The paper presents research on the development of a line-start synchronous reluctance motor (LSSynRM) and line-start permanent magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM) based on components of a mass-produced three-phase low-power squirrel cage induction motor (IM). The aim of the research was to modify the squirrel cage rotor structure for which the best functional parameters characterizing the steady state of the LSSynRM and LSPMSM were obtained, while meeting the additional requirements for asynchronous start-up. Field-circuit models of the LSSynRM and LSPMSM have been developed in the professional finite element method (FEM) package, MagNet, and applied in the design and optimization calculations of the considered machines. Experimental testing on the designed LSSynRM and LSPMSM prototypes were carried out. The obtained results were compared with the performance of the reference IM. The conclusions resulting from the comparative analysis of these three motors are given and proposals for further work are discussed.