Key takeaways:

Kashmir has many business opportunities because of its natural beauty, cultural richness and the geographical location.
The increase in the number of tourists, landscape and government policies has increased the growth of business in Kashmir.
There are policies like Atmanirbhar Kashmir to promote local businesses and self dependency in Kashmir.

Bonus tip:

Do you know? The GDP in Kashmir is increasing by 18.2% in the last few years. This means that Kashmir’s economy is growing rapidly.

The growing economy and improving infrastructure in Kashmir, many business opportunities are rising up. The state is famous for its rich culture and geographical location which makes it more ideal to start a business.

In the last few years, the business aspect is growing rapidly in Kashmir because of its beauty, nature and richness in culture. The strategic location of Kashmir provides a link between Central Asia, China and the Indian subcontinent, which makes it more ideal to start a business.

Reasons to start your business in Kashmir

Refer the below table to know the reasons to start your own business in Kashmir:

Reason to start your business	Description
Government support	The government in Kashmir has introduced several policies to promote businesses like Industrial Promotion Policy (2021-30), Startup Kashmir Program, Atamnirbhar Kashmir etc. all these are introduced with an aim to provide support and incentives for startups in Kashmir.
Geographical location	The strategic location of Kashmir provides a link between Central Asia, China and the Indian subcontinent, which makes it more ideal to start a business.
Presence of natural resources	Kashmir is rich in water resources, natural beauty, weather conditions, farmland and minerals. You can use these resources to start a business in Kashmir.
Human capital	In Kashmir the literacy is highest in India of around 68.74%. This means that you can easily find people for your business with great knowledge and skills.
Cultural richness	Kashmir is famous for its Kashmiri culture, handicrafts that are marketed nationally.

These are some of the reasons to start a business in Kashmir. The government is also very supportive in building a business in Kashmir by supporting small businesses by incentives and schemes.

For example, the Government of India has notified the New Central Sector Scheme in Kashmir for industrial growth. The aim of this scheme is to promote development with new investment opportunities, job creation and skill development.

Key factors to consider before a starting a business in Kashmir

The key factors to consider before a starting a business in Kashmir are:

Decide the nature of the business you want to start.
Decide the scale that you want for your business from large, medium, micro or small.
Market size like it can be international, national or local business.
Amount of investment required for starting your business in Kashmir.
The control amount you want on your business.
The risks and liabilities associated with the business and your capacity to bear them.
Compare different tax liabilities before starting your business.

Consider the above factors before starting a new business in Kashmir.

List of best small and unique business Ideas in Kashmir

Below is the list of some small and unique business ideas in Kashmir under the investment of ₹10,00,000 to ₹20,00,000:

Tourism business

The total tourism business to the economy of Kashmir is ₹1,200 crores per annum. Therefore, tourism is the best and ideal business idea in Kashmir for students as well. They can be tourist guides and later expand their business with accommodation facilities as well.

For example, Ahmad started his business with one homestay called “Kashmir Valley Homestay” with ₹15,00,000 investment. Now he operates 10 more homestays in Kashmir.

Saffron cultivation

Kashmir is the largest producer of saffron and produces 90% of India’s saffron. You can start a business with saffron cultivation, using saffron extract to make tea. You can also sell it directly in the international market. Since saffron is naturally present in Kashmir, it is a good business idea in Kashmir for women as well. They can help in the cultivation process.

Handicraft products

In Kashmir, the handicraft industry is growing 15% every year. You can start a business of pashmina and cashmere shawls and clothing, walnut wood furniture etc. there is a high demand for Pashmina all over the world.

Apple business

It is one of the most profitable businesses in Kashmir without investment because kashmiri apples have a much higher price range than typical apples cost on the B2C market. You can sell homemade apple juices, products in the market.

Technology and digital services

In Kashmir, the IT sector has increased by 45% since 2022. There can be a business without investment in content creation in which you can make videos and photos of Kashmir's beauty. This business can be done by women and students as well.

These are some of the business ideas in Kashmir. Apart from these, you can also start a business of coaching centers, wellness and yoga centers etc.

There are many business ideas in Kashmir with zero investment like content creation, freelance writing, reselling products etc.

Advantages and disadvantages associated with the starting a business in Kashmir

Refer the below table to know the pros and cons of starting a business in Kashmir :

Advantages	Disadvantages
In Kashmir there is a presence of natural resources which makes it easy to start a business.	In Kashmir there is always a fear of instability due to militancy threats. Political riots and sudden shut down of markets makes it difficult to start a new business.
With the increase of tourism in Kashmir, there is a high demand for hotels, co spaces, homestays and adventure tourism.	Weather conditions like heavy snowfall makes it difficult to travel. This means low or zero connectivity and productivity.
The strategic location of Kashmir provides a link between Central Asia, China and the Indian subcontinent, which makes it more ideal to start a business.	There is still a gender stereotype in Kashmir which makes it difficult for women to establish their business in Kashmir. Many women in Kashmir are not aware of business terms.

These are some of the advantages and disadvantages of building a business in Kashmir.

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that Kashmir is a good place to start a business along with a few disadvantages like sudden curfews, gender discrimination etc. You can even start a business with low investment like selling apple products,pashmina shawls and clothing etc.

There are many unique and zero investment ideas as well to start a business in Kashmir like selling handmade crafts, coaching centers etc. You just have to choose the business idea according to your skills and interest.

FAQs:

Are there any government schemes to support small businesses in Kashmir?

The government in Kashmir has introduced several policies to promote businesses like Industrial Promotion Policy (2021-30), Startup Kashmir Program, Atamnirbhar Kashmir etc.

What are some business ideas that will work in Kashmir?

Business ideas like tourism, adventure tourism, saffron cultivation, hotels, food business will work in Kashmir.

How do I find a business idea?

You can find a business idea by knowing your skills and interest level in a particular field.

Is there any scope of doing business in Kashmir?

Yes, with the growing tourism and economy of Kashmir, there is a scope of doing business there.

What should a beginner focus on before starting a business?

As a beginner, decide the nature of the business you want to start and the scale that you want for your business from large, medium, micro or small.