Startup Cost Calculator
Most startup budgets list equipment and forget the months of rent, software and insurance you pay before sales cover them. This calculator adds three parts: your one-time costs, a contingency for prices that come in higher than quoted, and an operating reserve of monthly fixed costs. Enter the cash you already have to see what is still to fund. The rows that load first are examples; replace them with real quotes for your business.
List your one-time costs
The rows that load first are examples. Rename them, change the amounts, add or remove rows. Calculations stay in your browser.
Buffer and running costs before sales
Use real quotes for each item. The total excludes owner pay unless you add it to monthly fixed costs. It is a planning number from your inputs, not a forecast.
How the calculation works
- One-time costs = sum of every item you list.
- Contingency = one-time costs × contingency % ÷ 100.
- Operating reserve = monthly fixed costs × months of reserve.
- Total startup cash needed = one-time costs + contingency + operating reserve.
- Still to fund = total startup cash needed − cash you already have.
The result is a planning scenario from the numbers you enter. It is not a forecast, a quote or tax advice.
Questions
What counts as a startup cost?
Anything you must pay before you can sell: equipment, tools, first inventory or materials, registration and permits, insurance deposits, a website, signage and launch marketing. Monthly costs you pay before sales cover them belong in the operating reserve.
How much contingency should I add?
It depends on how firm your quotes are. If every item has a written quote, a small buffer may be enough; if many numbers are guesses, use a larger one. The calculator lets you test several percentages.
How many months of reserve do I need?
Enough to pay fixed costs until sales cover them. Estimate how long it takes to reach break-even with the break-even calculator, then hold at least that many months of fixed costs.
Should I include my own pay?
If you need income from the business while it starts, add the amount you need each month to monthly fixed costs. Otherwise the total assumes you live on other income during the reserve period.
Can I put this calculator on my website?
Yes. Copy the embed code on this page. The embedded version keeps a small credit link to BizAI.
Embed this calculator
Add this free calculator to your blog, course or client resources. Paste the code into an HTML block. It is free to use and keeps a small credit link to BizAI.
Use it with a real business idea
Each of our business idea guides loads this kind of calculator with an example budget and price for that business. Other free tools: Small Business Profit CalculatorBreak-Even CalculatorMarkup and Margin CalculatorHourly Rate CalculatorSmall Business Loan Calculator.