§1What this business is

Mineral powders, additives and hydrocarbon resin are mixed in a ribbon blender for about 10 minutes; resin and glass beads are added and mixed for another 20 minutes. The mix is filled in 25 kg woven bags and tested for reflectivity. At site it is melted and laid by machine. White is used for most lines, yellow for speed breakers. Highway tenders specify thermoplastic marking (profile).

Capacity: 500 MT a year; sold at ₹41,000 per MT.

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

A chemistry or paint-technology graduate (profile) with links to road contractors.

Who it is not for

Someone who cannot wait for government payments.

Advantages

  • Highway tenders specify thermoplastic marking
  • Roads need marking again and again
  • Simple dry-mixing process

Drawbacks

  • Resin and glass beads are imported
  • Sales depend on government tenders and contractors
  • NHAI and other agencies insist on lab tests
  • ₹50 L of the cost is land and building

Skills you need

  • Formulation and cost control
  • Testing bead content and reflectivity
  • Tendering
  • Contractor sales

Why difficulty 3/5: Easy process; sales depend on tenders and testing.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Road and highway contractors
  • NHAI, state PWDs and municipal bodies (through contractors)
  • Malls, campuses and industrial estates

How it sells

  • Government tenders via contractors
  • Direct supply to marking contractors

Good to know

  • NHAI and other agencies test material before use (profile).
  • Sold at ₹41,000 per MT in the profile.

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Plant & machinery: ribbon blender, screw conveyor, weighing scale, liquid pump, sieve shaker and testing lab1 set₹15.00 lakh

From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Road Marking Material (2018) — private guide — confirm locally

  • Hydrocarbon resinimported from China, South Korea, Europe; the main cost driver
  • Glass beads (reflective)imported
  • Mineral powders and fillersavailable in India
  • Plasticiser, lubricants, pigment (white, yellow)available in India
  • 25 kg plastic woven bagsfor packing

From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Road Marking Material (2018) — private guide — confirm locally

In our raw material database

Bitumen →

§5Licences & registration

  1. Udyam registration
  2. GST
  3. Meet the BIS / MoRTH specifications named in tenders
  4. State Pollution Control Board consent
  5. Factory licence

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

Stand-Up India for SC/ST and women founders (loans ₹10 L–₹1 crore); CGTMSE for a loan without collateral. Above the PMEGP ₹50 L limit as costed (land and building bought).

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: Land ₹30 L + building ₹20 L + plant & machinery ₹15 L + furniture & electricals ₹1.50 L + other assets ₹0.50 L + working-capital margin ₹10.11 L = ₹77.11 L.

Working capital: Gross working capital ₹24.99 L (inventories ₹13.53 L, receivables ₹17.08 L, overheads ₹1.14 L, less creditors ₹6.77 L).

Stand-Up Mitra profile from 2018 — machinery and material prices will be higher now.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Export council / board: DGFT (IEC)

  • The profile gives no HS code; ask DGFT or a customs broker to classify the product before exporting.
  • You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Import price swings
  • Test failure in tenders
  • Late payments
  • No marking work in the rainy season

§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan

A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.

  1. Days 1–30: Visit a working thermoplastic road marking material unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
  2. Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
  3. Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.

§11Who to connect with

Not verified yet

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 Thermoplastic Road Marking Material?

DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Road Marking Material (2018)

Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.