Reference Data · Updated 2026

2026 Startup Cost Index

Real cost ranges for 112 business types across 12 categories. Every figure sourced from SBA data, state filings, and real owner reports.

112Business Types
12Categories
$200Lowest Cost
$2.0M+Highest Cost
112 business types
Business TypeCategoryStartup CostDifficulty
Accounting FirmProfessional Services$5K–$25K●●●●●
After-School ProgramEducation & Childcare$5K–$50K●●●●●
AI Automation AgencyOnline$8K–$75K●●●●●
AI Consulting BusinessOnline$5K–$50K●●●●●
Amazon FBA BusinessOnline$3K–$25K●●●●●
Auto Detailing ShopAutomotive$15K–$75K●●●●●
Auto Repair ShopAutomotive$50K–$250K●●●●●
BakeryFood & Beverage$15K–$250K●●●●●
BarFood & Beverage$100K–$500K●●●●●
BarbershopHealth & Fitness$40K–$150K●●●●●
Bookkeeping BusinessProfessional Services$1K–$5K●●●●●
Boutique / Retail StoreRetail$30K–$150K●●●●●
BreweryFood & Beverage$100K–$2.0M●●●●●
BrightStar Care FranchiseHealth & Fitness$132K–$235K●●●●●
Car WashAutomotive$50K–$500K●●●●●
Carpet Cleaning BusinessService$5K–$30K●●●●●
Catering BusinessFood & Beverage$10K–$75K●●●●●
Cleaning BusinessService$2K–$15K●●●●●
Cleaning FranchiseService$10K–$60K●●●●●
Climate Tech Consulting BusinessProfessional Services$5K–$25K●●●●●
Coaching BusinessProfessional Services$500–$5K●●●●●
Coffee ShopFood & Beverage$25K–$300K●●●●●
Concrete BusinessConstruction & Trades$15K–$75K●●●●●
Consulting BusinessProfessional Services$500–$5K●●●●●
CrossFit BoxHealth & Fitness$30K–$100K●●●●●
Dance StudioEducation & Childcare$15K–$75K●●●●●
Day SpaHealth & Fitness$100K–$500K●●●●●
DaycareEducation & Childcare$10K–$250K●●●●●
Dental PracticeHealth & Fitness$250K–$750K●●●●●
Dog DaycarePet$30K–$200K●●●●●
Dog Grooming BusinessPet$5K–$100K●●●●●
Dog Training BusinessPet$2K–$15K●●●●●
Dog Walking BusinessPet$200–$2K●●●●●
Dropshipping BusinessOnline$500–$5K●●●●●
Dumpster Rental BusinessService$30K–$100K●●●●●
Ecommerce StoreOnline$2K–$50K●●●●●
Electrician BusinessConstruction & Trades$10K–$50K●●●●●
Event Planning BusinessProfessional Services$2K–$15K●●●●●
FloristRetail$10K–$50K●●●●●
Food CartFood & Beverage$5K–$25K●●●●●
Food TrailerFood & Beverage$10K–$40K●●●●●
Food TruckFood & Beverage$28K–$114K●●●●●
Freelance Writing BusinessOnline$0–$1K●●●●●
Gas StationRetail$250K–$2.0M●●●●●
General Contracting BusinessConstruction & Trades$10K–$75K●●●●●
Graphic Design BusinessCreative & Media$2K–$10K●●●●●
Grill Cleaning BusinessService$500–$5K●●●●●
Gutter Cleaning BusinessService$500–$5K●●●●●
GymHealth & Fitness$50K–$500K●●●●●
Hair SalonHealth & Fitness$60K–$250K●●●●●
Handyman BusinessService$2K–$10K●●●●●
Hotshot TruckingAutomotive$10K–$50K●●●●●
House Flipping BusinessReal Estate$50K–$250K●●●●●
HVAC BusinessConstruction & Trades$15K–$75K●●●●●
Ice Cream ShopFood & Beverage$20K–$150K●●●●●
Insurance AgencyProfessional Services$5K–$30K●●●●●
Juice BarFood & Beverage$20K–$150K●●●●●
Junk Removal BusinessService$5K–$30K●●●●●
Landscaping BusinessService$5K–$50K●●●●●
Lash & Brow StudioHealth & Fitness$15K–$60K●●●●●
LaundromatService$100K–$500K●●●●●
Law FirmProfessional Services$5K–$50K●●●●●
Lawn Care FranchiseService$20K–$100K●●●●●
Liquor StoreRetail$50K–$500K●●●●●
Locksmith BusinessService$3K–$15K●●●●●
Massage Therapy BusinessHealth & Fitness$5K–$50K●●●●●
Med SpaHealth & Fitness$200K–$750K●●●●●
Mini Pancake BusinessFood & Beverage$2K–$15K●●●●●
Mobile Detailing BusinessAutomotive$3K–$15K●●●●●
Mobile Pet GroomingPet$15K–$60K●●●●●
Moving CompanyAutomotive$10K–$50K●●●●●
Music SchoolEducation & Childcare$10K–$75K●●●●●
Nail SalonHealth & Fitness$50K–$200K●●●●●
Notary BusinessProfessional Services$500–$5K●●●●●
Online Course BusinessOnline$500–$5K●●●●●
Painting BusinessService$3K–$15K●●●●●
Personal Chef BusinessFood & Beverage$2K–$10K●●●●●
Personal Training StudioHealth & Fitness$20K–$100K●●●●●
Pest Control BusinessService$5K–$25K●●●●●
Pet Sitting BusinessPet$500–$3K●●●●●
Pet StorePet$50K–$200K●●●●●
Photography BusinessCreative & Media$5K–$30K●●●●●
Picnic Setup BusinessService$1K–$8K●●●●●
Pilates StudioHealth & Fitness$30K–$150K●●●●●
Pizza ShopFood & Beverage$75K–$350K●●●●●
Plumbing BusinessConstruction & Trades$10K–$50K●●●●●
Podcast BusinessOnline$500–$5K●●●●●
Pool Cleaning BusinessService$2K–$10K●●●●●
PreschoolEducation & Childcare$20K–$200K●●●●●
Pressure Washing BusinessService$3K–$20K●●●●●
Print on Demand BusinessOnline$200–$3K●●●●●
Property Management CompanyReal Estate$5K–$25K●●●●●
Pure Green FranchiseFood & Beverage$132K–$235K●●●●●
Real Estate AgencyReal Estate$5K–$30K●●●●●
Recruiting BusinessProfessional Services$2K–$10K●●●●●
RestaurantFood & Beverage$175K–$750K●●●●●
Roofing BusinessConstruction & Trades$10K–$50K●●●●●
Self-Storage FacilityReal Estate$200K–$2.0M●●●●●
Short-Term RentalReal Estate$15K–$150K●●●●●
Social Media Management BusinessOnline$0–$2K●●●●●
Staffing AgencyProfessional Services$10K–$50K●●●●●
Subscription Box BusinessOnline$3K–$20K●●●●●
Tattoo ShopCreative & Media$25K–$100K●●●●●
Thrift StoreRetail$15K–$75K●●●●●
Tire ShopAutomotive$30K–$100K●●●●●
Tow Truck BusinessAutomotive$30K–$100K●●●●●
Trucking CompanyAutomotive$15K–$200K●●●●●
Tutoring BusinessEducation & Childcare$500–$10K●●●●●
Vending Machine BusinessRetail$3K–$30K●●●●●
Web Design BusinessOnline$500–$5K●●●●●
Window Cleaning BusinessService$1K–$8K●●●●●
Yoga StudioHealth & Fitness$15K–$100K●●●●●

About this data

Cost ranges represent realistic startup budgets based on SBA loan data, state licensing fee schedules, equipment vendor pricing, and direct surveys of business owners. Low-end figures assume lean starts (home-based where possible, used equipment, minimal staff). High-end figures reflect full build-outs with new equipment and commercial space.

Difficulty ratings cover three dimensions: capital required, operational complexity, and time to first revenue. Each guide includes a full line-item breakdown, hidden costs, and a breakeven timeline.

Data is reviewed quarterly for high-traffic guides and annually for all others. Read our full research methodology.