Snabbit has launched instant salon-at-home services in Bengaluru after successfully completing a six-week pilot program in Sarjapur with over 2,000 beauty service jobs. The platform is currently operating with 25 active beauty professionals and averaging nearly 50 jobs per day, maintaining an average fulfilment time of under 15 minutes. According to NDTV Profit, Snabbit recorded monthly orders of 1.51 million in June, up from 1.3 million in May, reflecting a 16% month-on-month increase. The beauty services vertical is operated entirely by women beauty professionals with 3-14 years of experience, positioning the offering as a "salon by women, for women" with entry-level pricing starting at ₹49. The company plans to expand the beauty services category across more Bengaluru micromarkets before entering other cities.
The instant househelp sector is experiencing significant cash burn escalation as companies intensify customer acquisition efforts. Cash burn across the fast-growing instant househelp sector rose 14% month-on-month to $16-17 million in June, compared to $14-15 million in May, according to industry executives. Higher spending helped revive demand after a softer May, with total orders across the three platforms rising 20% month-on-month to 3.97 million in June. This increased investment comes as platforms compete aggressively for market share in the rapidly scaling home services category.
Despite increased order volumes, platforms are experiencing significant declines in average order values across all three major players. InstaHelp's AOV fell to ₹110-115 in June from ₹140-150 in May, while Snabbit's dropped to ₹90-95 from ₹120-130, and Pronto's slipped to ₹65-70 from ₹100-110, as reported by industry executives. This trend reflects the platforms' strategy to increase order volumes through aggressive pricing and discounts to capture market share, though it impacts overall revenue per transaction.
Urban Company's InstaHelp holds the largest market share in the segment at around 44-45%, according to industry insiders as reported by NDTV Profit. In terms of valuations, Urban Company is valued at around ₹20,500 crore, while Motilal Oswal estimates the value of its Insta Help business at nearly ₹1,400 crore. Snabbit is estimated to be valued at about ₹3,800 crore, while Pronto's valuation stands at around ₹1,900 crore, according to industry analysts. The platforms' valuations reflect their respective market positions and growth trajectories in the rapidly scaling home services category.
Investors are growing increasingly uneasy about the sector's sustainability as rising cash burn, combined with the sector's limited addressable market, raises questions about scalability. The category is most viable in dense urban markets, where high order volumes support efficient fulfilment and worker utilisation, according to investors. Expanding into lower-density neighbourhoods is far more difficult, with each platform focusing on sustainable growth strategies while seeking to improve unit economics amid intensifying competition. The real test for Snabbit will be consistency in delivering instant beauty services, as the customer experience depends heavily on skill, hygiene, punctuality and comfort inside the home.
