Calculate total startup costs for your small business. See one-time and monthly expenses with runway calculator. Free startup cost estimator. No signup.
Most new businesses fail not because of a bad idea — but because they run out of money before reaching profitability. Accurately calculating startup costs and runway is the difference between surviving and failing. Our calculator covers every cost category with industry benchmarks so you know exactly how much capital you need before day one.
One-time startup costs: Business registration and legal: $500-$2,000. Website and branding: $1,000-$10,000. Equipment and tools: varies by industry. Initial inventory: varies by product business. Security deposits on office: 2-3 months rent. Monthly recurring costs: Rent, utilities, software subscriptions, insurance, payroll if any staff. Runway calculation: total monthly burn rate times 6-12 months plus one-time costs = minimum startup capital needed.
Minimum viable runway by business type: Freelance or service business: 3-6 months of expenses while building client base. E-commerce product business: 6-9 months runway plus inventory investment. SaaS or tech startup: 12-18 months minimum — product development takes longer than expected. Brick and mortar business: 6-12 months runway to reach break-even. Add 30% to every estimate — costs always run higher and revenue takes longer than planned.
Varies dramatically by type: Service business (freelancing, consulting): $500-$5,000 minimum. Online retail or Etsy: $1,000-$5,000. Restaurant or food business: $50,000-$300,000+. Retail store: $50,000-$150,000. Franchise: $50,000-$500,000+. SaaS startup: $50,000-$500,000 before meaningful revenue. Our calculator shows your specific estimate based on your business type.
IRS allows deduction of up to $5,000 in startup costs in the first year of business. Remaining startup costs amortized over 180 months. Deductible startup costs include: market research, legal and accounting fees, business plan development, advertising before opening, employee training. NOT deductible as startup costs: capital equipment (deductible through depreciation), acquiring an existing business, real estate purchase.
Personal savings advantages: no debt obligation, no interest costs, no lender approval needed. Business loan advantages: preserves personal savings cushion, builds business credit, SBA loans at favorable rates. Recommended approach: use personal savings for first 6-12 months to prove concept, then seek business loan for growth capital once revenue validates the model.
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The Small Business Startup Cost Calculator — How Much Do You Really Need? uses the same formulas, rates, and reference data that financial planners, professionals, and government sources publish. Results are estimates intended for planning and education — for situations involving large sums or legal consequences, confirm with a qualified professional before acting.
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