§1What this business is
A ski boot has a rigid plastic outer shell (cuff, base and sole) and a soft, insulated, waterproof inner liner. The unit moulds the shell parts on an injection moulding machine with metal moulds for each size, stitches and seam-seals the foam liners, moulds the liner to shape, fixes aluminium snap-lock buckles, straps and footbeds, and brands and packs the pairs. The main buyers are defence forces posted on high-altitude snow, followed by sports people and tourists. The DPR says ski boots are almost wholly imported, mostly from China, and prices a pair at ₹6,400.
Capacity: 200 pairs a day, 60,000 pairs a year worth ₹38.40 crore (single shift, 300 days). Use assumed 60% in year 1, 75% in year 2 and 90% from year 3.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
An established footwear or sports-goods maker with polymer moulding experience and access to defence tenders.
Who it is not for
A first-time founder or a small footwear workshop.
Advantages
- Almost all ski boots used in India are imported, 99% from China, Hong Kong and Italy
- Defence forces on snow-bound borders are a steady buyer
- High value product — ₹6,400 a pair in the DPR
- Low break-even of about 37%
Drawbacks
- Needs about ₹11 crore, of which ₹7.13 crore is working capital
- Most machines are imported and moulds are needed for every size
- Some materials and fittings are not yet made in India
- Small, seasonal civilian market; army orders come only through tenders and trials
Skills you need
- Injection moulding of cold-resistant polymers
- Mould and last design in Mondopoint sizes
- Stitching and seam-sealing waterproof insulated liners
- Defence tendering and field-trial approval
Why difficulty 5/5: A technical, imported-machinery product with very heavy working capital and one main buyer.
§3Market
Who buys
- Defence forces deployed on high-altitude snow
- Skiers, sports academies and winter-sports clubs
- Ski resorts and equipment rental shops
- Adventure and sports goods retailers
How it sells
- Defence tenders and GeM
- Sports goods distributors and online stores
- Direct supply to resorts and training institutes
Good to know
- Imports from China alone were ₹6,302.55 L in 2018-19, ₹5,716.20 L in 2019-20 and ₹467.93 L in 2020-21.
- The DPR puts retail prices of imported ski boots at 300 to 800 US dollars a pair.
- IS 9315:1979 gives the dimensions of the interface between ski boots and ski bindings.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Injection moulding machine for PVC/polymer shells, two-colour (imported) | 1 | ₹80,00,000 |
| Set of metal moulds for cuff, base last, sole plate and sole lugs | — | ₹42,00,000 |
| Heavy duty post-bed lock stitch sewing machine (imported) | 3 | ₹10,50,000 |
| Heavy duty flat-bed lock stitch sewing machine (imported) | 2 | ₹5,00,000 |
| Strobel chain stitch machine (imported) | 1 | ₹5,00,000 |
| Seam sealing tape heating machine (imported) | 2 | ₹10,00,000 |
| Auto skiving machine (imported) | 2 | ₹8,00,000 |
| Travelling head cutting machine (imported) | 1 | ₹10,00,000 |
| Heated mould press for shaping liner bootees and lining trimming machine | 1 + 1 | ₹3,50,000 |
| Logo hot-brand embossing stamper | 1 | ₹4,00,000 |
| Pedestal drill and buckle attaching machine | 1 | ₹1,00,000 |
| Screw compressor 35 HP with drier | 1 | ₹4,00,000 |
| Generator 135 KVA | 1 | ₹8,00,000 |
From: DC-MSME import-substitution DPR — Spiked Boots, Ski Boots and Shoes
- Moulded cold-resistant polymer shell parts — cuff, base and outer sole₹1,280 a pair
- Insulated waterproof inner liners₹1,200 a pair
- Aluminium adjustable snap-lock buckles8 a pair, ₹1,200
- Textile cuff straps and accessories₹400 a pair
- PU moulded footbeds and sole tips₹520 a pair
- Hinge points, luminous reflectors and packing₹400 a pair
From: DC-MSME import-substitution DPR — Spiked Boots, Ski Boots and Shoes
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Factory licence
- State Pollution Control Board consent
- Vendor registration with defence procurement agencies and on GeM
- Import Export Code (IEC) for imported machines and materials
Start it in your state
Pick your state: today’s cost, central + state subsidy, raw material, land and help, on one page.
§6Schemes & subsidies
The project is far above the PMEGP ceiling of ₹50 L for manufacturing. CGTMSE covers loans up to ₹10 crore; a project of this size will normally also need collateral and a strong promoter contribution.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Fixed capital ₹382 L (land 20,000 sq ft ₹30 L, building 10,000 sq ft ₹100 L, other civil work ₹20 L, plant and machinery ₹212 L, tools and other fixed assets ₹16 L, pre-operative ₹4 L) + working capital ₹713 L = total capital investment ₹10.95 crore. The DPR's 'project cost' is ₹5.25 crore — fixed capital plus a 20% working capital margin of ₹143 L. The investment shown is the DPR’s own project cost.
Working capital: Working capital ₹713 L: one month of raw material ₹250 L, 5 days of work in progress ₹50 L, half a month of finished stock ₹132.50 L, one month of receivables ₹265.02 L and cash ₹15.02 L. Materials cost ₹5,000 a pair.
The DPR does not print its date (its import data ends in 2020-21) — check current machine and mould prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: Council for Leather Exports
- 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
- Boots failing cold-weather or fit trials
- Dependence on a few defence orders
- Imported material delays and exchange-rate changes
- Cheaper imported boots
§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 ski boots 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, 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
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Ski Boots 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.