What Is Betel Nut?, How to Start Betel Nut Business?, How to Select Place?, Equipment / Things / Staff / Material & Cost, License or Permit Required, Marketing Areas and Ideas, Packaging if Required, Overall Investment, Profit in Betel Nut Business, Risk Factors
What Is Betel Nut?
![]() |
What Is Betel Nut? |
Betel nut, also known as areca nut or supari, is one of the most widely consumed agricultural products in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia. It is mainly chewed directly, with betel leaves (paan), or processed into flavored supari and pan masala. With consistent demand in both domestic and international markets, the betel nut business has become a profitable opportunity. Entrepreneurs can earn a good profit margin in areca nut business by setting up a small or large-scale processing unit, ensuring proper packaging, and selling to local retailers, wholesalers, and areca nut exporters.
How to Start Betel Nut Business?
![]() |
How to Start Betel Nut Business? |
- Conduct
research on areca nut market trends and demand in your region
- Register
your company and obtain necessary licenses like FSSAI and GST
- Procure
raw areca nuts from suppliers or farmers in producing regions
(Karnataka, Assam, Kerala, West Bengal)
- Install
betel nut processing machines for cutting, drying, polishing, and
packaging
- Decide
whether to sell raw supari, dried supari, or flavored supari
- Build
strong distribution channels with wholesalers, paan shops, and online
platforms
How to Select Place?
![]() |
How to Select Place? |
- Choose
locations near betel nut–producing states like Assam, Karnataka,
and Kerala
- Ensure
good road and transport connectivity for raw material supply and finished
goods distribution
- Availability
of water, electricity, and warehouse space for drying and storage
- Proximity
to local betel nut suppliers reduces cost and increases profit
Equipment / Things / Staff / Material & Cost
![]() |
Equipment / Things / Staff / Material & Cost |
- Equipment:
Betel nut cutting machine, drying unit, polishing machine, sealing & supari
packaging machine (₹2–5 lakh depending on scale)
- Things:
Cleaning trays, weighing scales, storage bins, vacuum-sealed packaging
material
- Staff:
5–10 workers for cleaning, drying, and packaging (₹15,000–20,000 per
worker/month)
- Raw
Material: Areca nut price per kg varies ₹120–250 (wholesale
rate depends on region & quality)
- Total
Setup Cost: Small unit ₹5–10 lakh, medium ₹15–25 lakh, large-scale ₹50
lakh+
License or Permit Required
![]() |
License or Permit Required |
- FSSAI License (mandatory for food-related businesses)
- GST
Registration for taxation and invoicing
- Trade License from local municipal authority
- Factory
& Pollution Control License (for large-scale units)
- Export License (IEC code) if planning to enter the betel nut export
business
Marketing Areas and Ideas
![]() |
Marketing Areas and Ideas |
- Supply
to local paan shops, wholesalers, and pan masala manufacturers
- Collaborate
with supari distributors and FMCG brands
- Sell
bulk online through IndiaMART, TradeIndia, Amazon, Flipkart
- Promote
brand with attractive supari packaging and flavor options
- Tap
into international markets like Bangladesh, Nepal, Middle East
& Gulf nations (high betel nut import demand)
Packaging if Required
![]() |
Packaging if Required |
- Small
pouches (5g–50g) for retail supari packaging
- Branded
airtight pouches or tins for flavored supari
- Vacuum-sealed
bulk packs (1kg–5kg) for wholesalers and exporters
- Use attractive
labeling mentioning FSSAI license, ingredients, and shelf life
Overall Investment
![]() |
Overall Investment |
- Small
scale: ₹5–10 lakh
- Medium
scale: ₹15–25 lakh
- Large
scale: ₹50 lakh+ depending on capacity and automation
Profit in Betel Nut Business

Profit in Betel Nut Business

- Profit
margin in supari business: 20–35% depending on product type and
packaging
- Small
unit monthly profit: ₹1–3 lakh
- Large
processing unit + export: much higher profits due to bulk demand
Risk Factors
![]() |
Risk Factors |
- Government
restrictions on flavored supari and pan masala
- Fluctuation
in areca nut price per kg
- Health
awareness campaigns reducing consumption
- Risks
of improper storage (fungus, pests, moisture damage)
- Export policies and bans in certain countries
FAQs
Q1. What is Betel Nut Business?
The betel nut business involves processing, packaging, and selling areca nut (supari) for retail, wholesale, or export. It has high demand in India and abroad.
Q2. How to start a betel nut business in India?
Register your business, obtain FSSAI & GST licenses, buy raw areca nut from suppliers, install betel nut processing machines, and build a strong marketing network.
Q3. What is the investment required for areca nut business?
Small-scale setup requires ₹5–10 lakh, medium-scale ₹15–25 lakh, and large-scale processing can cost ₹50 lakh or more.
Q4. How profitable is the supari business?
The profit margin in supari business is around 20–35%. A small unit can earn ₹1–3 lakh monthly, while large-scale export units earn much higher.
Q5. What equipment is needed for betel nut processing?
Cutting machines, drying units, polishing machines, weighing scales, sealing & supari packaging machines are essential.
Q6. Which licenses are required for betel nut business?
FSSAI license, GST registration, local trade license, factory license, and IEC code for exports are required.
Q7. What is the current betel nut price per kg in India?
The wholesale areca nut price per kg generally ranges between ₹120–250 depending on quality and region.
More Profitable Business:-
0 Comments