Startup Cost Calculator
Estimate what it really costs to launch — the one-time costs to open plus the runway to keep going until revenue catches up.
How the estimate works
Total to launch = one-time startup costs + (monthly costs × months of runway). One-time costs get you open; runway keeps you alive while you find customers.
Why runway matters as much as setup
Most new businesses don't fail at launch — they run out of cash before revenue ramps. Budgeting several months of runway alongside your one-time costs is the difference between opening and lasting.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to start a small business?+
It varies widely, but most micro-businesses can start for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars in one-time costs — plus enough monthly runway to cover several months before revenue is steady.
What is runway?+
Runway is how long your business can keep operating before it runs out of money — your cash on hand divided by monthly costs, expressed in months.
What should a startup budget include?+
One-time costs (equipment, initial inventory, legal/permits, website and branding) and recurring monthly costs (supplies, marketing, subscriptions) multiplied by your planned months of runway.
This is one module inside Playbook
Playbook is an entrepreneurship simulation where students use tools like this to build a real business. Launching for 2026–27.