§1What this business is
A tent house owns shamiana, bamboo and ropes, tables, chairs, fans and cooking utensils and rents them out with a team that sets them up and takes them down. Demand comes mainly from weddings, festivals, religious ceremonies and political and government functions.
Capacity: Rental income ₹1,50,000 a year at full use (KVIC estimate).
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone in a town or large village with storage space, who knows local families and organisers and can manage a work crew.
Who it is not for
Someone who cannot handle late nights, weekend work and crews during the wedding season.
Advantages
- Steady demand from weddings, festivals and functions
- Low start-up cost (₹4 lakh)
- Labour for setting up is available locally
- Can grow step by step by adding stock
Drawbacks
- Demand is seasonal — wedding and festival months
- Equipment wears out and gets damaged or lost
- Payments from political or government events can be late
- The KVIC figures are old and small; today's stock costs more
Skills you need
- Booking and scheduling events
- Managing a set-up crew
- Upkeep and counting of stock
- Dealing with event organisers and caterers
Why difficulty 2/5: Low capital and simple work, but income is seasonal and depends on local contacts.
§3Market
Who buys
- Families holding weddings and functions
- Festival and religious event committees
- Political parties and government departments
How it sells
- Word of mouth and local reputation
- Tie-ups with caterers, halls and decorators
- Bookings by phone and local listings
Good to know
- The profile says demand is mainly during festivals, marriages, religious ceremonies and political and government functions.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shamiana, tables, chairs, fans, utensils, ropes and bamboos | — | ₹3,00,000 |
| Storage shed, 500 sq ft | — | ₹1,00,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Tent House (PMEGP)
- No raw materialthe profile puts raw material at ₹0; overheads ₹5,000 and insurance ₹4,000 a year
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- Trade licence from the local body
- Shop and establishment registration (state law)
- GST registration once turnover crosses the limit
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CM YUVAUPActiveUp to ₹5 lakh, interest-free
PMEGP covers service units up to ₹20 lakh; MUDRA suits stock purchase; in Uttar Pradesh, CM-YUVA gives up to ₹5 lakh interest-free to young founders.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile total ₹4,00,000: building shed 500 sq ft ₹1,00,000, equipment (shamiana, utensils, tables, chairs, fans, ropes, bamboos) ₹3,00,000. Working capital ₹0. Land own.
Working capital: The profile puts working capital at nil — income comes as advance and payment per booking.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
A local rental service — not an export business.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Off-season with little income
- Damage to tents in rain and storms
- Theft or loss at event sites
- Competition from larger event and decoration firms
§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 tent house 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, Trade licence from the local body), 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 Tent House?
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.