Business Startup Costs by Industry 2026: 20 Businesses

How much does it cost to start a business in your industry?

There isn’t one useful national average.

A freelance consultant may be able to launch for a few thousand dollars. A landscaping company may need tens of thousands for vehicles and equipment. A restaurant can require substantially more capital before serving its first customer.

The more useful question is:

What does a realistic startup budget look like for the type of business you want to build?

StartupWerx modeled startup capital requirements for 20 common business types using the same five-part framework for each business:

Formation & Compliance + Launch Assets + Equipment & Inventory + Customer Acquisition + Operating Reserve = Estimated Initial Capital Requirement

We also compared each business across five characteristics that can drive startup capital:

Capital intensity
Primary cost driver
Equipment or inventory dependence
Physical-location dependence
Early hiring pressure

The result is a consistent way to compare businesses with very different startup requirements.

Last reviewed: September 2026

Methodology note: The StartupWerx figures below are modeled planning scenarios, not government-published industry averages or vendor quotes. Actual startup costs vary substantially by location, business scale, equipment choices, licensing requirements, staffing, inventory and other factors. Replace these estimates with actual quotes before making a financial commitment.

Business Startup Costs by Industry at a Glance

Business Type	StartupWerx Planning Range	Modeled Startup Capital
Freelance service	$500–$5,000	$3,000
Solo consulting	$1,000–$10,000	$6,000
Bookkeeping service	$1,000–$10,000	$6,000
Social media agency	$1,000–$12,000	$7,500
AI consulting	$2,000–$15,000	$10,000
Cleaning business	$2,000–$15,000+	$10,000
Photography business	$3,000–$20,000+	$12,500
Ecommerce business	$2,000–$25,000+	$15,000
Handyman business	$5,000–$25,000+	$15,000
Pressure washing	$5,000–$25,000+	$15,000
Mobile detailing	$5,000–$40,000+	$25,000
Landscaping	$10,000–$75,000+	$40,000
Construction contractor	$10,000–$100,000+	$50,000
Small retail store	$25,000–$150,000+	$60,000
Salon / barbershop	$25,000–$150,000+	$65,000
Food truck	$25,000–$150,000+	$75,000
Fitness studio	$25,000–$200,000+	$75,000
Child care center	$25,000–$200,000+	$85,000
Coffee shop	$50,000–$300,000+	$100,000
Small restaurant	$75,000–$500,000+	$125,000

Important: These are StartupWerx planning scenarios, not reported industry averages.

They are designed to help entrepreneurs compare the relative capital intensity of different business models and identify the cost categories that need to be researched before launch.

Startup Cost Comparison by Business Model

Dollar amounts tell only part of the story.

Two businesses with similar launch budgets can have very different financial risks.

One may require expensive equipment but little payroll.

Another may require relatively little equipment but depend on employees and commercial space from the first day.

StartupWerx therefore classifies the 20 modeled businesses by the characteristics most likely to influence startup capital.

Business Type	Capital Intensity	Primary Cost Driver	Equipment / Inventory Dependence	Physical-Location Dependence	Early Hiring Pressure
Freelance service	Low	Operating runway	Low	Low	Low
Solo consulting	Low	Operating runway / marketing	Low	Low	Low
Bookkeeping service	Low	Software / runway	Low	Low	Low
Social media agency	Low	Technology / customer acquisition	Low	Low	Low–Moderate
AI consulting	Low	Technology / customer acquisition	Low	Low	Low–Moderate
Cleaning business	Low–Moderate	Equipment / labor	Moderate	Low	Moderate
Photography business	Moderate	Equipment	High	Low	Low
Ecommerce business	Moderate	Inventory / customer acquisition	High	Low	Low–Moderate
Handyman business	Moderate	Tools / vehicle	High	Low	Low–Moderate
Pressure washing	Moderate	Equipment / vehicle	High	Low	Low–Moderate
Mobile detailing	Moderate	Vehicle / equipment	High	Low	Low–Moderate
Landscaping	Moderate–High	Vehicles / equipment	High	Low	Moderate–High
Construction contractor	High	Equipment / labor / insurance	High	Low–Moderate	High
Small retail store	High	Inventory / location	High	High	Moderate
Salon / barbershop	High	Build-out / location	Moderate	High	Moderate
Food truck	High	Vehicle / equipment	High	Moderate	Moderate
Fitness studio	High	Location / equipment	High	High	Moderate
Child care center	High	Location / staffing / compliance	Moderate	High	High
Coffee shop	High	Location / equipment / labor	High	High	High
Small restaurant	High	Build-out / equipment / labor	High	High	High

These classifications are StartupWerx planning judgments, not government ratings.

Their purpose is to help identify why one business may require more capital than another.

Why Startup Costs Vary So Much by Industry

The U.S. Small Business Administration identifies common startup expenses including:

Office space
Equipment and supplies
Communications
Utilities
Licenses and permits
Insurance
Legal and accounting
Inventory
Employee salaries
Advertising and marketing
Market research
Websites

But businesses don’t require these expenses in equal amounts.

A consultant may need little more than a computer, software, insurance and a way to acquire clients.

A retailer may need a lease, security deposit, fixtures, point-of-sale equipment and opening inventory.

A restaurant may add commercial kitchen equipment, build-out costs, food inventory, permits and employees before generating meaningful revenue.

That is why broad statements such as “the average business costs $X to start” can be less useful than an industry-specific budget.

The StartupWerx Startup Cost Model

StartupWerx uses five categories to compare startup requirements consistently.

1. Formation & Compliance

These are expenses associated with establishing the business and meeting initial regulatory requirements.

They can include:

Entity formation
State filing fees
Business licenses
Permits
Initial insurance
Professional setup
Required registrations

Formation costs vary by state and business.

StartupWerx tracks state-level LLC costs separately in LLC Formation Costs by State.

An Employer Identification Number obtained directly from the IRS is free.

2. Launch Assets

These are the systems and materials required to begin operating.

Examples include:

Website
Branding
Domain
Business email
Software
Computers
Phone systems
Scheduling tools
Point-of-sale systems
Initial professional services

A digital service company may concentrate much of its startup spending here.

3. Equipment & Inventory

This category creates some of the largest differences among industries.

A consultant may already own most of the equipment needed to begin.

A landscaper may need:

Mowers
Trimmers
Blowers
Trailers
Vehicles
Hand tools
Safety equipment

A retailer may need substantial opening inventory.

A restaurant may need commercial cooking, refrigeration, preparation and service equipment.

Equipment-heavy businesses therefore tend to require more startup capital than many knowledge-based service businesses.

4. Customer Acquisition

Opening a business doesn’t automatically create customers.

A startup budget may need to include:

Advertising
Local marketing
Digital marketing
Signs
Promotions
Sales tools
Initial campaigns
Networking
Lead generation

The amount needed depends heavily on the business.

A consultant with an established professional network may spend relatively little.

A consumer business entering a competitive local market may need a much larger launch campaign.

5. Operating Reserve

Operating reserve is the money available to pay expenses while the business develops reliable revenue.

It may need to cover:

Rent
Payroll
Insurance
Software
Utilities
Inventory replenishment
Fuel
Marketing
Debt payments
Owner compensation
Other operating expenses

This is one of the most important startup-cost categories because opening the business and financing the business until it becomes self-supporting are different problems.

StartupWerx 2026 Startup Cost Model by Industry

The following table shows how each modeled capital requirement is constructed.

Business Type	Formation & Compliance	Launch Assets	Equipment / Inventory	Customer Acquisition	Operating Reserve	Modeled Capital
Freelance service	$300	$700	$500	$500	$1,000	$3,000
Solo consulting	$500	$1,500	$1,000	$1,000	$2,000	$6,000
Bookkeeping service	$500	$1,500	$1,000	$1,000	$2,000	$6,000
Social media agency	$500	$2,000	$1,000	$2,000	$2,000	$7,500
AI consulting	$500	$2,500	$2,000	$2,000	$3,000	$10,000
Cleaning business	$750	$1,250	$3,000	$2,000	$3,000	$10,000
Photography business	$500	$1,500	$6,000	$2,000	$2,500	$12,500
Ecommerce business	$500	$1,500	$5,000	$3,000	$5,000	$15,000
Handyman business	$1,000	$1,000	$7,000	$2,000	$4,000	$15,000
Pressure washing	$750	$1,250	$7,000	$2,000	$4,000	$15,000
Mobile detailing	$1,000	$2,000	$15,000	$3,000	$4,000	$25,000
Landscaping	$1,000	$2,000	$25,000	$4,000	$8,000	$40,000
Construction contractor	$2,000	$3,000	$25,000	$5,000	$15,000	$50,000
Small retail store	$2,000	$8,000	$30,000	$5,000	$15,000	$60,000
Salon / barbershop	$2,000	$8,000	$25,000	$5,000	$25,000	$65,000
Food truck	$3,000	$7,000	$40,000	$5,000	$20,000	$75,000
Fitness studio	$2,000	$8,000	$35,000	$8,000	$22,000	$75,000
Child care center	$5,000	$10,000	$25,000	$5,000	$40,000	$85,000
Coffee shop	$3,000	$10,000	$45,000	$7,000	$35,000	$100,000
Small restaurant	$3,000	$12,000	$60,000	$10,000	$40,000	$125,000

How to Read This Table

These figures represent hypothetical launch scenarios.

For example, the $15,000 ecommerce model assumes:

$500 formation and compliance
$1,500 launch assets
$5,000 initial inventory and equipment
$3,000 customer acquisition
$5,000 operating reserve

A founder using print-on-demand might require substantially less inventory capital.

A company importing a large quantity of private-label merchandise might require substantially more.

The same principle applies to every business in the table.

Use the model to identify the categories that matter.

Then replace the estimates with actual costs.

What Drives Startup Costs the Most?

Across the 20 StartupWerx models, five factors explain much of the difference in capital requirements.

Equipment

Businesses such as landscaping, construction, mobile detailing and food trucks may require significant equipment before meaningful revenue begins.

Inventory

Retail and ecommerce businesses can require capital to purchase products before customers buy them.

Commercial Space

Retail stores, salons, fitness studios, child care centers, coffee shops and restaurants may require deposits, build-out and ongoing rent.

Employees

Businesses that require employees from launch need enough capital to fund payroll and associated employer costs before revenue becomes dependable.

Operating Runway

Even businesses with minimal equipment can require meaningful capital if it takes several months to develop a reliable customer base.

This is why startup cost is not simply the price of equipment or the fee required to legally form the business.

Lowest-Cost Businesses to Start

The lowest-capital businesses in the StartupWerx model are generally knowledge-based or service businesses that do not require significant inventory, facilities or specialized equipment.

Business	Modeled Capital	Main Capital Requirement
Freelance service	$3,000	Runway / customer acquisition
Solo consulting	$6,000	Runway / marketing
Bookkeeping service	$6,000	Software / runway
Social media agency	$7,500	Technology / marketing
AI consulting	$10,000	Technology / customer acquisition

These businesses can often be operated from a home office.

Their largest investments may instead be:

Expertise
Technology
Software
Marketing
Sales
Time

Low startup capital does not automatically make them easy businesses.

They still need customers and sufficient revenue to support the owner.

Equipment-Heavy Businesses

Equipment changes startup economics quickly.

Business	Modeled Equipment / Inventory	Modeled Total Capital
Pressure washing	$7,000	$15,000
Handyman	$7,000	$15,000
Mobile detailing	$15,000	$25,000
Landscaping	$25,000	$40,000
Construction contractor	$25,000	$50,000
Food truck	$40,000	$75,000
Coffee shop	$45,000	$100,000
Small restaurant	$60,000	$125,000

Buying used equipment, leasing, renting or beginning with a narrower service offering may reduce initial capital requirements.

But reducing startup cost should not mean operating with inadequate or unsafe equipment.

Inventory-Dependent Businesses

Businesses that sell physical products may need cash tied up in inventory before making their first sale.

Examples include:

Ecommerce
Retail
Food businesses
Specialty products
Certain manufacturing businesses

Inventory creates two financial challenges.

First, the entrepreneur must purchase products before selling them.

Second, inventory that doesn’t sell can trap capital that could otherwise support operations.

A business can therefore appear profitable on paper while still experiencing cash-flow pressure because money is tied up in unsold inventory.

That makes inventory planning especially important for product businesses.

Location-Dependent Businesses

Some business models become substantially more expensive when commercial space is required.

Examples include:

Retail stores
Salons
Fitness studios
Child care centers
Coffee shops
Restaurants

Commercial space can introduce:

Security deposits
Rent
Build-out
Furniture
Fixtures
Signage
Utilities
Property insurance
Local permits
Zoning requirements

Location can also change these expenses dramatically.

A business opening in one city may face very different rent, wage, insurance and licensing costs than the same business in another market.

That means an industry startup-cost estimate should never be separated from the location where the business will actually operate.

Employee-Dependent Businesses Need More Runway

Some businesses can launch with the owner doing nearly all the work.

Others may need employees before opening.

Examples with potentially higher early hiring pressure include:

Construction
Landscaping
Child care
Coffee shops
Restaurants

Hiring creates a recurring financial obligation rather than a one-time startup expense.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private-industry employer compensation averaged $46.89 per employee hour worked in June 2026.

That consisted of:

$32.82 in wages and salaries
$14.07 in benefits

For establishments with 1–49 workers, employer compensation averaged $37.64 per hour, including:

$27.88 in wages and salaries
$9.76 in benefits

These are national BLS averages across covered workers, not estimates of what an individual startup will pay.

Industry also matters.

Industry	Wages & Salaries	Benefits	Total Compensation
Accommodation & food services	$16.18	$3.85	$20.03
Retail trade	$20.71	$6.36	$27.07
Administrative & waste services	$26.07	$8.87	$34.94
Construction	$36.13	$15.84	$51.96
Professional & business services	$41.55	$18.24	$59.80
Finance & insurance	$47.74	$26.18	$73.92
Professional & technical services	$51.88	$24.10	$75.97

The BLS figures provide economic context.

They should not be used as a substitute for researching the actual wages, payroll taxes, insurance and benefits required for a specific position in a specific market.

Location Changes Labor Costs Too

Geography can affect labor costs even before differences in rent and licensing are considered.

BLS reported average private-industry employer compensation in June 2026 of approximately:

U.S. Region	Total Compensation per Hour
South	$41.85
Midwest	$44.03
West	$51.66
Northeast	$54.76

These regional figures cover private-industry workers broadly and are not startup-specific wage recommendations.

They illustrate a larger planning point:

The same business model can require a different operating reserve depending on where it operates.

A labor-intensive business should therefore use local wage estimates rather than a single national assumption.

Why Operating Reserve Matters

Suppose two businesses each require $20,000 to physically launch.

Business A has monthly expenses of $2,000.

Business B has monthly expenses of $15,000.

Their true capital requirements are not remotely similar.

Using a six-month operating reserve:

Business A

$20,000 launch costs + $12,000 operating reserve = $32,000 estimated capital requirement

Business B

$20,000 launch cost + $90,000 operating reserve = $110,000 estimated capital requirement

This is why StartupWerx includes operating reserve directly in its startup-cost model.

One-Time Costs vs. Monthly Costs

The SBA recommends separating startup expenses into one-time expenses and monthly expenses.

One-Time Expenses

Examples may include:

Entity formation
Initial permits
Security deposits
Equipment
Furniture
Website development
Initial inventory
Signs
Build-out

Monthly Expenses

Examples may include:

Payroll
Rent
Utilities
Insurance
Software
Advertising
Inventory replenishment
Loan payments
Owner compensation

The SBA recommends adding one-time and monthly expenses to develop a clearer picture of how much capital the business will need and when it will need it.

Looking only at one-time launch costs can significantly understate the amount of capital required.

Startup Costs Can Also Have Tax Consequences

Some qualifying startup and organizational costs may receive specific federal tax treatment.

IRS Publication 583 explains that a business may generally elect to deduct up to $5,000 of qualifying startup costs and up to $5,000 of qualifying organizational costs.

Each $5,000 amount is reduced when the corresponding qualifying costs exceed $50,000.

Remaining qualifying costs generally must be amortized.

Tax treatment depends on the type of expense and the taxpayer’s circumstances.

Equipment and other longer-lived assets may also be subject to depreciation rules rather than being treated like ordinary current expenses.

Business owners should use current IRS guidance or work with a qualified tax professional when determining the treatment of specific expenses.

How to Estimate Startup Costs for Your Industry

Instead of choosing a national “average,” build the estimate from the business itself.

Step 1: Identify Formation and Compliance Costs

Research:

Entity filing fees
Licenses
Permits
Insurance
Professional requirements
State and local registrations

If you’re forming an LLC, use LLC Formation Costs by State as a starting point.

Step 2: Identify What You Need Before the First Customer

List everything required to deliver the product or service.

That may include:

Equipment
Software
Website
Inventory
Vehicle
Commercial space
Tools
Furniture

Separate must have from nice to have.

Step 3: Identify the Primary Capital Driver

Use the comparison framework earlier in this guide.

Ask:

Is this primarily an equipment business?
Is inventory the biggest requirement?
Do I need commercial space?
Must I hire before opening?
Is customer acquisition likely to consume significant capital?
Is operating runway the primary risk?

Knowing the main capital driver helps focus research on the assumptions that matter most.

Step 4: Estimate Customer Acquisition

Determine how customers will find the business.

Estimate the cost of:

Advertising
Promotions
Sales tools
Local marketing
Digital marketing
Signs
Partnerships

Step 5: Calculate Monthly Operating Expenses

Estimate:

Monthly fixed expenses + expected variable expenses

Include owner compensation when appropriate.

If employees are required, estimate the full employer cost, not just hourly wages.

Step 6: Choose an Operating Reserve

Estimate how many months the business may need before revenue reliably covers expenses.

A larger reserve reduces the risk that the business runs out of cash while still developing customers.

Step 7: Build Multiple Scenarios

Create at least three versions.

Lean launch

The minimum viable version of the business.

Expected launch

The realistic operating plan.

Higher-cost scenario

What happens if equipment, hiring, marketing or launch timing costs more than expected?

Step 8: Replace Estimates With Quotes

Before spending money, obtain actual costs from:

State agencies
Local governments
Insurers
Landlords
Equipment vendors
Suppliers
Contractors
Software providers
Professional advisers

The closer you get to launch, the fewer assumptions should remain in the budget.

A Cheap Business Isn’t Automatically a Good Business

A low-cost business isn’t automatically a better business.

And a high-cost business isn’t automatically a bad business.

Capital requirements tell you how much money may be required to launch and support the company.

They don’t tell you:

Customer demand
Profit margin
Competitive advantage
Owner expertise
Revenue potential
Customer acquisition cost
Lifetime customer value
Long-term profitability

A $5,000 business with no customers can be a worse investment than a $100,000 business with strong unit economics.

Startup cost is one part of the decision.

StartupWerx Capital Intensity Framework

A useful way to compare business ideas is to consider what drives their capital requirements.

Low Capital Intensity

Typical characteristics:

Owner-operated
Home-based
Little inventory
Limited specialized equipment
Low fixed overhead
Limited initial payroll

Examples:

Freelancing
Consulting
Bookkeeping
Digital agencies

The principal financial risk may be operating runway and customer acquisition rather than physical assets.

Moderate Capital Intensity

Typical characteristics:

Specialized tools or equipment
Vehicle requirements
Inventory
More significant marketing
Potential early hiring

Examples:

Cleaning
Ecommerce
Photography
Handyman services
Pressure washing
Mobile detailing

These businesses may be able to start small, but the cost rises as equipment, inventory or capacity expands.

Higher Capital Intensity

Typical characteristics:

Commercial space
Significant equipment
Employees
Inventory
Build-out
Larger operating reserve
Greater fixed overhead

Examples:

Retail
Food trucks
Salons
Fitness studios
Child care centers
Coffee shops
Restaurants

The challenge is not simply paying to open.

It is having enough capital to open and continue operating while revenue develops.

Comparing Two Business Ideas? Look Beyond the Startup Number

Suppose one business requires $15,000 and another requires $40,000.

It may seem obvious that the $15,000 business carries less financial risk.

But consider the underlying structure.

The $15,000 business might require:

Fast inventory turnover
Heavy advertising
Continuous product purchasing

The $40,000 business might have:

Durable equipment
Existing customers
Low ongoing overhead

The initial capital requirement alone doesn’t answer which opportunity has stronger economics.

When comparing businesses, consider:

Initial capital
Monthly fixed expenses
Gross margin
Time to first revenue
Time to break even
Customer acquisition cost
Recurring revenue potential
Inventory requirements
Payroll requirements
Cash-flow volatility

Startup cost tells you what it may take to enter the business.

The operating model tells you what it may take to survive.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Business?

Once you’ve estimated what your business will cost, the next step is creating the legal structure and completing the registrations required to operate.

StartupWerx can help you move from planning to formation.

Start your business →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start a small business?

There is no single cost that applies to every small business.

Startup costs depend on the industry, location, equipment, inventory, staffing, licensing, marketing and operating reserve required.

StartupWerx’s modeled scenarios on this page range from approximately $3,000 for a freelance service business to $125,000 for a small restaurant, but these are planning scenarios rather than industry averages.

What businesses cost the least to start?

Knowledge-based and owner-operated service businesses often have lower capital requirements because they may not require commercial space, large inventories or expensive equipment.

Examples can include freelancing, consulting, bookkeeping and digital services.

Which businesses require the most startup capital?

Within the StartupWerx models on this page, businesses requiring commercial space, specialized equipment, inventory and early employees generally have the highest modeled capital requirements.

Examples include child care centers, coffee shops and restaurants.

These are StartupWerx planning scenarios rather than industry averages.

What is the biggest factor affecting startup cost?

It depends on the business.

Common major drivers include:

Equipment
Inventory
Commercial space
Payroll
Customer acquisition
Operating reserve

Identifying the primary capital driver is often more useful than relying on a broad industry average.

How much does it cost to start a consulting business?

StartupWerx models a solo consulting launch at approximately $6,000, with a broader planning range of approximately $1,000–$10,000.

Actual costs depend on technology, insurance, professional services, marketing and the amount of operating reserve required.

How much does it cost to start an ecommerce business?

StartupWerx models an ecommerce launch at approximately $15,000, with a broader planning range of $2,000–$25,000+.

Inventory strategy is one of the biggest variables.

Print-on-demand or similar models may require less inventory capital, while private-label or wholesale inventory models may require considerably more.

How much does it cost to start a cleaning business?

StartupWerx models a cleaning-business launch at approximately $10,000, with a broader planning range of $2,000–$15,000+.

Equipment, transportation, insurance, marketing and whether employees are hired at launch can materially change the total.

How much does it cost to start a landscaping business?

StartupWerx models a landscaping business at approximately $40,000, with a broader planning range of $10,000–$75,000+.

Vehicles and equipment are major variables.

How much does it cost to start a restaurant?

StartupWerx models a small restaurant launch at approximately $125,000, with a broad planning range of $75,000–$500,000+.

Actual costs can be substantially higher depending on location, size, build-out, equipment, staffing and concept.

Is an EIN a startup cost?

An EIN obtained directly from the IRS is free.

Third-party companies may charge to obtain one on behalf of a business, but the IRS itself does not charge for an EIN.

Should operating capital be included in startup costs?

For planning purposes, yes.

A business may have enough money to open but still fail if it cannot cover expenses while revenue develops.

StartupWerx therefore includes operating reserve in its startup-cost model.

Why does location affect startup costs?

Location can affect:

Rent
Wages
Insurance
Utilities
Licensing
Taxes
Build-out
Customer acquisition

Even within the same industry, two businesses operating in different markets can require substantially different startup and operating budgets.

Sources and Methodology

StartupWerx created the industry scenarios and classifications in this guide as planning models.

They are not government-published industry averages.

Primary Sources

StartupWerx Methodology

StartupWerx modeled each business using five cost categories:

Formation & Compliance
Launch Assets
Equipment & Inventory
Customer Acquisition
Operating Reserve

StartupWerx then classified the same businesses using five comparison characteristics:

Capital intensity
Primary cost driver
Equipment or inventory dependence
Physical-location dependence
Early hiring pressure

These classifications are editorial planning tools developed by StartupWerx.

They are not SBA, BLS, IRS or Census classifications.

The dollar models do not represent:

A statistical survey of existing businesses
Government-published startup-cost averages
Vendor quotes
Guaranteed minimum capital requirements
Recommended financing amounts

The planning ranges are deliberately broader than the modeled scenarios because actual costs can vary significantly by:

State
City
Business size
Commercial space
Equipment choices
Inventory
Hiring
Insurance
Licensing
Marketing strategy
Owner compensation
Operating reserve

Users should replace modeled figures with current local quotes and business-specific estimates before making financial decisions.

Government Data Used in This Guide

External government data are used as benchmarks rather than as validation of the StartupWerx modeled startup amounts.

The SBA provides guidance on identifying and organizing startup expenses.

BLS data provide current benchmarks for employer compensation by industry, establishment size and region.

IRS guidance provides information about EINs and federal treatment of certain startup and organizational costs.

The StartupWerx industry models remain separate from those government datasets.

Continue Building Your Business

Startup cost is one part of deciding whether a business opportunity makes sense.

For broader planning, see StartupWerx’s Form, Manage, and Grow a Small Business.

Continue with:

Ready to Start Your Business?

Once you understand what your business may cost, you can begin turning the plan into an operating company.

StartupWerx can help simplify the formation process.

Start your business →

Still Exploring Business Ideas?

If you’re comparing industries or haven’t settled on a business yet, keep exploring before committing capital.

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Use StartupWerx to explore business ideas and identify opportunities that fit your experience, resources and goals.