§1What this business is
Ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol and ethyl methyl ketone are mixed in a reactor vessel; a gelling agent, moisturisers (propylene glycol, isopropyl myristate), water, antioxidant and fragrance are added. The mix settles in tanks and is filled, labelled and packed in bottles. The report uses ethyl acetate instead of acetone, which it says is harsh on nails and skin. Sold through cosmetic and general stores, salons and online.
Capacity: 2,000 bottles of 100 ml a day, 10-hour shift; the report starts at 30% capacity in year 1.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone with a chemistry background and contacts in cosmetic distribution.
Who it is not for
Someone without safe storage for flammable liquids or a licence plan.
Advantages
- Repeat-purchase beauty product
- Simple blend-and-fill process
- Acetone-free formula is a selling point
- Can add nail polish and other cosmetics later
Drawbacks
- Solvents are flammable — fire risk
- Needs a cosmetic manufacturing licence
- Many established brands
- Solvent prices follow crude oil
Skills you need
- Cosmetic formulation
- Solvent handling and fire safety
- Quality testing (viscosity)
- Retail and salon sales
Why difficulty 3/5: Licensing and fire safety add work to a simple blending process.
§3Market
Who buys
- Women and girls who use nail paint
- Beauty salons and nail studios
How it sells
- Cosmetic and general stores
- Salon suppliers
- Online marketplaces
Good to know
- The report links demand to changing fashion trends.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Reactor vessel with stirrer | 1 | ₹7,00,000 |
| Bottle filling machine | 1 | ₹3,00,000 |
| Bottle labelling machine | 1 | ₹1,50,000 |
| Brookfield viscometer | 1 | ₹2,18,000 |
| Water softening plant | 1 | ₹3,50,000 |
| Other equipment and tools | 1 lot | ₹50,000 |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Nail Paint Remover (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Ethyl acetate (active agent)40–50% of the formula
- Isopropyl alcohol (solvent)20–30%
- Ethyl methyl ketone (solvent)20–30%
- Propylene glycol, ethyl cellulose, isopropyl myristategloss, gelling and moisturising agents, 1–3% each
- DM waterfiller, 5–10%
- BHT, benzophenone-3, jojoba oil, fragranceantioxidant, sun protection, emollient and fragrance in small amounts
- Bottles, caps and cartonsplastic bottles with inner seals or glass bottles
From: PMEGP sample project report — Nail Paint Remover (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Cosmetic manufacturing licence from the State Drugs Licensing Authority (Cosmetics Rules, 2020)
- Udyam
- GST
- Fire NOC (flammable solvents)
- State Pollution Control Board consent
- Legal Metrology registration for packaged goods
- Trademark for your brand
§6Schemes & subsidies
PMEGP (this is a PMEGP sample report) and CGTMSE fit. Bank finance ₹21.14 L is above the MUDRA ₹20 L limit.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: PMEGP sample report: total ₹23.50 L = plant & machinery ₹17.68 L + furniture ₹0.80 L + working capital ₹5.02 L. Land and building own or rented. Total project cost as printed: ₹12.31 lakh (₹2.31 lakh of it is fixed assets).
Working capital: Working capital ₹5.02 L (bank ₹4.51 L) for solvents, bottles and 10 days of stock.
Year not printed on the report — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: CHEMEXCIL
- Importing countries have their own cosmetic labelling and ingredient rules.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Fire or vapour accidents
- Licence or labelling non-compliance
- Brand competition
- Solvent price rises
§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 nail paint remover unit unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Cosmetic manufacturing licence from the State Drugs Licensing Authority (Cosmetics Rules, 2020), Udyam), 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 Nail Paint Remover Unit?
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.