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After the resounding success of “Small Business Ideas in Kerala”, I have to justice to my second home “Bangalore”. This Namma Bangalore, has given me job, a new life, my life partner and financial freedom and mounting credit card debts. 🙂

There’s so much of learning, opportunity in Bangalore, which most people oversee or which I come across. One of the best place to pick small business ideas in Bangalore is from Bangalore Mirror. They regularly publish stories of people who have followed their passion in Bangalore. Kudos to the Bangalore Mirror team.

This post will list few ideas from my pesky mind, and few complied from other sources likes newspaper, and online sties. As a self proclaimed small business evangelist, I would be happy to talk, meet and share my thoughts to anyone interested in one-on-one talk.  I’m available at 99.00.11.4982.

1) Pit Stop – Scooter Washing Service

    Other day I took my colleagues’ bike to go for a shopping. When riding I realized it hasn’t seen water for many days. First thing that crossed my mind was a quick wash service which will take only 10 minutes of my time. A scooter or bike washing station which will take prior booking and wash it under 10 minutes. Imagine a place with five people, just like in a Formula 1 pit stop crew. Each one with a dedicated job, scrubbing, cleaning, washing, and applying a fine polish.

A city like Bangalore where time is money, such a service can flourish, provided it’s executed well. Can you think of starting one like this? Will it work? How much time can you save for time starved folks in B’lore?

2) Home Loan Paper Work Done Here

One of my colleagues bought a 3 BHK apartment in Whitefield. Before she got the home loan approved from the SBI bank, I repeatedly head her plight behind her loan sanctioning and paper work. At one stage she was close to breaking down with the stress – managing office work, home, and the how officials keep asking her to fix new clauses, etc. I was in her position I would have ditched and gone for a private bank. But, the interest rate matters and it seem SBI goes a good job in scrutinizing loan documents.. This chick had the patience, perseverance which many of us don’t have.

In fact I was telling her to use this experience to help others, become a loan advisor, or help home buyers in the buying process. People will love you for simplifying or providing the right information. Do you think you can start an agency to help people secure home loan without the hassles?

 3) Mask Store

 There are vanity stores, fancy stores, but no mask store in Bangalore. A store selling all kinds of face masks, from Vendetta style, to masquerade party masks, and all you can find and make. Got this idea when a colleague who gifted all of us with a mask.

4) Online Kannada Classes 

   For busy professionals, it’s very difficult to spend time to attend a regular Kannada class. Keeping this in mind, why don’t you start a class where you teach people through phone or online. To make it more interesting and attractive for guys, you can recruit more lady instructors to train people over the phone.

5) Takeaway Food Stall

   In Trivandrum, I’ve seen many food takeaway counter selling, chicken, duck, fish, beef, and vegetable curries. What about opening a similar takeaway unit in a small place? This place will only have takeaways. All the dishes can be prepared in another location and brought in here. Operate this place only for evening crowd, so you get ample free time to prepare and rest during day.

6) Solar Store at Koramangala

  These days, it’s cool to advocate green cause. Many companies are doing it just for the sake of bragging about it in PR’s and blogs. So, are individuals. For these folks, there should be a store in Bangalore selling all kinds of solar powered gadgets. What about opening a small store selling solar lamps, solar panels, solar heaters, etc. Probably you can source it from China, or even import products from west. Think about it.

7) Open an erotica museum

  Barcelona has a erotic museum. But, we Indian’s it’s a taboo. We don’t allow such acts. Our moralists will kill such business on the first day or chase you out. What else can you do? Start a unique museum based on your hobby, it could be any collection -gramophone collection, old radios, old phones, old stamps, old vessels, cigars, on rescue and first aid, on kings, world war, or any fancy hobby.

8) Open a lingerie store 

    It’s a business idea suitable for women folks. Why not source top quality stuffs, imported from big brands and store. Or start an exclusive store selling books, gadgets, toys like in BlissBasket.com. Check it out, and improve on the concept. 

9) Teach Sanskrit Verses online

  A chip from today’s morning walk. The park I go for morning walk has a temple in its premises. Today being Pongal (15/1/2015) there were very few walkers. As I walked by the temple, I saw a lone priest or believer reciting Sanskrit slokas from a text. I couldn’t understand a word of it thought I studies Sanskrit in my school (KV). Well, it one of my dreaded subjects. 

Well the business idea is this. There are many foreigners or even Indians interested in knowing the meaning or wanting to learn Sanskrit. The target audience in India would be people who are 50 plus. Instead of just reciting without understanding the meaning, you can teach the in-depth meaning, and intention of each verse. 

If you have interest, then market through online, blog, Facebook or a website. Use traditional marketing, probably a board near a temple an hit the right eyeball. ( Learn Sanskrit verses – Contact XYZ) (21 days to Sanskrit ) ( (Know the meaning of Sanskrit Slogas – Contact Sanskrit guru ph…….)

Namaha: 

10) Turn Fascination towards Bamboo into business

Off late I have a liking towards bamboo trees, especially small varieties which are suitable for home garden or terraces. If you have similar liking towards bamboo, it you can turn into a business opportunity in Bangalore. And Bangalore being more of apartments with small balconies, it’s ideal to plant bamboo as a green cover or as a sun shade.

If you go deeper, you can find thousands of varieties. Only few are seen in our nurseries. Can you start collecting more varieties, if required import few bamboo types. Apart from just planting in ordinary pots,you can do something really different. Collect different kinds of pots ( Ceramic, terracotta, brass, quality plastic, etc). Point is, people don’t mind paying extra you give present it a fabulous way. Think about it.

11) Teach Kolam

From a Google+ page, I stumbled on this blog. It’s about sharing Kolam images, sharing picture of different Kolam designs. Visit  Learn Kolam. 

Kudos to Mr Ramalingam, a retired executive officer from Salem Steel Plant ( SAIL), who has shared his wife’s talent.I think our country needs more people like Mr and Mrs Ramalingam. Also, young people need to learn from this enterprising couple. He is doing a great job at using blog to reach, connect and share things that he cares.

BTW, though it has just started, with proper placement, guidance, and online publicity, they it can a big revenue potential business.. Good luck to both of them.

12) Blog it

I’m a big advocate of blogging. It’s a free platform available for anyone in this world to tell their story, or passion to others. It’s free, it’s powerful. Whether you are a housewife, or a retired person or a physically challenged person, or a junior school kid, you can start one. It requires very little knowledge, though people think otherwise. Here’s a fact, Hufffington Post started as a blog and in less than a decade it attracts more traffic and readers than New York Times.

In a world where traffic is money, you can start blogging on any time, ( from real estate, cooking, hobby) and reach the right audience. Today, many women are using it to share their interest to the world. For example, there are fashion bloggers, cooking enthusiasts, travel , technology geeks, music fans, etc. 

13) Teach to use chopsticks

     Other day I went to a Tibetian restaurant near Jyothi Nivas college at Koramangala. It’s a very affordable food joint, where you get beef fried rice for Rs 65. While I was busy having food, I noticed chopsticks kept on the table. And it dawned on me, if there are people who can teach people to use chopsticks.

How about taking this concept as a small business idea? Probably, you can teach Tibetian food, teach how to make Momos, sell the Momo making utensils, teach how to use chop sticks, etc. Are you listening?

14) Teach Cursive Writing

    During a visit to Nagercoil, I saw a board saying, we teach good handwriting. I haven’t noticed similar thing in Bangalore. If it can work in Nagercoil, why not in Bangalore, where parents are fanatic about seeing their kids excel in all departments. Can you create a course ware for it, with practice sheets? It could be a great help even for old folks like me, who has horrible handwriting.

15) Coconut Water Store

 There are many road side vendors in Bangalore selling coconut water.What about a small store selling coconut water, or some products based  on coconut. For instance, coconut burfi, coconut ladoo, coconut cake, etc. 

16) Start Home Nursing and Maid Service

    Back in Trivandrum, I’ve seen many agency’s providing home nurses, maids, cooks, drivers. In Bangalore, there are only a handful of them. At least, I haven’t seen many . Can you start an agency which provides qualified nurses, drivers? More than just providing personnel, you should guarantee or certify their credibility with your trust symbol. Can you make it the most trusted but expensive service provider?

17) Popularize Ragi Mudde

     Is there a hotel which makes and sells ragi dishes? What about a small joint selling ragi mudde balls and serve it along with spicy mutton or chicken curry? Give a twist to the recipe or make it appealing to the young folks. It’s healthy, it’s good for the body.

18) Start a Senior Living Homes

     Not like a typical old age home, this place in the outskirts should have all the amenities and comforts for leading an active, interesting life for people above 55.

19) Tandoor Food Truck

      Today I chanced upon reading on U. S Food Trucks. It then dawned on me to start something on Indian lines. What about Tandoor Hot Truck or a name more interesting? Recently in Bangalore I saw a food truck in Indira Nagar selling rolls, and burgers. Thought they were shortcoming in that venture, it’s a venture they can improvise as they go. On a different note, what about a similar concept in US. Why not modify a food truck to create a provision to make Indian roti, hot chicken tandoor, kebabs, etc from a food truck and start a travelling food business. Maybe, it’s there in United States or in Europe.

20) Mobile Tailoring

     I came across a lady from Coimbatore who does to houses, take measurement and stitches blouse and tops for ladies. With more busy lifestyles, this could work in a city like Bangalore. All you need is a two wheeler to travel and talent to stitch quality dresses.

21) Start a oxygen bar

   I don’t know what it is..one thing is sure, it looks interesting, a bit adventurous. I’m sharing a pic I saw on Facebook. Someone has been to Mexico and share it on her wall. I picked and put it here. If you are keen to know, you can goggle it. I think it might work in a water themed park like Wonderla, or you can start in a small space.

Oxygen Bar!
22) Start an exclusive shop for Grooms
      When it comes to marriage preparation, shopping, ladies have more choices. In most cases, men have to hop from one shop to another, to pick their shoes, belt, tie, socks, shirt, unides, hand kerchief, etc. What if there’s one place where prospective bridegrooms can shop? An exclusive store with  top-quality dresses, etc. Think about it.   

23) Solution for Lonely Souls in Bangalore

    As cities grow big, when people are too busy chasing money ( daily living), when there’s very less time to talk or build social connection, there is a big part of people who are left alone. People who like to talk, share and care. Do you have a solution for this? Can you help them relieve from their lonely and mundane life.

24) Box Store

  Other day I was shopping at MK Retail, near CMH Road, B’lore. I saw one husband like me buying plastic boxes and his wife getting irritated with his habit of buying boxes. Somehow, it reminded of my fascination to store things in various boxes. And, here comes the big box ideas. There’s no shop where we can go to buy different kind of storage boxes. From plastic big containers, to small paper boxes or the large trunks we see in the hands of military jawans. With shortage of space in our houses, we prefer to keep things in boxes so that it’s easier, and convenient for people.

25) Home Masseuse

 Spa business is booming in Bangalore. If you walk around Indira Nagar 100 ft road, you’ll know what I’m telling you. All sorts of names from Thai spa, to Heaven on Earth. Well, folks like me are, especially those who have crossed their 40’s are the customers.

If you’ve the talent, knowledge and interest in body care, then you can start one. I suggest you can start a travelling spa. All you need is a two-wheeler and with few reference you can start your biz.

A word of caution if you are a lady. There are many aspects to visiting a stranger’s house. If you don’t want to go to other person’s home, you can start one in your home. Probably in your apartment complex, you can start a home spa in your spare room.

I’ve seen one such place,  where they offer massage for ladies.

26) Balcony Garden Designer

For people living in apartments you can offer your gardening skills to decorate, arrange, and maintain it. What do you think? First, prepare a portfolio where they can see the designs and balcon-scaping you can do for them. As an expert, you should be offering high quality and healthy plans, lilies, and unique pots with good designs. Even, you can make a vegetable garden for the client. What do you say, green hands?

27) Become a  Middle Man

     If there’s one thing that’s scare in Bangalore is this – Time. A typical employee spends most time of their life in the glass box. A colleague told this – I don’t feel like going to PF office to apply the PF.  She is not alone. There’re are thousands of folks who don’t have the time, nor has the heart to go to other offices to apply, or settle old claims.

Can you be the trusted middle man who will – file tax, renew the passport, apply a license, sort the building loan or paper work, etc

28) Become an etutor

      I keep sharing this aspect to every soul. Start a elearning or etutoring service. Recently there was a news that a young IAS officer quit his job and started an online training firm. I’m happy that he understand that he can help more people with his online training accademy than being a district collector who has to world under limited freedom.