Most of our students at Diya are homemakers. You have skills the world does not see yet. Here is how I have helped over 200 women transition from homemaker to small business owner in 24 years of teaching.
Phase 1: Skill (months 1-3)
Do not skip this. Try to start a business without a real skill and you will burn money. Pick one of our courses:
- Tailoring (1 month) for quick income
- Hand embroidery (2 months) for premium add-on services
- Fashion design (3-6 months) for full creative direction
Treat the course like a job. Show up, practice between classes, ask questions.
Phase 2: Practice (months 3-6)
After your course:
- Make 10 pieces for yourself and family
- Take on small orders for friends at cost — not free, charge for materials
- Photograph everything on a phone with good lighting
- Build a small portfolio you can show people
This is where you learn business by doing.
Phase 3: First customers (months 6-9)
- WhatsApp 50 women you know — neighbours, your children’s schools, your old colleagues
- Charge fair prices, not low prices. Low prices attract bad customers.
- Deliver early. Reply fast. Wrap nicely.
Aim for 5 paying customers in month one of charging.
Phase 4: Reputation (months 9-12)
Now word-of-mouth begins. Each happy customer brings 2-3 referrals.
- Open Instagram, post once a week with photos of your work
- Get listed on Google Business
- Consider one small print ad in the local paper
By month 12, most of our alumni are earning ₹8,000-20,000 per month. Some go much higher.
What stops most people
Three things:
- Quitting too early — months 4-6 are slow
- Pricing too low — you train customers to expect cheap
- Not asking for help
For the third one, we are here. Diya alumni get free 30-minute business consultations any time. WhatsApp 98860 21137.