India has traditionally been a rural economy. We must have heard at least once in our lifetime about how agriculture plays a role in the country’s economy. For a long time now, villages have only been seen as a place for farming. Still, due to the massive push by the government under schemes like PMAY-G, PMGSY, and Mission Antayodaya and paired with the extensive development in technology and the internet, rural areas have become a hub for more than the good old agriculture. According to Statista, rural industries’ products amounted to more than 800 Billion Rupees in FY 2022. Many opportunities & business ideas have emerged, and people are returning to their roots to start profitable and economical businesses.

Today we have brought you top village business ideas that you can venture into to start your entrepreneurship journey. Either way, you can be a resident or an outsider, and these ideas will get your brain running and open your eyes to huge opportunities standing right in front of you. So, let’s begin.

Why Should you Start a Business in a Village?

Apart from the fact that the Government of India has given a great push to the rural industry, other reasons may attract you to starting a business in village. Some of these reasons are mentioned below:

  • Economical: Villages are comparatively cheaper than urban and semi-urban areas. Land, electricity, transport, labour, and everything you may need for your business can be more economical in rural India.
  • Less Competition: Since villages have just started to develop with more opportunities and better resource management, the competition is still on the shallow side. It does not matter what kind of business you want to start, and you can be assured that you will easily find a place for your business in the rural market.
  • Abundant Opportunities: Village businesses are plump with opportunities for you to start something big. Every business – culinary, manufacturing, retail, etc.- can succeed in village areas due to an untapped consumer base and huge market potential. Firstly let us know the total village count of each state in India.

How to Start a Business in a Village in India

Different village businesses may have different legal, technical, and monetary requirements. However, the basic steps that every business needs to follow remain the same.

1. Idea

The first step before starting a business is to have an idea of what you want to do. Entrepreneurs must be clear about their industry, type of business, interests, demand, and supply of resources before finalizing the idea for a business.

2. Money

The idea for a business must be matched with the necessary investment required to kickstart the business. Entrepreneurs can use their own money or take loans to start their ventures. Many different government schemes also provide interest-free loans for entrepreneurs to start their journey.

3. Legal Requirements

The next step is to take care of all the legalities related to your business. Having a good attorney to support your legal requirements will ensure that there is no mistake in your legal background. You will be able to focus solely on building your business.

4. Infrastructure

Now that you have the idea and the investment, you can start gathering the infrastructure for your business. This might include different things depending on the type of your business. Rental businesses may require a well-conditioned property, while a fertilizers business may require storage space, stock of material, and other things. Different businesses may have different infrastructural requirements to allow them to run smoothly.

5. Start your Business

Now that you have your suppliers, your infrastructure, your capital, and all the other requirements to run your business, the last thing to do is begin your business. Make sure to provide the best quality of products and services to spread positive word of mouth.

List of Top 25 Business Ideas for Rural Areas in India

1. Affiliate Marketing


If you have good Internet access then you can easily start this online business by creating a website and using affiliate links to make money. Affiliate marketing means promoting products and services of different brands and earning money with every purchase. To get started, follow the steps below

  • Decide a niche
  • Choose a platform
  • Build an audience
  • Join an affiliate network like EarnKaro
  • Create unique content
  • Start sharing affiliate links and earn money

2. Organic Farming

Due to the increased usage of chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, vegetables and fruits have started to lose their nutritional content. This, in turn, is becoming the reason for a large number of diseases in youngsters as well as adults. Due to this problem, organic farming has regained ground again. Why do people leave their jobs in metropolitans and urban areas to start organic farms? What is so sweet about this? The answer is twofold. Firstly, consumers are ready to pay a higher amount to get the best and safest product for them to consume, and secondly, there is a serious lack of nutritious products in the market. You can start cultivating any vegetable or fruit you want in the most natural way to start your own organic farming business.

3. Retail Store

This is not a new one. Kirana Stores are available at every corner in every village of the country. So, what’s new? It is the consumers’ perception of wanting more. The rural population these days wants a large variety of products to choose from, and Kirana stores do not fill the gap anymore. Retail Stores are a great business idea in village areas as they provide a great lineup of products for consumers.

Moreover, if are looking to start an online business in Delhi then we have the perfect list of the best small business ideas in Delhi that can be very helpful for you. Do check it out.

4. Manufacturing Units

As mentioned above, labour is very economical in rural areas. Labour forms the backbone of any manufacturing plant. So, when you get cheap labour for your business, you can relax that a major part of your business is running smoothly. You can start any manufacturing plant – bricks, cement, disposables, steel, paper, etc. in rural areas to gain an economic advantage in the industry.

5. Transport Service

More often than not, villagers require transport services to travel between home and work. That is where you come in. While the older generation prefers public transport like Buses and Autos, the younger generation is much more interested in the luxuries of life. You can start a local taxi business to carry villagers in and out of their homes and keep the prices however you want. Since the competition is low, you can easily tap the market to create a profitable business. However, keep in mind the costs of skilled drivers, vehicles, and fuel to create the right strategy for your business.

6. Tutor

The government of India has been pushing for higher literacy for years. Higher Education is tough, and students require help sometimes, which is where you can create a business for yourselves. If you are a working professional, you can start weekend coaching, but if you are not, you can even make this a full-time business. Being a tutor is cost-effective, time efficient, flexible, and has lesser chances of failing as a business. So, if you have expertise in some elementary subjects, being a tutor might do the task for you.

7. Educational Institution

Hot on the heels of being a tutor, you can even think bigger to start a full-fledged educational institution. A college, school, or even a coaching centre provides different courses. You can set your business apart by providing top-notch educational facilities through trained teachers and experienced administration and making a difference in your as well as others’ lives.

8. Solar Power

It is true that even after many efforts from the state and central government, there is still a long way to go for villages to have 100% electricity. You can turn this problem into a business opportunity by providing doorstep installation for solar panels and training the villagers on how to use the same. This market has existed for some years now but is yet to develop into full bloom.

9. Milk Farm

Believe it or not, Amul was once a small cooperative in a small village in Gujarat. You can learn from their story to start a local milk farm to provide people with the best dairy products. Villagers usually keep cows and buffaloes in their households and sell milk to other people. You can easily create an arrangement with the locals to set up an industrial plant and start manufacturing different milk products like curd, cottage cheese, ghee, and much more.

10. Medical Store

This one is tricky but has huge potential. The tricky part is that government regulations require every pharmacist to have a B.Pharma qualification. The good part, however, is this business’s immense potential. This is one of those businesses the demand of which never goes down. Also, villagers have to suffer due to the lack of availability of basic medicines near their houses. So, if you can fulfil that one technicality, you will be on your way to creating a successful business.