§1What this business is
PVC sheet from rolls is cut to size and joined to U-shaped PVC profiles on a plastic welding machine to make folders of different sizes; a screen-printing set adds names and logos. Schools, offices, banks and companies buy them, and bookshops and stationery stores sell them. Companies also order printed folders for their publicity material.
Capacity: 66,000 folders a year installed; 39,600 (60%) planned.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A stationery trader or printer who already sells to offices and schools.
Who it is not for
Someone with no sales contacts among institutions.
Advantages
- Steady demand from schools, offices and banks
- Printed folders for companies earn more
- Small machine and small space
Drawbacks
- Many small makers — prices are competitive
- Some offices are moving to digital records
- Low earning per piece
Skills you need
- Operating the plastic welding machine
- Screen printing
- Winning bulk orders
Why difficulty 1/5: One machine and simple work; selling is the main task.
§3Market
Who buys
- Schools and colleges
- Government offices
- Banks and financial institutions
- Companies (printed publicity folders)
How it sells
- Bookshops and stationery stores
- Fancy stores in towns
- Direct bulk orders
Good to know
- The profile says companies and public undertakings place special orders for printed folders.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic welding machine, 100 W | 1 | ₹50,000 |
| Screen-printing equipment | 1 | ₹5,000 |
From: DC-MSME project profile — Plastic Folders (PMRY series)
- PVC sheet rolls (0.20 mm and 0.175 mm)₹20,313 a month in the profile
- PVC tubes / U-shaped profiles (0.12 mm and 0.15 mm)₹6,770 a month in the profile
From: DC-MSME project profile — Plastic Folders (PMRY series)
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Trade licence from the local body
§6Schemes & subsidies
PMEGP and MUDRA (Kishore, ₹50,000–₹5 L) fit this small project.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Plastic welding machine (100 W) ₹50,000 + screen-printing equipment ₹5,000 + misc. fixed assets ₹5,000 + pre-operative ₹2,000 = fixed ₹62,000; working capital (one month) ₹41,483. Total ₹1,03,483. Premises rented.
Working capital: ₹41,483 a month: PVC sheets ₹20,313, PVC tubes/profiles ₹6,770, wages ₹10,900, rent ₹2,000.
Year not printed. This profile is from the old PMRY scheme (replaced by PMEGP in 2008), so all prices are very old — get fresh quotes.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: PLEXCONCIL (Plastics Export Promotion Council)
- 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
- PVC price changes
- Demand peaks around the school year
- Late payment by institutions
§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 pvc plastic folders and files 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 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 PVC Plastic Folders and Files?
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.