§1What this business is
Wood is chemically treated against fungus, seasoned, cut on a band saw, planed and carved by design; MDF is added in about 20% of the wood, parts are joined, sealed, painted and checked. The report's product is carved wooden photo frames. It notes about 50,000 people work as wood carvers in Saharanpur.
Capacity: 200 wooden photo frames a day = 60,000 a year.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone from a carving cluster such as Saharanpur, or a gift trader with design sense.
Who it is not for
Someone who cannot find or keep skilled carvers.
Advantages
- High margin in the report — up to 23.1% net
- Treatment and seasoning plant gives long-lasting products
- Carved woodwork sells in India and abroad
Drawbacks
- Machinery is costly (₹20.10 L)
- Depends on skilled carvers
- Design trends change; unsold stock risk
Skills you need
- Wood selection and seasoning
- Carving and finishing
- Design and gift-market selling
Why difficulty 3/5: Good margin, but costly machines and skilled carvers are needed.
§3Market
Who buys
- Households buying decor and gifts
- Photo studios and gift shops
- Handicraft exporters
How it sells
- Gift and home-decor shops
- Handicraft fairs and exhibitions
- Online marketplaces
Good to know
- The report says India's wood carving industry earns $65 million a year and Saharanpur alone employs 50,000 carvers.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wood chemical treatment plant | 1 | ₹3,50,000 |
| Seasoning machine | 1 | ₹3,00,000 |
| Planer machine | 1 | ₹5,50,000 |
| Joining machine | 1 | ₹2,00,000 |
| Buffing machine | 1 | ₹50,000 |
| Belt sander machine | 1 | ₹1,50,000 |
| Wood lathe machine | 1 | ₹2,00,000 |
| Band saw machine | 1 | ₹2,00,000 |
| Other tools: chip-carving knives, palm tools, chain saw, drill press | 1 lot | ₹10,000 |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Wood Carving (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Natural wood₹8 per kg
- MDF board₹30 per sq ft
- Paint₹200 per kg
- Thinner₹70 per kg
- Sealer₹150 per kg
From: PMEGP sample project report — Wood Carving (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Buy timber only from licensed depots with a transit pass where state forest rules require it
- Artisan identity card (Pehchan) from the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) — useful for craft schemes and fairs
- Trademark for your brand name (optional)
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
PMEGP fits (₹24.43 L); MUDRA up to ₹20 L; CGTMSE for a loan without collateral; Stand-Up India for SC/ST and women founders.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Plant & machinery ₹20.10 L + furniture & fixtures ₹1.00 L + working capital ₹3.33 L = ₹24.43 L. Land (1,200–1,500 sq ft) own or rented.
Working capital: Working capital ₹3.33 L, of which bank finance ₹3.00 L. The report takes raw material at ₹80 a piece and selling price at ₹150.
Year not printed on the report — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts)
- 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
- Timber price and legal supply
- Insect and moisture damage
- Slow sales outside festival seasons
§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 wood carving unit (photo frames) 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
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 Wood Carving Unit (Photo Frames)?
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.