§1What this business is

A doctor abroad (for example in the USA) dictates a patient's case history and advice into a system that stores it as voice files on a server. The Indian centre downloads the files, trained transcriptionists type them into accurate Word reports using medical spell-checkers and abbreviation expanders, and the files are uploaded back so the hospital can keep them as records. Work usually comes through overseas agents. The profiles note that the time difference with the USA lets reports come back by the next morning.

Capacity: 27,00,000 transcribed lines a year at ₹2.50 a line = ₹67.50 L (both profiles).

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

A computer or electronics graduate with overseas client or agent links and staff who know English and medical terms.

Who it is not for

Someone without a confirmed overseas client; the profiles say to find the market before starting.

Advantages

  • Export income in foreign currency
  • No raw material; consumables only
  • Employs many educated young people
  • Can add DTP and web publishing later (profile)

Drawbacks

  • Very high break-even (81.96%) in the 2018 profile
  • Speech-recognition software now does much of the typing; the work is shifting to editing
  • Depends on overseas agents for volume
  • US privacy rules (HIPAA) demand strict data security

Skills you need

  • Medical terminology and English
  • Fast, accurate typing and editing
  • Data security and network upkeep
  • Finding and keeping overseas clients

Why difficulty 4/5: Needs overseas clients, trained staff and strict data security, with a high break-even.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Overseas hospitals and doctors (mainly USA)
  • Overseas medical transcription companies and agents

How it sells

  • Overseas agents between doctors and the Indian company (profile)
  • Direct contracts with transcription companies

Good to know

  • Both profiles say the entrepreneur must find the overseas market before starting.
  • Service charges depend on the agreement with the overseas agent (profile).

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Computer and network systems with voice compilers1 lot₹14.20 L
Furniture and electrical installations1 lot₹8.84 L
Computer systems (2003 specification)15₹6,75,000
V-SAT link1₹2,00,000
Online UPS, 10 kVA1₹1,50,000
Hub and networking1 lot₹1,00,000
Printers3₹70,000

From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Medical Transcription (2018) — private guide — confirm locally · DC-MSME project profile — Medical Transcription (2003)

  • No raw material; consumables such as stationery onlyStand-Up Mitra profile
  • Computer stationery (paper, ribbons, cartridges, CDs)₹15,000 a month (2003)

From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Medical Transcription (2018) — private guide — confirm locally · DC-MSME project profile — Medical Transcription (2003)

Suppliers in Building Business Bazaar

Integrated Systems and Services · Guwahati →MICROTEK International Limited · Delhi →Quadra Soft Tech (P) Ltd · Guwahati →Soft Mart · Delhi →Swift Systems · Guwahati →Third Eye Infosys (P) Ltd · Guwahati →Vintron Informatics Ltd · New Delhi →Web.Com (India) Pvt. Ltd · Guwahati →

§5Licences & registration

  1. Udyam registration
  2. GST with a Letter of Undertaking for zero-rated export of services
  3. Import Export Code (IEC) for foreign receipts
  4. Shops and establishments registration
  5. Client data-security compliance (such as HIPAA for US work)

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

Stand-Up India suits the ₹30.44 L project for SC/ST and women founders; CGTMSE covers collateral-free loans; PMEGP covers service projects up to ₹20 L, so only part; MUDRA up to ₹20 L.

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: Stand-Up Mitra (2018): land ₹4.00 L, computers and network systems with voice compilers ₹14.20 L, furniture and electrical installations ₹8.84 L, pre-operative ₹0.50 L, working-capital margin ₹2.90 L = ₹30.44 L (promoter ₹13.91 L, bank ₹16.53 L). DC-MSME (2003): 15 computers ₹6.75 L, V-SAT ₹2.00 L, 10 kVA online UPS ₹1.50 L, networking ₹1.00 L, printers ₹70,000, software, furniture, ACs and DG set; fixed ₹24.70 L + working capital ₹9.63 L = ₹34.33 L.

Working capital: Stand-Up Mitra: working capital ₹11.59 L, of which ₹2.90 L is the promoter's margin and ₹8.69 L bank finance; overheads (mainly salaries) are almost all of it.

Main figures from the 2018 Stand-Up Mitra profile; the 2003 DC-MSME profile prices are much older.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Export council / board: ESC (Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council)

  • This is an export of IT-enabled services, so there is no HS code; payments come from abroad.
  • Export of services is zero-rated under GST when you file a Letter of Undertaking (LUT).

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Loss of the overseas client or agent
  • Automation by speech recognition
  • Data-privacy breaches
  • Staff turnover

§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 medical transcription centre 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 with a Letter of Undertaking for zero-rated export of services), 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 Medical Transcription Centre?

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

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Medical Transcription (2018)
  2. DC-MSME project profile — Medical Transcription (2003)

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