"How much does it cost to start a business?" is like asking "how much does a car cost?", it depends entirely on what kind of business you're starting.
A freelance consulting business can be started for literally $0. A restaurant requires $150,000–$500,000. The range is enormous, which is why this question is so often answered badly.
Here's a realistic breakdown by business type, with actual numbers.
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Service Business / Freelancing
Realistic startup cost: $0–$500
Service businesses have the lowest barrier to entry of any business type. You're selling your skills and time, you don't need inventory, equipment, or a storefront.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| LLC formation | $50–$200 |
| Website (Squarespace or similar) | $16–$23/mo |
| Contract templates (Bonsai) | $17–$32/mo |
| Business cards | $20–$50 |
| Business bank account | Free |
| Total to start | ~$100–$500 |
You can also skip the website and LLC at first, your first clients won't care.
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E-commerce (Physical Products)
Realistic startup cost: $500–$5,000
The range depends heavily on your product and sourcing approach.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| LLC + EIN | $50–$200 |
| Shopify (first month) | $29 |
| Domain | $15/year |
| Initial inventory | $200–$2,000 |
| Product photography | $0–$500 |
| Packaging | $50–$300 |
| First ad spend | $100–$500 |
| Total to start | $500–$3,500 |
Print-on-demand (Printful, Printify) dramatically lowers this, no inventory upfront.
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Dropshipping
Realistic startup cost: $100–$500
Low startup cost, but also low margins and high competition.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| LLC + EIN | $50–$200 |
| Shopify | $29/mo |
| Domain | $15/year |
| First ad spend | $100–$300 |
| Total to start | $200–$550 |
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Food and Beverage (Home-Based)
Realistic startup cost: $500–$3,000
Cottage food laws in most states allow you to sell certain homemade foods from your kitchen. More serious production requires a commercial kitchen.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| LLC + permits | $100–$500 |
| Equipment upgrades | $100–$1,000 |
| Packaging and labels | $100–$500 |
| Health permits | $50–$400 |
| Website or marketplace setup | $0–$200 |
| Total to start | $500–$2,500 |
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Restaurant or Food Truck
Realistic startup cost: $30,000–$500,000
Brick-and-mortar food businesses are capital-intensive. This is one of the few business types where you genuinely need significant upfront investment.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Lease deposit + buildout | $20,000–$200,000 |
| Equipment | $10,000–$100,000 |
| Permits and licenses | $1,000–$15,000 |
| Initial inventory | $5,000–$20,000 |
| Staff (first month payroll) | $5,000–$30,000 |
| Marketing and signage | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Total to start | $30,000–$500,000+ |
Food truck: $20,000–$100,000 (the truck itself is the biggest variable).
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Digital Products / Creator Business
Realistic startup cost: $0–$500
Selling courses, templates, ebooks, or memberships requires almost no capital.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| LLC | $50–$200 |
| Course platform (Teachable, Gumroad) | Free–$39/mo |
| Email marketing (ConvertKit) | Free–$25/mo |
| Domain + simple website | $15–$50 |
| Total to start | $0–$300 |
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What About Ongoing Monthly Costs?
Startup costs are one thing, operating costs are another. Plan for:
- Software subscriptions: $100–$500/mo
- Marketing/ads: $0–$2,000+/mo
- Accounting software: $15–$70/mo
- Miscellaneous: $50–$200/mo
Rule of thumb: Have 3–6 months of operating costs in reserve before you launch.
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The One Cost Every Business Forgets
Your time. If you're working on your business instead of your job, you're giving up income. Factor in the opportunity cost of your hours, especially if you're considering leaving a job to start a business.
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