The main business at Kodaikanal is Tourism. Bus and van operaters take tourists for local sight seeing and distant spots such as Berijam lake, shanbaganur museum, and other distant beautiful lush green surroundings.

The other business related to tourism is Catering Industry. Hotels thrive well always and more so during season. Lodges also run lucrative business providing rooms to tourists. There are rooms with all facilities for the affluent and normal rooms for the common people. Nowadays resorts are coming up providing ownership cottages for a specified time.

Real estate is also a good business at Kodaikanal because of ever increasing tourists and need for thier stay and food.

In Agriculture , cultivating vegetables, fruits like peaches, plums pears and growing other hill cash crops and selling them is a profitable business.

Providing recreational facilities, entertainment like cultural shows, dramas etc., is a good business especially during season.Since the floating population at Kodaikanal is increasing day by day, several new hospitals and nursing homes are coming up which is essential for the welfare of locals as well as tourists.