Know exactly what it costs to launch in your industry and state — AI-verified data from the SBA, state licensing boards, and industry associations. Built on real, current research.
8 industries covered All 50 states + DC Every number sourced State compliance included
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Startup Cost Comparison by Industry
Side-by-Side: What Each Industry Actually Costs
Median low-end to high-end range; excludes working capital. Data sourced from SBA, state licensing boards, and industry associations.
Direct Answer
Startup costs vary by a factor of 10 between industries: tech/software can launch for $5K–$75K while a restaurant requires $125K–$850K. Healthcare and franchise businesses are the most expensive ($60K–$771K and $50K–$4M+ respectively). The single biggest cost driver across all physical businesses is equipment and build-out — not licensing fees.
Industry
Total Startup Range
Biggest Cost Driver
Biggest Compliance Cost
Key States to Watch
🏗️ Construction & Contracting
$30K – $291K
Equipment & vehicles ($15K–$150K)
Contractor bond + GL insurance ($1K–$5K/yr)
CA, FL, NY (high licensing burden)
🏪 Franchise Business
$50K – $4M+
Build-out + equipment ($40K–$2M)
Franchise disclosure compliance (FDD review)
CA, NY, WA (high real estate cost)
🏥 Medical / Healthcare
$60K – $771K
Equipment ($10K–$400K) + lease build-out
Malpractice insurance ($5K–$50K/yr)
CA, NY, FL (highest malpractice premiums)
⚖️ Law Firm / Legal Practice
$9K – $128K
Technology & office setup ($3K–$25K)
Malpractice insurance ($1.2K–$10K/yr)
NY, CA (bar exam + high overhead)
🏠 Real Estate Brokerage
$8K – $90K+
Office lease + E&O insurance ($3K–$25K)
Broker license exam + experience requirements
NY, CA (2–4yr broker experience req.)
🍽️ Restaurant / Food Service
$125K – $850K
Kitchen build-out ($60K–$400K)
Health permits + food handler certs ($500–$2K)
CA, NY, IL (slow health dept + labor cost)
🛍️ Retail Store
$25K – $250K
Leasehold improvements + inventory ($10K–$120K)
Sales tax permit + local business license (<$500)
CA, NY (highest rent burden)
💻 Tech / Software Startup
$5K – $75K
Team/contractors ($2K–$50K)
State business registration + EIN (<$500)
CA, NY (DE risk + higher payroll taxes)
* Ranges represent low-end (lean/home-based) to high-end (full-service with physical location). Working capital not included. Sources: SBA 2026, state licensing boards, ABA, MGMA, NAR, IFA-FTC. See detailed licensing costs →
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How Much Does It Really Cost to Start a Business in 2026?
Direct Answer
Startup costs range from $5,000–$75,000 for a lean tech business to $125,000–$850,000 for a full-service restaurant. Healthcare and franchise businesses are the most expensive. The biggest cost driver is almost never licensing fees — it's working capital and equipment/build-out. 2026 tariffs are increasing build-out costs for construction, restaurant, and HVAC-related businesses.
The honest answer: it depends entirely on your industry and your state. A solo law practice in Texas looks nothing like opening a restaurant in California — and a healthcare practice in Florida carries a completely different compliance burden than a tech startup in Washington. That's why generic "startup cost" articles are almost useless. The numbers vary by a factor of 10 or more depending on what you're building and where.
This estimator pulls real, verified data from the sources that actually matter: the Small Business Administration for federal registration and loan benchmarks, state licensing boards for jurisdiction-specific requirements, the American Bar Association for law firm cost structures, MGMA data for healthcare practice economics, the National Association of Realtors for brokerage startup costs, and IFA and FTC disclosure data for franchises. When you get a number from this tool, it's sourced.
What the Estimator Covers
Every estimate breaks down into six cost categories: legal formation (LLC filing, registered agent, operating agreements), state licensing (industry-specific permits, professional licenses, bonding), equipment and build-out (physical space, tools, technology), marketing (initial brand, website, local advertising), working capital (the runway you need before revenue covers expenses), and insurance (general liability, professional liability, workers' comp where required). The working capital estimate is often the one that surprises founders most — it's frequently larger than all the upfront costs combined.
Why 2026 Changes the Numbers
Construction-adjacent businesses, restaurants, and any industry with significant equipment or build-out costs are seeing meaningfully higher startup numbers in 2026. Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum — currently at 50% for pure metal articles — are running through to equipment costs, kitchen buildouts, and commercial HVAC. If you're estimating a restaurant or construction business, expect your build-out line to be higher than any 2024 benchmark you find online. The Tariff Impact Calculator can help you model specific material costs if you're planning a physical build.
For businesses with significant legal or compliance overhead — healthcare, law, franchise — the state-specific variation in licensing costs has also increased in 2026, as several states updated their fee schedules and bonding requirements. This tool reflects current state-by-state data, not 2023 or 2024 figures.
Ready to go deeper? The Business Decision Advisor can analyze your specific situation across legal, financial, and compliance dimensions once you have a cost baseline from this estimator.
Frequently Asked Questions
The estimates are sourced from primary industry data (SBA, state licensing boards, ABA, MGMA, NAR, IFA-FTC) and reflect 2026 fee schedules and market rates. They represent realistic ranges — low end for lean, home-based or minimal-overhead launches; high end for full-service, staffed operations with physical locations. Your actual costs will land somewhere in this range depending on location within a state, scale, and build-out choices. Treat the estimate as a planning baseline, not a fixed quote.
The IRS allows you to deduct up to $5,000 in startup costs and $5,000 in organizational costs in your first year (IRC §195), with the remainder amortized over 180 months. Qualifying startup costs include market research, legal and accounting fees, advertising before opening, and employee training. Equipment and assets are generally capitalized and depreciated separately. Consult a CPA to maximize your deductions — the rules vary by entity type and cost category.
The standard recommendation is 6 months of projected operating expenses before you open. For service businesses with fast revenue ramp (consulting, freelance, law firm with existing clients), 3 months may be enough. For restaurants, retail, and healthcare practices — which typically take 6–18 months to reach breakeven — the SBA recommends 12 months of working capital. The estimate from this tool includes working capital as a separate line item based on your industry's typical ramp time.
The estimator reflects SBA-published data for typical startup costs by industry, but it doesn't calculate SBA loan eligibility directly. For SBA 7(a) loans, lenders typically require 10–30% owner equity injection of the total project cost. SBA 504 loans require 10% for established businesses, 15% for new businesses, and 20% for special-use properties. If your estimated startup cost exceeds your available cash, the SBA loan comparison guide covers both options in detail.
California consistently ranks highest for business startup costs due to its high labor costs, real estate prices, LLC/franchise tax ($800 minimum annual tax), and regulatory complexity. New York and Massachusetts are close behind, particularly for healthcare and legal practices. Texas and Florida have lower formation costs and no state income tax, but large metro markets (Houston, Miami) have their own real estate and labor premiums. The biggest cost driver isn't usually state fees — it's working capital requirements driven by local rent and labor costs.