Saree Fall and Pico Work Business
साड़ी फॉल और पीको व्यवसाय · साडी फॉल आणि पिको व्यवसाय
Stitch falls and do pico edging on new sarees for neighbours, saree shops and tailors from home with a sewing machine and a pico machine.
Money to start
₹50,000
Earnings a month*
₹12,000
- Space
- 60 sq ft
- Staff
- Just you
*What is left for you in year 2, at the assumed sales level. Change the assumptions in the calculator below.
Every new saree needs a fall, a strip of cloth stitched inside the lower border so it drapes well and lasts, and pico, a fine machine edging that stops the ends from fraying. A fall and pico worker does this for individual customers and, in larger numbers, for saree shops and tailors who pass the work on. It needs a sewing machine, a pico machine and a table, and can be done at home in spare hours. It suits someone with basic stitching skill and neat hand hemming. Each saree earns a small fixed charge, so income depends on a steady supply of sarees, which a tie-up with one or two shops provides. The hard parts are festival rush with tight deadlines, low rates, and responsibility for costly sarees.
Skills needed: Straight machine stitching, neat hand hemming for heavy borders and matching fall colours. Learnt in days from a tailor or a short course.
Profit calculator
Change the numbers to match your town7 saree/day: Saree with fall and pico done
Money needed to start
₹54,060
Of which tools and equipment
₹45,000
A typical month in year 2
| Sales | ₹19,305 |
| Raw material & packing | −₹5,265 |
| Electricity | −₹369 |
| Salaries | ₹0 |
| Rent | ₹0 |
| Other running costs | −₹1,575 |
| Operating profit | ₹12,096 |
| You keep each month | ₹12,096 |
No loan is assumed. Your own time is not counted as a cost: what is left is your pay for the work.
Investment breakdown
| Machinery & equipment | Price |
|---|---|
| Sewing machine (industrial lockstitch or sturdy domestic) | ₹21,000₹15,500–₹36,000 |
| Pico machinePrice is an estimate; get a dealer quotation | ₹15,000 |
| Iron, cutting table, scissors and measuring tape | ₹5,000 |
| Starter stock of fall cloth and threads in common colours | ₹4,000 |
| Machinery & equipment (without add-ons) | ₹45,000 |
| Signboard, visiting cards and a notice at nearby saree shops | ₹2,000 |
| Working capital 20 days of raw material, 5 days of credit to buyers, 1 month of expenses | ₹7,060 |
| Total project cost | ₹54,060 |
Typical market prices as of October 2026, from supplier listings. Prices vary by brand, capacity and city; always get 2–3 quotes.
Cost and margin per unit
| Saree with fall and pico done (per saree) | ₹ |
|---|---|
| Fall cloth | 25.00 |
| Matching thread | 5.00 |
| Material cost | 30.00 |
| Selling price | 110.00 |
| Margin before running costs | 80.00 (73%) |
A 2026 retailer guide puts machine fall and pico on a plain saree at ₹100–150, and ₹300–400 where a heavy border needs hand hemming; one boutique charges ₹120 as an add-on. Shops that send bulk work pay less per saree. Fall cloth cost is an estimate.
Space, power and staff
60 sq ft
At home · rent ≈ ₹0/month
A clean table and machine corner at home, with a cupboard to keep customers' sarees safe.
1 kW, single-phase
Bill ≈ ₹600/month at full capacity
You alone
Licences and registrations
Udyam registration
recommendedWhen: If you want a small loan or to work for shops on bills · Cost: Free
Not required to start. Apply only on udyamregistration.gov.in.
GST registration
if applicableWhen: Only if yearly income crosses the registration limit for services · Cost: Free
A home worker is very unlikely to reach it.
How it works
- Receive the saree; note the customer's name, any existing flaws and the delivery date.
- Wash and iron the fall cloth so it does not shrink later; match the colour.
- Do pico on both ends of the saree.
- Stitch the fall along the inner lower border; hand-hem heavy or delicate borders.
- Iron, fold and return; collect the charge.
Money to start
This is a small, skill-based business. Most people start it with about ₹54,060 of their own savings, so the numbers on this page assume no loan and there is no bank project report for it.
If you do need to borrow, a Mudra Shishu loan covers up to ₹50,000. How Mudra works
Who buys and how to sell
Buyers
- Women in the neighbourhood buying new sarees
- Saree shops and showrooms (bulk work)
- Tailors and boutiques that outsource finishing
- Wedding families with many sarees at once
Ways to sell
- Tie-ups with saree shops that offer fall and pico to buyers
- Word of mouth in housing societies
- Tailors who pass on the work
- A small board outside your home
Season: Rush before Diwali, Navratri, weddings and other festivals when sarees are bought; quiet in the monsoon.
Competition: Tailors and other home workers. Neat stitching, exact colour match and quick return keep shops sending work.
Risks and how to handle them
Damage to a customer's costly saree
Check and note flaws on receipt, test the needle and thread on a corner, and hand-hem delicate fabrics.
Low rates from shops
Mix shop work with direct customers who pay the full rate, and charge more for heavy borders.
Festival rush and missed delivery dates
Give realistic dates, and train a family member or neighbour to help in peak weeks.
Colour of the fall bleeds onto the saree
Buy colour-fast fall cloth and pre-wash dark colours.
Tips from the trade
- One saree shop sending ten sarees a day is worth more than waiting for walk-in customers.
- Blouse stitching and saree tassels (kuchu) are natural add-ons with better rates.
- Keep fall cloth in the twenty most common colours so work is not held up.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between fall and pico?+
The fall is a strip of cloth stitched inside the lower border of a saree to give weight and protect it from wear. Pico is a narrow machine-stitched edge on the two ends of the saree that stops the fabric from fraying.
Can I start with only a sewing machine?+
Yes. Falls can be stitched on an ordinary machine and pico can be outsourced at first. Buying a pico machine makes sense once you have regular work.
How much investment is needed to start a saree fall and pico work business?+
About ₹54,060 for a small unit: ₹45,000 for machinery and equipment, ₹2,000 for set-up costs and ₹7,060 as working capital (stock, credit to buyers and one month of expenses). Prices as of October 2026.
How much profit can a saree fall and pico work business make per month?+
Working at 45% of what one person can handle, sales are about ₹19,305 a month and about ₹12,096 is left after materials and running costs. That is the pay for your own time. These are estimates; your prices and the number of customers decide the real figure.
Which machines are needed for saree fall and pico work?+
Sewing machine (industrial lockstitch or sturdy domestic) (₹15,500–₹36,000); Pico machine (about ₹15,000).
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Sources
- MySilkLove: saree fall and pico, what they cost (2026)
- Amrapali Boutique: fall and pico add-on charge
- IndiaMART: Utkal Stitch Tech (sewing machine prices)
- Udyam Registration
Prices as of October 2026. Prices here come from online listings and published guides and have not yet been confirmed with local suppliers. Profit figures are estimates from the assumptions above, not a promise of income.
Spotted an outdated price? Tell us. Data for this page: HowIndiaEarns.