How I Built a Profitable Pharmacy Business Plan in Bhubaneswar — A Pharmacist’s Guide to Success

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Running a pharmacy isn’t just about selling medicines — it’s about trust, healthcare, and smart business strategy.
As a registered pharmacist with doctor relatives, I realized I already had the foundation for a powerful, community-based business.
Here’s how I planned and structured my journey — step-by-step — to create Himansu Pharmacy, a local brand that will soon become a chain of trusted medical stores in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.


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🩺 Why I Chose the Pharmacy Business

Being in the healthcare ecosystem, I noticed a major opportunity:

Doctors need reliable pharmacists to serve their patients.

Patients need trustworthy places to buy genuine medicines.

Many pharmacies lack personal service, stock management, and digital support.


With my background as a pharmacist and my relatives being doctors, I decided to create a doctor-linked, tech-friendly pharmacy — starting small but scalable.


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🏪 Step 1: Choosing the Right Business Model

There are several pharmacy models in India, but after analysis, I focused on one that fits both low investment and high scalability:

Model Description Profit Potential

Retail Pharmacy Walk-in medical store ₹60K–₹2L/month
Doctor-linked Pharmacy Attached to clinic ₹80K–₹3L/month
Online/WhatsApp Delivery Local orders via mobile ₹1L+/month
Wholesale Supply to small clinics ₹3–₹10L/month


I started with a retail shop, close to a clinic in Bhubaneswar, with plans to add home delivery later.


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🧾 Step 2: Legal Setup and Licensing

Setting up a pharmacy legally in India requires a few essential registrations.
Here’s what I completed for my store in Bhubaneswar:

License Purpose Approx. Cost

Drug License (Form 20, 21) Legal permission to sell drugs ₹3,000
GST Registration For billing & tax filing Free
Trade License From BMC Office ₹2,000
Shop & Establishment Local registration ₹1,000
Signboard License Display permit ₹500


Total setup cost for legal work: ₹6,500 only.

Since I’m already a registered pharmacist, my approval process was quick and hassle-free.


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💰 Step 3: Budget Plan (Low Investment Model ₹2–4 Lakh)

I decided to begin with a compact 150 sq. ft. medical store, focusing on affordability and efficiency.

Expense Details Cost (₹)

Rent 120–150 sq. ft shop near clinic 12,000/month
Interiors & Shelves Racks, counter, glass door 60,000
Computer & Billing Marg ERP / RedBook software 25,000
Refrigerator For insulin, vaccines 18,000
Initial Stock Fast-moving medicines 1.8 lakh
Branding & Board LED signage, lights 25,000
Licensing & Misc. Legal setup 6,500
Total Setup Cost ₹3.4–3.8 Lakh



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💊 Step 4: Medicine Inventory Strategy

To avoid dead stock, I started with high-demand categories only:

Antibiotics: Azithral, Augmentin, Cefixime

Pain/Fever: Dolo 650, Combiflam

Gastric: Omez, Pantocid, Rantac

Chronic: Glycomet, Telma, Thyronorm

Supplements: Becosules, Zincovit, Shelcal

Baby Care: Lactogen, Cerelac, Diapers

First Aid & OTC: Moov, Vicks, Liv 52, Betadine


🏭 Local Distributors (Bhubaneswar)

I contacted:

1. Utkal Distributors – Rasulgarh


2. Sri Ram Pharma – Bapuji Nagar


3. Medilife Distributors – Unit-4


4. Cipla & Alkem Depots – Mancheswar



They offer up to 15% margin + credit after 3 months.


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📈 Step 5: Profit Projection

A realistic earning model for Bhubaneswar’s pharmacy market looks like this:

Particular Monthly (₹)

Sales (₹3.5 L) 3,50,000
Gross Margin (25%) 87,500
Expenses 30,000
Net Profit ₹55,000/month


Within 8–10 months, I can scale to ₹6–7 lakh sales → ₹1–1.2 lakh monthly profit.


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📢 Step 6: Marketing & Growth Strategy

🩺 Doctor Tie-ups

My relatives (doctors) refer their patients directly to my shop.
In return, I offer their patients:

Doorstep delivery

Regular follow-up reminders for refills

Genuine, timely dispensation


📱 Digital Presence

I created:

Google My Business Listing:
“24-Hour Pharmacy in Bhubaneswar | Himansu Pharmacy”

WhatsApp Business Account:
“Send Prescription 📩 Get Delivery 🚚 in 30 mins”


🧾 Customer Loyalty

5% cashback for repeat customers

₹50 discount for referrals

Free BP/sugar checkup camps every Sunday



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🏗️ Step 7: The Branding & Store Design

My shop, Himansu Pharmacy, follows a green-and-white theme representing health, purity, and trust.
A clean glass façade, bright shelves, and a professional logo add credibility and brand recognition.

Tagline: “Trusted Medicine. Honest Care.”

Color Palette:

Green (#007E33) — for trust & health

White (#FFFFFF) — for purity & simplicity


The shop’s 2D layout ensures efficient movement between racks and the counter, maximizing space and display visibility.


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🚀 Step 8: Expansion Roadmap (3-Year Plan)

Phase Duration Focus Target

Phase 1: Launch 0–3 months Build shop & customer base ₹50K profit
Phase 2: Optimize 3–9 months Add delivery service ₹1L profit
Phase 3: Branch 2 Year 1–2 Open 2nd outlet (clinic zone) ₹2L profit
Phase 4: Branding Year 2 Unified software + visual design Franchise ready
Phase 5: Chain Growth Year 3 3–5 shops across Bhubaneswar ₹4–₹5L profit



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💡 Step 9: Additional Profit Boosters

Introduce Generic Medicines line (40–60% margin)

Add Diagnostic Collection Point (Apollo/Thyrocare)

Sell Health Devices (BP machine, glucometer)

Offer Night Emergency Service for extra goodwill

Partner with 1mg / PharmEasy for online orders



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🏁 Conclusion

Building a pharmacy doesn’t demand crores of rupees — it requires a plan, ethics, and consistent service.
Starting with just ₹3–4 lakh, I can grow Himansu Pharmacy into a trusted neighborhood healthcare brand.

It’s not just about medicines — it’s about care, community, and credibility.
And that’s what makes this journey both profitable and meaningful.

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