🍱 161 researched factors
How to start a tiffin service in India (2026): investment, profit and licences
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How much investment do you need?
| Format | Setup cost | Suggested budget (with working capital) |
|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen | ₹40,000 | ₹54,500 |
| Small rented kitchen | ₹1 lakh | ₹1.2 lakh |
| Commercial kitchen / mess | ₹2.3 lakh | ₹2.7 lakh |
How much profit can you make?
| City | Net profit per week | Net profit per month |
|---|---|---|
| Metro city | ₹6,000–₹14,000 | ₹26,000–₹60,500 |
| Tier 2 city | ₹4,000–₹7,000 | ₹17,500–₹30,500 |
| Small town | ₹2,000–₹4,000 | ₹8,500–₹17,500 |
Ranges are for a well-run business of the typical format in each city size, from public sources and estimates. Your results depend on location and how you run it.
Profit calculator
Put in your own numbers for a quick monthly estimate. For a realistic week with festivals, rain, staff and stock, use the simulator.
Simulate a week before you invest
Run a tiffin service for a week in about 5 minutes. Choose your city, budget and location, set prices, order stock and handle real events. Then see how you compare with a skilled owner.
Play the simulator freeKey numbers (161 researched factors)
| Factor | Typical value in India | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Home-kitchen startup capex | ₹10k–50k (DO); ₹55k–75k for 25–30 tiffins/day, about ₹30k lean using existing utensils (OKC, 2026) (Existing utensils; city) | dineopen.com |
| Semi-commercial setup (30–60 subs) | ₹50k–1.5L (Rent deposit) | dineopen.com |
| Delivery radius | 4–5 km (OKC); about 5 km competitive radius (Traffic, tier) | okcredit.in |
| Proximity to PG/hostel/coaching cluster | Bulk tie-up gives 15–20 tiffins in one deal (OKC); tie-ups are 40–50% of customers (DO) (Kota/Pune/Delhi North Campus high) | okcredit.in |
| Per-meal price (general) | ₹80–150 (DO); ₹70–120 (search summary of guides) (Tier, audience) | dineopen.com |
| Student/PG plate price | ₹60–90/meal (Tier 3 lower) | dineopen.com |
| Food cost per veg meal (all-in ingredients) | ₹40–55 (DO); about ₹50 incl. packing (OKC) (Tier, season) | dineopen.com |
| Atta | ~₹47.5/kg retail (late 2025, one state) gives ~₹5/meal (State; Bharat atta ₹30/kg (2024)) | dataful.in |
| Starting volume | 10–15 (OKC); 5–10 customers (DO) | okcredit.in |
| Solo capacity | About 25–30 tiffins/day; about 60 with a helper (Equipment) | okcredit.in |
| Hired cook wage | ₹8k–18k/month (Delhi-NCR, 2026); Indeed average about ₹16.4k (₹8k–32k) (Tier, hours) | in.indeed.com |
| Delivery person salary | ₹8k–12k/month (Tier) | dineopen.com |
| Hybrid/WFH office pattern | Remote/hybrid has cut lunchbox volume; dabbawalas down about 40% from pre-pandemic (T1 IT hubs) | dailypioneer.com |
| Migrant inflow | Target segment: professionals living away from home (T1/T2) | inc42.com |
| Monthly revenue per subscriber | ₹3,000–4,500 (lunch); ₹4,500–7,500 (2 meals) (Tier) | dineopen.com |
| Trial-to-subscriber conversion | 60–70% (Food quality) | dineopen.com |
| Zomato Everyday | Launched Gurugram Feb 2023; by 2024 in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai (T1) | businesstoday.in |
| Swiggy Daily (historical) | Launched Jun 2019 Gurugram; later shut (closure not re-verified here) | thenewsminute.com |
| FSSAI basic registration | ₹100; basic ceiling ₹1.5 cr from 1 Apr 2026; OKC says lifetime validity after the Mar 2026 reforms | okcredit.in |
| FSSAI processing time | 7–30 days (State) | dineopen.com |
| Google review rating | Above 4.5 stars drives 10–15 inquiries/month | dineopen.com |
| Pandemic/lockdown | Dabbawala workforce fell to about 1,500 (from about 5,000); individual earnings down from about ₹20k to ₹7k (2021) | dailypioneer.com |
| Mudra Shishu | ≤₹50k: covers a home setup | Shared constant |
| Gross margin | 40–50% | dineopen.com |
Licences and rules
| Factor | Typical value in India | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FSSAI basic registration | ₹100; basic ceiling ₹1.5 cr from 1 Apr 2026; OKC says lifetime validity after the Mar 2026 reforms | okcredit.in |
| FSSAI processing time | 7–30 days (State) | dineopen.com |
| FSSAI non-compliance penalty | Up to ₹5 lakh (as cited) (Severity) | dineopen.com |
| GST registration threshold | ₹20 lakh turnover (₹10 lakh special-category states) | dineopen.com |
| GST rate on meals | 5% without ITC; composition ceiling ₹1.5 cr | okcredit.in |
| Municipal trade/home-occupation permit | ₹500–2,000 (Municipality) | dineopen.com |
| Health/hygiene inspection | Est. 0–1/yr for small units; complaint-triggeredEstimate | Est. |
| Commercial LPG rule | Commercial cylinder cost ₹2,810 vs ₹942 (Enforcement) | Shared constants |
Risks to plan for
| Factor | Typical value in India | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Food poisoning incident | Est. probability 0.5–1%/yr per small unit; loss of 20–50% subs (Summer heat)Estimate | Est. |
| Late delivery streak | Est. 2–5% of days (Monsoon)Estimate | Est. |
| Cook illness | Est. 3–6 days/yrEstimate | Est. |
| Pandemic/lockdown | Dabbawala workforce fell to about 1,500 (from about 5,000); individual earnings down from about ₹20k to ₹7k (2021) | dailypioneer.com |
| Heavy rain/flood day | Est. 2–6 lost days/yr (Coastal metros)Estimate | Est. |
| LPG shortage/delay | Est. 1–3 days/yrEstimate | Est. |
| Society/neighbour complaint | Est. 5–10%/yr for home unitsEstimate | Est. |
| Steel dabba theft/loss surge | See D12Estimate | Est. |
Frequently asked questions
How much investment is needed to start a tiffin service?
It depends on the format: Home kitchen ₹40,000; Small rented kitchen ₹1 lakh; Commercial kitchen / mess ₹2.3 lakh. Keep extra working capital for stock, wages and rent for the first months.
How much profit does a tiffin service make per month?
A well-run tiffin service typically nets ₹8,500–₹60,500 a month: about ₹26,000–₹60,500 in a metro and ₹8,500–₹17,500 in a small town. A casually run one can make far less or lose money.
Which licences do I need for a tiffin service?
Commonly: FSSAI basic registration (₹100, needed even for home kitchens), municipal trade or home-occupation permit (₹500–2,000), commercial LPG connection, Shop & Establishment registration once you hire staff, GST only above ₹20 lakh turnover. Rules vary by state and city, so check with your municipal office.
Is a tiffin service profitable in a small town?
Yes, at a smaller scale. A well-run tiffin service in a small town nets about ₹8,500–₹17,500 a month, with lower rent and wages but fewer customers.
What are the biggest risks of a tiffin service?
The main ones are: students leaving at Diwali and in summer, month-end bills that never get paid, vegetable, dal and LPG price spikes, cooked food wasted on low-demand days.
How can I practise running a tiffin service before investing?
Play the free BizWin tiffin service simulator. It runs a realistic week with Indian prices, festivals, weather and inspections, and shows why you made or lost money.
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