🧸 Introduction
The toy business in India is changing fast — once an import-led industry dominated by the unorganized sector, the space is now witnessing rapid strides in terms of innovation, branding and retail expansion. The market trends of India’s toy market which is projected to clock ₹30,000 crore by 2030 are driven by rising disposable incomes, rise of educational toys and the “Make in India” sentiment.
When paired with a large youthful population (over 400 million children), growing spending on the middle class and government efforts to seed more local manufacturing, investing in a toy franchise has never been more appealing.
Toy businesses that allow franchising offer budding businessmen a powerful backing in terms of brand, supply chain, marketing and inventory know-how. So, here we have brought to you the top 10 exciting growth and promising return toy franchise opportunities in India.
Top 10 Toy Brands in India
Hamleys India
Founded: 1760 (UK); entered India in 2010
Franchise Investment: ₹1–2 crore
Outlets: 100+
An iconic British toyshop retailer known for its large store formats and experience-based shopping, Hamleys is owned and operated by Reliance Retail in India. It’s a premium franchisee space good for malls in metro cities.
✅ Why invest? Worldwide brand, huge footfall and luxury toy positioning.
Funskool India
Founded: 1987 (India)
Franchise Investment: ₹25–50 lakhs
Outlets: 50+
Funskool is India’s leading toy manufacturer pioneering in the field of puzzles, board games, war games, speciality games and plat dough products. They have quite the variety of products ranging and also have partnerships with name brands like LEGO and Hasbro.
✅ Why invest? Indian manufacturing, trusted education brand, healthy margins.
Toonz Retail
Founded: 2010
Franchise Investment: ₹20–30 lakhs
Outlets: 100+
Toonz Retail sells toys, kidswear, accessories, and books. It is a one-stop shop for all children’s requirements and expanding very fast in India.
✅ Why invest? Combo model(toys + kidswear), quick ROI family store.
FirstCry
Founded: 2010
Franchise Investment: ₹25–50 lakhs
Outlets: 400+
FirstCry India’s biggest kids and baby store sells clothes, toys, and diapers etc. Recognised for its vast inventory, online-offline hybrid model, and tech integration.
✅ Why invest? Deep brand trust, pan-India presence, tech-enabled operations.
Toyzstation
Founded: 2006
Franchise Investment: ₹15–25 lakhs
Outlets: 40+
Toyzstation has the popular, affordable toy brands including Disney, Marvel and Hot Wheels. Perfect for larger towns with a lot of kids.
✅ Why invest? Solid franchise backing, low-barrier of entry, popular toys.
Babyhug (by FirstCry)
Founded: 2010
Franchise Investment: ₹20–40 lakhs
Outlets: 300+
Babyhug, however, is more clothing and accessories-oriented, but also has a huge collection of toys. It does well in areas that have a high concentration of families with young children.
✅ Why invest? Brand loyalists, DomiNerds, toys + essentials combo.
Lego Brand Stores (via licensees)
Founded: 1932 (Denmark)
Franchise Investment: 50 lakhs-1Cr
Outlets: Miniscule in India (though license)
LEGO is one of most beloved and known toy brand in the world. In India, few stores are opened through licensing arrangements or partnership. Good for downtowns and malls.
✅ Why invest? High end Toy Brand, STEM demand, high demand globally.
Pep Play
Founded: 2018 (India)
Franchise Investment: ₹10–15 lakhs
Outlets: 10+
Pep Play offers Eco friendly, wooden and educations toys. They are catching on with mindful parents and are an affordable, creative approach to play.
✅ Why invest? Eco segment trend, low setup cost, and no competition.
Toymate
Founded: 2002
Franchise Investment: ₹20–30 lakhs
Outlets: 20+
With a focus of import and license toys, Toymate houses several International and Indian brands under one roof. It’s a fresh store and has a contemporary presentation.
✅ Why invest? Perfect for Tier-1 cities, international range of products.
Beebay Kids
Founded: 2010
Franchise Investment: ₹15–25 lakhs
Outlets: 30+
Even though Beebay Kids is predominantly a brand for kidswear, it also offers toys and educational games in its stores. It’s a duel-category business with a reasonable ticket size.
✅ Why invest? Toy + clothing combo, Focus on the young parent market, Rising brand.
Conclusion
The toy industry in India is no child’s play anymore, it’s now a growing serious business with huge potential. Support for local brands are increasing, the middle class is growing and more conscious parenting practices are some factors which mean toy brands have strong future growth – with plenty in store for long term investors.
There are toy franchises for every budget and part of the country, from high-end global names like Hamleys and LEGO to Indian powerhouses like Funskool and FirstCry.
Before you invest, evaluate local market demand, mall/retail space available, and your target audience (urban families, conscious buyers, mid-income shoppers). Select a franchise that aligns with your aims — be it high-volume sales or specialty educational items.
So if you’re looking to start a great business in a lucrative market, a toy chain is a unique franchise opportunity to consider.
