§1What this business is
After a cotton or silk saree is washed, starch is sprayed on, the saree is dried and folded evenly on a wooden piece, left for six to eight hours, then pressed with a steam iron. Working women and families getting ready for offices, weddings, parties and festivals use the service.
Capacity: Work valued at ₹4.51 L cost a year at full capacity (piece count not printed).
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A woman or family wanting extra income from home in a town with many saree wearers.
Who it is not for
Someone looking for a business that grows big.
Advantages
- Investment under ₹1 lakh
- Can run from home
- Repeat customers in every town
- Busy in wedding and festival seasons
Drawbacks
- Small income
- Hand work limits how many sarees you can do
- Risk of damaging costly silk sarees
- Demand follows saree-wearing habits
Skills you need
- Starching and folding by hand
- Careful handling of silk
- Customer trust and timely delivery
- Local promotion
Why difficulty 1/5: Very small investment and simple hand work.
§3Market
Who buys
- Working women
- Housewives preparing for weddings, parties and festivals
How it sells
- Walk-in customers at home or shop
- Tie-ups with laundries and boutiques
Good to know
- The profile links demand to the rising number of working women.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment set: sprayers, rolling sticks, sitting stand, electric steam iron, pressing table and accessories | 1 set | ₹25,000 (whole set) |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Saree Rolling and Polishing (PMEGP)
- Starch powder and other materials₹1.00 lakh a year
- Packing material₹2,500 a year
From: KVIC Project Profile — Saree Rolling and Polishing (PMEGP)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- Shop and establishment registration if you open a counter
- GST only if turnover crosses the limit
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CM YUVAUPActiveUp to ₹5 lakh, interest-free
MUDRA (Shishu) and CM-YUVA (UP, up to ₹5 L) suit this tiny unit; PMEGP also covers small service units.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile ₹95,000 = equipment ₹25,000 + working capital ₹70,000. Land own; no shed cost.
Working capital: Working capital ₹70,000; starch and other materials ₹1.00 L a year.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
A local service; there is no export route.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Damage claims on expensive sarees
- Seasonal ups and downs
- Burns from steam irons
- Competition from dry-cleaners
§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 saree rolling and polishing 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, Shop and establishment registration if you open a counter), 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 Saree Rolling and Polishing?
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.