Podcast
From Canada Student to India Entrepreneur: Manish's E-commerce Success Story
At 19, Manish went to Canada like many from Punjab. But instead of chasing PR, he started an e-commerce business part-time, left his last 2 semesters, and returned to India. Now 24, he shares why entrepreneurship in India beats the Canada dream.
In this story
Real Return Story • Last Updated: November 30, 2025
From Canada Student to India Entrepreneur: Manish's E-commerce Success Story
At 19, Manish followed the Punjab-to-Canada path. But instead of chasing PR, he discovered e-commerce, left his studies, and built a successful business in India. Now 24, he shares why this was the best decision of his life.
Key Takeaways
- Started e-commerce part-time while studying in Canada—making 40-50K/month
- Left last 2 semesters—chose entrepreneurship over Canada PR
- Now 24, running successful business in India with 1-2 hours daily work
- Key insight: "20-30 lakh in India can start multiple businesses vs chasing Canada PR"
- First 6-8 months are hardest—then solutions become clear
Why Punjab Students Go to Canada
Manish's story represents a common trajectory for young people from Punjab—but with an uncommon ending. His experience offers valuable insights for anyone considering the Canada to India return journey.
The Typical Path
- Age when left: 19 (after 12th)
- From: Punjab
- Family abroad: Cousin brothers in Canada and New Zealand
- Reason: "Everyone was going"—no specific motivation
- Family's view: "In India you will not get any good job"
"There was not any specific motivation. I went to Canada just like with the flow because everyone was going."
The Canada Journey
Manish went to Canada for studies, following the well-worn path of Punjab students.
Student Life Reality
- Went on student visa
- Did part-time security job—"normal which we all know as students"
- No special skills initially
- Typical student struggle
Why Not Stay in Canada?
Manish explains the challenges of starting a business in Canada as a student:
- Must complete studies first
- Then get work permit
- Then settle companies and paperwork
- High rent—everything expensive
- Need to save money from job just to survive
"In Canada, if you are starting something of your own, you are a student, you need to complete your study first. It's much more difficult."
Discovering E-commerce
A chance encounter with friends doing e-commerce changed Manish's trajectory.
The Discovery
- Met friends doing e-commerce and dropshipping in international markets
- First exposure to the possibility of online business
- Started learning digital marketing
- Did free projects for companies to learn
- Built Shopify stores for others
✅ The India Experiment
Manish decided to test the Indian market:
- India was an emerging market
- Started with small marketing budget on Facebook ads
- Thought: "If I spend money on marketing, I don't know if it will work"
- Result: Started getting many good sales
- Realized: "In India, if you know little bit about marketing, you can run ads and get good sales"
The Setup
- Had a partner in India (friend) handling operations
- Partner managed: Packaging, inventory, supplier relationships
- Manish handled: Marketing (with time zone challenges)
- Started making 40-50K rupees per month part-time
The Decision to Return
After one year of running the business part-time, Manish made a bold decision.
The Calculation
- Business was working on small scale
- Knew it could grow with full-time focus
- Two options: Complete degree → work permit → PR → job OR return to India
- Chose India because: "I was not going to stay in Canada"
⚠️ The Bold Move
Manish left his last 2 semesters incomplete:
"There's not any specific reason for last two semesters—why will I study? Because I'm not going to stay in Canada. I already started something which is working on small scale. I know if I do something in India full-time, it's going to be good."
Family Reaction
- Family had spent 10-20 lakh (possibly with loans)
- Telling them "I want to come back and do something my own" was not easy
- Parents didn't understand "online things"
- It was a big bet
Building Business in India
Manish shares the practical aspects of setting up and running a business in India.
Ease of Starting
| Aspect | India | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Sole proprietorship—very easy | Complex company setup |
| GST Number | 2-3 weeks maximum | More complex |
| Accounting | CA for 2-3K/month handles everything | Expensive professionals |
| Starting Capital | 2-3 lakh possible | Much higher needed |
Current Situation
- Age now: 24 (almost)
- Time in India: About 3 years
- Business: E-commerce with brother handling operations
- Work hours: 1-2 hours on marketing, rest handled by team
- Lifestyle: "Too much time for myself"
What He Misses from Canada
- Camping: Used to travel 10,000 km on road trips
- Lakes and nature: Banff, Jasper, Lake Superior
- Summer activities: "In summer, my wife and my heart beats like—oh want to do camping"
- Plans to travel back as tourist in future
Challenges Faced
The transition wasn't without difficulties.
Initial Struggles
- First 6-8 months: Everything is new and difficult
- Don't know: How to pay GST, supplier relationships, courier partnerships
- No one to help—parents don't understand the field
- Can't take help from anyone initially
Social Pressure
- Friends and hometown people said: "That person is mad—came to India"
- Everyone from Punjab going to Canada—he came back
- Took about 1 year for people to accept his decision
- Now they see he's doing well
✅ After 6-8 Months
"After 6 to 8 months, things would be easy for you because then you will be making money, then you know that okay this problem has this solution. Most problems you will get solutions for."
Advice for Others
⚠️ Strong Advice for Punjab Students
"If you're from Punjab and planning to go to Canada—if you're going to invest 20 to 30 lakh or 40 lakh just going to Canada to get a PR—I would say try something in India with that money instead."
His reasoning:
- With 20-30 lakh, you can start multiple businesses with small amounts
- 99% chance you'll do something good in India
- You'll learn many new things by applying
- Canada rent has doubled since he was there
- Current situation in Canada is much harder
For Those Planning to Return
- Try something part-time first—test before committing
- Give 100% focus once you decide—not half-hearted
- Learn from people already doing well in your field
- Don't get influenced by videos or others—run your own numbers
- Have patience—first 6-8 months will be hard
The Reality Check
"If you don't have any plan and you invested too much money going to a foreign country, then after that you're saying 'I would come back to India because I don't like the lifestyle'—that would be difficult. If you have money in India, things are different. But it will be very difficult if you're not going to make money in India."
Key Takeaways
Summary of Manish's Journey
- Test before committing—he proved concept part-time first
- India is easier for starting businesses than Canada
- 20-30 lakh in India can build more than chasing Canada PR
- First 6-8 months are hardest—then it gets easier
- Social pressure will come—ignore it and focus
- Learn continuously—absorb knowledge from successful people
Thinking About Entrepreneurship in India?
Connect with others who've built businesses after returning. Get practical advice on starting up in India.
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