Startup cost calculator
Add up what it really costs to launch your business
One-time costs
State filing + name reservation
$
Local business license, seller's permit
$
Domain, hosting, or a site builder
$
Logo, colors, business cards
$
Startup gear or first inventory batch
$
Contracts template, first insurance payment
$
Monthly costs
Accounting, email, design, scheduling
$
Paid ads, content, promotions
$
Studio, storefront, or coworking (0 if home)
$
General liability, etc.
$
Freelancers or part-time help
$
Your estimate
- One-time to launch
- $1,900
- Monthly running costs
- $350/mo
First-year total$6,100
First year = one-time costs + 12 months of running costs.
Edit any number to match your plan. These are planning estimates, not a quote — your real costs depend on your industry, state, and choices.
Startup costs, answered
- How much does it cost to start a small business?
- It varies widely by type. A home-based service business can launch for a few hundred dollars, while a business with a storefront, inventory, or employees can run tens of thousands. The biggest levers are registration, equipment or inventory, a physical space, and marketing.
- What are typical startup costs to budget for?
- Common one-time costs include business registration and licenses, a website and branding, and initial equipment or inventory. Ongoing monthly costs include software, marketing, insurance, and any rent or contractor help.
- How much should I set aside as a cushion?
- A common rule of thumb is to have three to six months of running costs saved on top of your launch costs, so a slow start doesn't sink the business before it finds its footing.
Turn your budget into a launch plan
Scafflow builds a personalized, ordered checklist so every cost has a step behind it.
Build my free checklist