How accurate are the cost ranges in this calculator?

The ranges are based on publicly available industry benchmarks and represent typical U.S. market figures. Actual costs vary significantly by location, scale, and specific business decisions. Use the calculator as a starting point and refine with local quotes.

What is the difference between one-time and monthly costs?

One-time costs are expenses you pay once during setup, such as equipment purchases, licenses, or initial inventory. Monthly costs recur every month, like rent, staff salaries, or software subscriptions. The calculator separates them so you can plan both your initial investment and ongoing cash flow.

How is the 6-month runway calculated?

The 6-month runway equals your total one-time costs plus six months of recurring monthly costs. It represents the minimum capital you should have available to sustain your business for half a year before needing revenue or additional funding.

Can I use the report in a business plan or pitch deck?

Yes. Click "Copy Report to Clipboard" to get a plain-text breakdown you can paste into any document. It includes every cost category, whether it is one-time or monthly, and all summary totals.

Business Startup Cost Calculator

Estimate startup costs for your industry. Select from SaaS, restaurant, e-commerce, agency, consulting, or healthcare, then adjust each cost category to get a realistic first-year budget and 6-month runway.

Industry & Cost Setup

Industry

Development$60,000

Hosting / Infrastructure /mo$300

Marketing$6,000

Legal$3,500

Tools / Software /mo$600

Team Salaries (first 6 mo)$25,000

First Year Total

$105.3K

One-Time Costs

$94.5K

Monthly Costs

$900

6-Month Runway Needed

$99.9K

Cost Breakdown

Development:$60.0K (63%)
Hosting / Infrastructure /mo:$300 (0%)
Marketing:$6,000 (6%)
Legal:$3,500 (4%)
Tools / Software /mo:$600 (1%)
Team Salaries (first 6 mo):$25.0K (26%)