How to Start a Chalk Making Manufacturing Business

Chalk making or chalk production is a profitable small-scale manufacturing business. In addition, one can start this business on a home-based basis. In developing countries still, chalk is an essential item for writing on blackboards in schools.

Apart from schools, education, and training institutes, chalks are used by tailors, furniture makers, construction workers, and many industries. Chalks are actually round-shaped sticks. And it comes either in white or in colors.

In developing countries like India, the number of school-going children is increasing year after year. The number of students enrolled in primary levels is increasing with the spread of literacy and Govt. regulation for making primary education compulsory.

So it is predictable that the demand for white chalk and color chalk will be in an increasing mode for the coming years. Any entrepreneur can initiate chalk making business with a small startup capital investment.

Steps to Follow to Start a Chalk Manufacturing Business

1. Register your Chalk Making Business

In starting chalk making business first determine your company’s ownership pattern and register with ROC accordingly. Apply for Trade License and Pan Card. You will need to open a Current Bank Account. You may register your business as SSI Unit.

The BIS specification for chalk crayons is IS: 2694-1963 molded white school chalks and IS 4222-14967 molded colored chalks. It is advisable to obtain a NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Pollution Control Board.

2. Cost of Starting Chalk Manufacturing Business

The investment amount for starting a chalk making business usually depends on several aspects. These are location, desired production output, and business size. However, you can expand or scale up the business at any stage of the operation.

Generally, starting the business from the home location reduces the preliminarily fixed cost. In addition, you can also start the business from the rental space.

Generally, fixed costs include machinery. On the other hand, working capital includes raw materials, staffing, marketing, and administration expenses.

One can start a small-scale chalk-making business with an investment of around Rs. 2 Lacs with a semi-automatic manufacturing machine.

3. Chalk Making Raw Material

In chalk making the major raw material is Plaster of Paris, the scientific name is calcium carbonate. Other than this you will need to have China clay, white cement, lubricant, and different colours.

If you want to produce colorful chalks, then you will need to procure different colours. Generally, chalks come with cardboard packaging. Therefore, you have to procure the packaging consumables.

4. Buy Chalk-Making Machines

There are several manuals and automatic chalk making machines available globally. According to the desired product quality and output, you will need to select the right machinery. For manual operation there are two types of machines you will find. One is aluminum and another one is gunmetal.

You can also establish fully automatic chalk making operation. Automatic chalk making setup includes supplying water automatically, mixing material by electric mixer, filling and taking off mold all the work is in around the assembly line.

You will get 120,000 to 150,000 pieces per day production output out of these machines.

You will also need some equipment such as Scrapers, Paintbrushes, Dryer, Hand gloves, etc.

5. Chalk Making Manufacturing Process

The basic steps to follow while creating chalks:

Cleaning of moulds by applying lubricant consisting of Kerosene and Groundnut oil in ratio 4:1 → Setting moulds in wooden frames → Mixing of plaster of Paris and china clay in an enamel bowl along with other additives like whitening agents/colouring agents → Adding water in required quantity slowly till a homogenous mixture is formed → Pouring the mixture into moulds → Allowing for settling → Removing excess materials from moulds → Slowly removing chalk sticks from moulds → Placing in wooden trays for initial drying and then under sunlight. Testing for strength and smoothness in writing and packing in wooden boxes.