Cloth Bag Profit Calculator
Calculate your potential profits from selling reusable cloth bags based on the business model described in the article.
Default values are based on market research in India as described in the article.
If you're starting a manufacturing business and wondering what’s the easiest thing to sell, the answer isn’t about fancy machines or complex tech. It’s about something simple, everyday, and always in demand. The easiest thing to sell? Reusable cloth bags.
Think about it. You walk into any grocery store in Mumbai, Delhi, or even a small town in Uttar Pradesh, and you see people carrying plastic bags. Now imagine they’re carrying a sturdy, colorful cloth bag instead. It’s not just eco-friendly-it’s practical, cheap to make, and people are ready to buy it. No complicated regulations. No high-tech equipment. Just fabric, a sewing machine, and a clear message.
Why cloth bags? Because they solve a real problem. In 2025, India banned single-use plastics in 12 major cities. Cities like Pune and Surat started fines for plastic bag use. That created an instant market. People needed replacements. And cloth bags? They’re the obvious answer. They last years. They hold more than plastic. They can be branded. And they cost less than ₹20 to make. You can sell them for ₹80-₹150. That’s a 400% markup.
You don’t need a factory. Start in your garage. Buy 10 meters of cotton canvas from a local market like Dadar or Vile Parle. Use a basic sewing machine-₹8,000 from Amazon or a local vendor. Cut the fabric into simple tote shapes. Sew handles. Add a printed logo or a slogan like “Save Earth, Carry This.” That’s it. You’ve made 20 bags in one afternoon. Sell them at local markets, WhatsApp groups, or even outside schools and offices. People love low-cost, useful items they can feel good about buying.
Compare this to trying to make plastic containers, metal tools, or electronic gadgets. Those need certifications, safety standards, bulk raw materials, and long supply chains. A cloth bag? No licenses required. No import duties. No inventory risk. If one design doesn’t sell, you make another next week. Try floral prints for women, sports logos for teens, or minimalist designs for office workers. Test fast. Adapt faster.
There’s another reason cloth bags win: they’re repeat customers. A customer buys one bag, loves it, and comes back for a second. Maybe a different color. Maybe one with a pocket. Maybe a matching lunch bag. You build loyalty. You don’t just sell a product-you build a brand. Small businesses that do this well-like GreenTote in Bangalore or BagBharat in Jaipur-now have 5,000+ monthly repeat buyers. They didn’t spend on ads. They just made something useful and talked to people.
Here’s what you need to get started:
- Fabric: Cotton canvas (100% organic, 120 GSM) - ₹40-₹60 per meter
- Sewing machine: Basic electric model - ₹7,000-₹10,000 (one-time)
- Printing: Screen printing or heat transfer - ₹10-₹20 per bag
- Handles: Cotton webbing - ₹15 per pair
- Cost per bag: ₹50-₹70
- Selling price: ₹90-₹150
You can make 50 bags in a week. That’s ₹4,500-₹7,500 in sales. After costs, you’re clearing ₹2,000-₹3,500. That’s not a full-time income yet-but it’s more than most part-time jobs pay. Scale it: hire one helper. Add 3 new designs. Sell to local shops for ₹70 each. Now you’re supplying 5 stores. That’s ₹35,000/month. No loans. No investors. Just you, fabric, and a sewing machine.
Some people think you need to make something high-tech to succeed. That’s not true. The easiest thing to sell isn’t the most complicated. It’s the most needed. Cloth bags are needed everywhere. They’re easy to make. They’re cheap to scale. And they’re backed by law, not just trend.
There are other simple things you can make and sell too:
- Wooden spoons and cutting boards (from scrap wood)
- Handmade soaps (coconut oil, essential oils, natural colors)
- Beeswax food wraps (replace plastic cling film)
- Recycled paper notebooks (use old newspapers, bind with cloth)
But cloth bags still win because they combine low entry cost, high demand, and easy marketing. You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need to know how to code or run ads. You just need to sew, show up, and talk to people.
One woman in Thane started with 10 bags. Now she runs a team of 12 women. They make 500 bags a week. She sells to organic stores, eco-fairs, and even corporate gifting companies. Her secret? She lets customers pick their own fabric prints. That’s personal. That’s memorable. That’s repeat business.
If you’re looking for the easiest thing to sell in manufacturing, stop overthinking. Start sewing. The market is already there. You just need to make something people can hold in their hands-and feel good about carrying.
Why cloth bags beat other simple products
Let’s say you consider making wooden spoons. You need wood, sandpaper, varnish. You need to source sustainable timber. You need to polish each one by hand. It takes 20 minutes per spoon. You sell them for ₹120. Sounds good? Maybe. But who buys them? Mostly tourists or niche buyers. Not everyday shoppers.
Now think about soap. You need oils, lye, molds, curing time. You need to test for skin safety. You need labels. You need to comply with FSSAI if you’re selling in India. That’s legal work. That’s paperwork.
Cloth bags? No safety certifications. No expiration date. No complex ingredients. No storage issues. Just fabric. Sew. Sell.
And here’s the kicker: cloth bags are visual. People post them on Instagram. They become mini-advertisements. A woman carries your bag to a wedding. Her friend asks where she got it. You get free marketing. That doesn’t happen with soap or spoons.
How to test your idea before spending money
Don’t buy a sewing machine yet. Start with 5 bags. Use old bed sheets or curtains. Cut them into tote shapes. Sew with needle and thread. Add a sticker with your brand. Walk to a local market. Ask people: “Would you buy this for ₹100?”
If 3 out of 5 say yes, you have a product. If 1 or 2 say yes, tweak the design. Try a different color. Add a pocket. Try a smaller size. Test again. This takes one afternoon. Costs ₹20. No risk.
Where to sell after you make them
- Local weekly markets (like Crawford Market in Mumbai)
- College campuses (students love eco-products)
- Corporate offices (offer bulk discounts for employee gifts)
- WhatsApp groups (create a simple catalog and send to 50 friends)
- Facebook Marketplace (set up a free page)
- Local eco-stores (offer to consign your bags)
What not to do
- Don’t buy 100 meters of fabric on day one. Start small.
- Don’t try to make 10 designs at once. Test one, then expand.
- Don’t wait for perfect branding. A handwritten logo works better than a fancy logo.
- Don’t overprice. ₹150 is fine. ₹300? No one will buy it.
What’s next after you succeed
Once you’re selling 200 bags a month, you can:
- Start making matching lunch bags
- Add a zippered version for wallets
- Partner with local artists to create limited-edition prints
- Apply for a small business loan under the PM SVANidhi scheme
- Get a GST number and sell on Amazon Handmade
There’s no limit to how far you can take this. But it starts with one bag. One stitch. One customer who says, “I’ll take two.”
Is it legal to sell handmade cloth bags in India?
Yes, absolutely. Selling handmade cloth bags doesn’t require any special license in India. You don’t need FSSAI, BIS, or any manufacturing certification. As long as you’re not using banned materials (like certain synthetic dyes), you’re fine. If you earn under ₹20 lakh/year, you don’t even need GST registration. Just keep simple records of sales and expenses.
How much money do I need to start making cloth bags?
You can start with under ₹10,000. That covers a basic sewing machine (₹7,000-₹9,000), 10 meters of fabric (₹600), handles (₹200), and printing supplies (₹1,000). You can even start with ₹5,000 if you borrow a machine or use a friend’s. The first 20 bags cost less than ₹1,500 to make. Sell them for ₹2,000-₹3,000. You’re already ahead.
Can I sell cloth bags online?
Yes, and it’s easier than you think. Use WhatsApp to show photos and take orders. Set up a free Facebook page. List on Amazon Handmade (they take 15% fee, but no listing cost). You don’t need a website. Just post clear photos, explain the material, and mention delivery time. Many sellers in Jaipur and Indore make ₹50,000-₹1,00,000/month online with just 3 designs.
What’s the profit margin on cloth bags?
Typically 400%-600%. If a bag costs ₹60 to make (fabric, handles, printing), sell it for ₹120-₹150. That’s ₹60-₹90 profit per bag. Sell 50 a week? That’s ₹3,000-₹4,500 profit. After 3 months, you can afford to hire help or buy better equipment. The margin stays high because materials are cheap and demand is steady.
Are cloth bags really in demand?
More than ever. In 2025, 12 Indian cities banned single-use plastic bags. Many more are planning it. Grocery chains like Big Bazaar and Reliance Fresh now charge ₹5 for plastic bags-and push cloth bags as free alternatives. People are actively looking for replacements. In Mumbai alone, over 2 million plastic bags are used daily. Replace even 5% of that, and you’ve got a market of 100,000 potential buyers.
What to do next
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. The perfect moment is now. Walk to your nearest fabric market. Buy 2 meters of cotton. Use your phone to find a free sewing tutorial on YouTube. Spend an hour making one bag. Then sell it to a friend. If they say yes, you’ve got a business. If they say no, tweak it. Try again. That’s how every real business starts-not with a plan, but with a product someone actually wants to hold.
