About Startup Cost Guide

The Problem

Google “how much does it cost to start a restaurant.” You'll get the same answer everywhere: “$175,000 to $750,000 depending on your concept and location.” Technically true. Completely useless.

That's because most startup cost content is copied. Article A cites Article B cites Article C. Somewhere back there, someone made a number up. The whole internet is quoting a guess.

We built this site because we got tired of it.

What We Do

Every guide on this site is researched from scratch. SBA data. Industry reports. Vendor pricing. Real conversations with people who've actually opened these businesses.

100 business types. Line-item cost tables. Hidden costs that catch first-time owners off guard. Realistic profitability timelines. Strategies to spend less without cutting corners.

No courses. No “starting a business is easy!” cheerleading. Just the financial reality so you can decide whether and how to start.

Three Things We Do Differently

Specific numbers. “Costs vary depending on location” tells you nothing. Our guides give dollar ranges for every line item. You can add them up.

Hidden costs included. The commissary kitchen requirement for food trucks. The workers' comp rate shock for landscaping companies. The seasonal revenue gap that closes fitness studios. The expenses that show up after you've committed are the ones that sink businesses. We cover them.

Original research. We don't recycle other sites' ranges. Every number traces back to a source. Read our methodology for the full process.

Staying Current

Startup costs change. Equipment prices shift. Insurance rates adjust. Licensing requirements evolve. High-traffic guides are reviewed quarterly. Everything else, at least annually.

Contact

Question about a cost guide? Spot something outdated? Started a business we don't cover yet?

hello@startupcostguide.com