Hetauda is also known for its industries. Hetauda Industrial District (HID) is the one of the biggest industrial districts in the nation. Not only it houses some of the biggest industries in the nation, but also shelters the cottage and medium scale industries. However, due to the political events in the past ten years and present, HID is shrinking year after year. Industries have either moved to other countries or just shut down. Few of the most notable manufactures that have either been shut down or moved to a different country include Kodak, Hetauda Cement Factory, Hetauda Kapada Factory and a few others.
Hetauda is mostly a working-class residential town, and therefore a sizable portion of the population here are either employed by the industries or the government. Besides the industrial and governmental employment, individual entrepreneurship is another source of livelihood for the population which mostly tends to favor investment into transportation sector. Trucking is thus a popular business proposition as majority of goods plying to Kathmandu goes through this city. Recently, passenger service plying to Kathmandu using Indian Tata "Sumo" SUV's has taken hold in the city.
