Startup cost calculator

See how much cash it really takes to launch.

One-time costs

Everything you pay once to get to opening day.

Monthly costs

The bills that arrive every month, customers or not.

More options

Your launch number appears right here as you fill in costs — or press the button to try example numbers.

Good to know

What goes into your launch number

Start with one-time costs, the things you pay once to reach opening day: equipment, licenses, inventory, branding, deposits. Then add monthly costs like rent, salaries, and software, multiplied by your months of runway before revenue covers them. Finally, add a contingency buffer, 15% by default, for costs you didn't plan for.

The math behind your launch number

The calculator stacks three layers. One-time costs are simply added up. Working capital is your monthly costs multiplied by your months of runway, the reserve that keeps you afloat while revenue builds. Contingency is a percentage applied to both, since delays make both setup and running costs run over.

A worked example: mobile coffee cart

Say you're launching a mobile coffee cart. One-time costs, cart, equipment, licenses, inventory, branding, deposits, add up to $12,200. Monthly costs come to $1,500 for kitchen rent, marketing, software, and insurance. With 12 months of runway, working capital alone is $18,000, and a 15% contingency brings the total to $34,730.

What to do with your number

First, compare it to the cash you can actually raise: savings, a partner, a loan, or friends and family, since that gap is your real planning problem. If there's a gap, work the line items: lease instead of buy, launch from home, start with less inventory. Then revisit the number monthly once you're actually spending.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to start a business?

There's no single number: a home-based business may need a few thousand dollars, while one with a lease and equipment needs tens of thousands.

What's the difference between one-time and monthly costs?

One-time costs get you to opening day (equipment, licenses, inventory). Monthly costs repeat (rent, salaries, software) and scale with your runway.

Why include working capital if I'll have revenue?

Most businesses take months to reach steady revenue. Working capital covers your bills during that ramp-up so you don't run out of cash first.

What contingency percentage should I use?

10–25% is typical; the calculator defaults to 15%. Use the higher end for construction, permits, or imports, where surprise costs are common.

How many months of runway should I cover?

Six months is a bare minimum; 12 is the safer default. Slow-ramp businesses like restaurants or B2B often need 18.

Is anything I type saved or sent anywhere?

No. It runs entirely in your browser: nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere. Refresh and it resets.

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