Income is small
- Depends on supply of glow lamps and condensers
Skills you need
- Component testing
- Hand-press assembly
- Final testing to IS 2215
- Selling to electrical shops
Why difficulty 1/5: Very simple and cheap, but the market is shrinking.
§3Market
Who buys
- Households and offices replacing starters
- Electricians
How it sells
- Electrical retail shops
- Electrical wholesalers
Good to know
- The profile says many entrepreneurs in the Vindhya region already make starters, few of them registered.
- LED tube lights need no starter, so replacement demand is falling.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hand press No. 4 | 2 | ₹10,000 |
| Bench drilling machine | 1 | ₹7,000 |
| Double-ended grinder | 1 | ₹4,500 |
| Hand riveting machine | 1 | ₹2,000 |
| HV tester 0–5 kV | 1 | ₹8,000 |
| Test bench with voltmeter, ammeter; multimeter; misc. | 1 lot | ₹7,000 |
From: DC-MSME project profile — Starters for Fluorescent Tubes (2003)
- Glow lamps10,000 a month at ₹0.50 = ₹5,000
- Condensers10,000 a month at ₹0.50 = ₹5,000
- Aluminium or plastic cans₹5,000 a month
- Brass contact sets10,000 a month at ₹0.20 = ₹2,000
- Hylem sheet 1/16" and misc. items₹4,000 a month
From: DC-MSME project profile — Starters for Fluorescent Tubes (2003)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST (above the threshold)
- Trade licence from the local body
§6Schemes & subsidies
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- CM YUVAUPActiveUp to ₹5 lakh, interest-free
A ₹1.69 L project: MUDRA (Shishu/Kishore), PMEGP and UP's CM-YUVA fit.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: DC-MSME profile: machinery ₹23,500 (2 hand presses ₹10,000, bench drill ₹7,000, double-ended grinder ₹4,500, hand riveter ₹2,000) + testing equipment ₹15,000 + electrification and furniture ₹13,850 = ₹52,350; working capital for 3 months ₹1,16,700; total ₹1,69,050. Shed rented.
Working capital: Working capital for 3 months ₹1.17 L; monthly spend ₹38,900 (wages ₹12,500, components ₹21,000).
Prices from 2002–03 — machinery, material and wage costs will be much higher now.
§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 before shipping.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Fast decline of fluorescent tubes
- Cheap imported starters
- Component shortages
- Rejects from faulty glow lamps
§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 fluorescent tube starter assembly 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 (above the threshold)), 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 Fluorescent Tube Starter Assembly?
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.