Personal services

§1How big it is

• 'Other services' establishments grew 23.55% and their GVA 26.17% in 2023-24 among unincorporated enterprises

  PIB (MoSPI): Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) results 2023-24 (24 Dec 2024)

§2Ways to get started

• Unisex salon or franchise
• Laundry and dry-clean pickup service
• Mobile and laptop repair shop
• Home appliance repair via service apps

See the Business Encyclopedia

§3Hubs and clusters

• Every town - no hub list applies

§4Licences and registration

1. Municipal trade licence / health licence (salons, spas)
2. Shops & Establishment registration
3. Authorised service centre agreement with brands (for repair shops)
4. E-waste rules: hand over discarded parts to authorised collectors
5. Udyam Registration (MSME) - free, online, PAN + Aadhaar based
6. GST registration (mandatory above turnover threshold or for inter-state supply / e-commerce sale)
7. Shops & Establishment registration or Factory Licence (Factories Act / state rules) depending on size and power use
8. Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board - category (Red/Orange/Green/White) as per CPCB 2025 harmonised list; White category is exempt from consent
9. IEC (Importer Exporter Code) from DGFT if you import or export

§5Regulators

• State Labour Department (Shops & Establishments Act)
• Local municipal body (trade licence; health licence for salons)
• CDSCO / BIS (cosmetic product standards used in salons)

§6Government help

• Skill India training for beauticians, electricians and repair technicians - status not checked
• PM Vishwakarma (artisans incl. barbers, tailors, washermen) - status not checked in this pass
• Cross-sector schemes that also apply (detailed in the programmes file): Udyam benefits, PMEGP, PM Mudra Yojana, CGTMSE credit guarantee, Stand-Up India, MSE-CDP (cluster development), RAMP, MSME ZED and Lean certification, MSME Champions, TReDS, Startup India (SISFS seed fund, Fund of Funds, CGSS), RoDTEP, EPCG, Advance Authorisation, Districts as Export Hubs, ODOP (One District One Product)

• ClosedSISFSGrant up to ₹20 lakh for proof of concept, prototype or product trials (milestone-based instalments).
• ActiveCGSSGuarantee up to ₹20 crore or actual outstanding credit, whichever is less (transaction-based and umbrella cover).
• UnclearPM VishwakarmaPM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.
• UnclearMSE-CDPCommon Facility Centres (testing, design, common production, raw material depot, ETP, plug & play).
• ActiveRAMPSub-schemes: MSE-GIFT (interest subvention and guarantee for green tech), MSE-SPICE (capital subsidy for circular-economy solutions), MSE-ODR (online…
• ActiveTReDSConvert approved invoices to cash before due date.

All schemes

§7Pros and cons

¶Sources

1. PIB (MoSPI): Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) results 2023-24 (24 Dec 2024)