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Published on: Jun 24, 2026

Paper Napkin Manufacturing Business - Startup Plan

Paper napkin is a piece of tissue paper used for cleaning the hand or face which are absorbent, hygienic and small. Paper napkins are used widely in restaurants, parties, beauty parlours, homes and offices. With the culture of fast food rising and impacting our dining habits, the demand for paper napkins has steadily risen. In this article, we look at the process for starting a paper napkin manufacturing business.

Manufacturing Process

To manufacture paper napkin, tissue paper rolls are fed to the flexographic printing machine with modification for cutting the printed tissue paper rolls into sizes that are pre-determined.

Machinery & Equipment

The machinery and equipment cost for setting up a paper napkin manufacturing unit is minimal and costs just around Rs.5 lakhs. A two colour flexographic machine with attachment of paper napkin, edge sealing and cutting machine would be required  for a total investment of about Rs.5 lakhs.

Working Capital

A small paper napkin manufacturing unit with an annual sales turnover of about Rs.1 crore would require a working capital of Rs.10 lakhs towards raw material, salaries, other expenditures and receivables.

Financial Performance

A typical paper napkin manufacturing unit with an investment of about 10 lakhs can generate about Rs.1 crore in annual sales turnover and a profit of about 5-8 lakhs after all expenditures. Typical profit on sales is 5% with break-even point at 45% operating capacity.

Employment

Paper napkin units can generate direct employment for about 5 persons to 6 persons. Three persons would be required for administrative and marketing functions, whereas another three skilled or unskilled labour would be required to manufacture the paper napkins.

Licenses and Registrations

It recommended that a paper napkin manufacturing unit be setup as a private limited company, as the annual sales turnover is nearly 100 lakhs. Further, having a private limited company would make bank finance easier to access with better credibility amongst suppliers and creditors. In addition to the business registration, the unit would also require

VAT registration or GST registration and/or trademark registration. Talk to an IndiaFilings Advisor for more information about business registration and license requirement.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Paper Napkin Manufacturing Business Startup Plan India.

The article mentions that the machinery and equipment cost for setting up a paper napkin manufacturing unit is minimal, around Rs. 5 lakhs. Additionally, a working capital of Rs. 10 lakhs would be required for raw materials, salaries, other expenses, and receivables, bringing the total investment to around Rs. 15 lakhs for a small unit with an annual sales turnover of about Rs. 1 crore.
According to the article, to manufacture paper napkins, tissue paper rolls are fed into a flexographic printing machine with modifications for cutting the printed tissue paper rolls into pre-determined sizes. The process involves printing on the tissue paper rolls and then cutting them into napkin-sized pieces.
The article states that a two-color flexographic machine with attachments for paper napkin edge sealing and cutting would be required for a total investment of about Rs. 5 lakhs. This specialized machinery is designed to print on tissue paper rolls and cut them into napkin sizes.
The article mentions that a typical paper napkin manufacturing unit with an investment of about Rs. 10 lakhs can generate an annual sales turnover of around Rs. 1 crore and a profit of Rs. 5-8 lakhs after all expenses. The typical profit on sales is 5%, with a break-even point at 45% operating capacity.
According to the article, a small paper napkin manufacturing unit can generate direct employment for about 5 to 6 persons. Three persons would be required for administrative and marketing functions, while another three skilled or unskilled laborers would be needed for manufacturing the paper napkins.
The article suggests that it is recommended to set up a paper napkin manufacturing unit as a private limited company, as the annual sales turnover is nearly Rs. 100 lakhs. This type of registration would make it easier to access bank finance and would provide better credibility among suppliers and creditors.
In addition to business registration, the article states that a paper napkin manufacturing unit would require VAT registration or GST registration, and potentially a trademark registration. It is advisable to consult with an expert for specific licensing and registration requirements.
According to the article, setting up a paper napkin manufacturing unit as a private limited company would make it easier to access bank finance and would provide better credibility among suppliers and creditors, as the annual sales turnover is nearly Rs. 100 lakhs.
The article mentions that a small paper napkin manufacturing unit with an investment of about Rs. 10 lakhs can generate an annual sales turnover of around Rs. 1 crore.
Paper napkins are pieces of tissue paper used for cleaning the hands or face, as mentioned in the article. They are absorbent, hygienic, and small, and are widely used in restaurants, parties, beauty parlors, homes, and offices.