J. Calloway

Lead Researcher, Startup Cost Guide

J. Calloway is the lead researcher at Startup Cost Guide. He covers startup costs across 100+ business types, with a focus on what first-time owners actually spend versus what they planned for. His research draws on SBA loan data, state licensing filings, equipment vendor pricing, and direct conversations with owners in the field. Outside this site, he works with early-stage founders and small business operators on planning, cost structure, and growth - which means the gaps and gotchas in these guides come from real conversations, not just spreadsheets.

Research approach

Every guide on this site is built from scratch. No recycling other sites' ranges. Cost figures trace back to primary sources: SBA data, BLS wage tables, state filing schedules, and real vendor quotes. Read the full methodology for how numbers get verified before they go live.

Coverage

628 guides across 112 business types and all 50 states. Topics include line-item startup cost breakdowns, hidden costs, monthly operating expenses, and breakeven timelines. Updated quarterly for high-traffic guides, annually for everything else.

Questions or corrections? hello@startupcostguide.com