§1What this business is
Wood blocks are seasoned and chemically treated, shaped on a CNC router and handle-making machine, sanded, then bristles are fitted on a shoe-brush machine using stapling wire, and the brand is pad-printed before testing and packing. The report plans 2,500 brushes a day. Shoe brushes are sold with polish through footwear, general and supermarket stores.
Capacity: 2,500 pieces a day (10-hour shift); year 1 at 30%.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone near wood supply with links to shoe-care brands, footwear shops or general-store distributors.
Who it is not for
Someone without a heavy power connection or a sales channel.
Advantages
- Steady household and shoe-care demand
- Same line can make other wooden brushes
- Low break-even (27%)
- Can supply polish brands and shoe shops in bulk
Drawbacks
- Heavy power load (50 HP)
- Low first-year capacity use (30%)
- Plastic-handle and imported brushes compete on price
- Wood seasoning needs space and time
Skills you need
- Woodworking and CNC operation
- Bristle setting quality
- Wood buying and seasoning
- Distributor sales
Why difficulty 2/5: Machine-based work; the challenge is filling capacity through distribution.
§3Market
Who buys
- Households
- Shoe-polish and shoe-care brands
- Footwear shops
How it sells
- General-store and footwear distributors
- Supermarkets and online
Good to know
- The report cites a shoe-care market of US$ 6.3 billion by 2024.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Seasoning chamber | 1 | ₹1.20 lakh |
| Chemical treatment plant | 1 | ₹1.50 lakh |
| Wide-belt sander | 1 | ₹4.00 lakh |
| CNC router | 1 | ₹1.80 lakh |
| Handle-making machine | 1 | ₹2.30 lakh |
| Shoe-brush making machine | 1 | ₹6.80 lakh |
| Pad printing machine | 1 | ₹25,000 |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Shoe Brush Manufacturing (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Wood blocksfor handles
- Bristlesblack or brown
- Stapling wire, steel nails, chemicalsraw material in all ₹36.00 lakh in year 1
From: PMEGP sample project report — Shoe Brush Manufacturing (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration and GST
- State Pollution Control Board consent (wood treatment chemicals, dust)
- Proof of legal wood purchase (transit pass where the state requires it)
- Trade licence from the local body
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
PMEGP fits a ₹22.62 L manufacturing unit; CGTMSE for a collateral-free loan; Stand-Up India for SC/ST or women founders.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Samadhan report ₹22.62 L = plant and machinery ₹17.85 L, furniture ₹0.50 L, working capital ₹4.27 L; land own or rented.
Working capital: Working capital ₹4.27 L; bank demand ₹3.85 L. 10 days of stock.
Year not printed on the report — check current machinery and raw-material prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
- Wooden products for export may need fumigation and a phytosanitary certificate.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Wood cracking or warping
- Bristle shedding complaints
- Price competition
- Power cuts on a 50 HP plant
§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 shoe brush manufacturing 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 and GST, State Pollution Control Board consent (wood treatment chemicals, dust)), 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 Shoe Brush Manufacturing?
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.