10 Business Startup Costs to Be Aware of

 Starting a new business can be very exciting, but the feeling is often coupled with anxiousness, uncertainty, and skepticism. Usually, these mixed feelings are a result of the financial concerns related to starting the business. It is a fact that business startup costs can go very high depending upon the industry type and market, but you can manage it quite efficiently if you allotted the right amount of funds to the different needs of your business before launching the company. 

Preparing a solid business plan is the best way to estimate the costs, which you might have to bear in the future. It is recommended to prepare a business plan for at least 3 to 5 years, including financial projections such as the expected expenses and estimated revenue. After you have the details ready, see if you can manage the funds for the expenses or if you would can utilize revenue-based business financing to take care of the needs.

Keep in mind that it could take some time to generate a steady income, so taking cash out of personal resources to balance the business requirements might not be a good idea. Instead, it would be better if you consult with a financing company and explore the funding options for your business. Below are some of the common business startup costs that you should be aware of so that you can secure proper resources to meet them as applicable.

Equipment

The cost of equipment can vary greatly depending upon the type of your startup business. However, you can expect it to be somewhere around $10,000 at the minimum. The best option to deal with equipment cost is to avail an SBA loan or equipment financing.

Incorporation Fees

If you were planning to register your company to make it a corporate entity, you would need to follow the legal process to apply for the federal and/or state licensing or permits. This can incur incorporation costs anywhere between $50 and $300, depending upon the state’s laws and regulations.

Office Space

You can start small and rent an office space instead of buying a property to run your business initially. However, as you would need to spend a fixed amount per month to pay the rent, you should have a reliable resource to meet that requirement. Note that this can range from $100 to $1000 for each employee per month depending on the location and type of office space.

Inventory

If you were planning to start a wholesale, retail, distribution, or manufacturing business, you should have a clear idea of the inventory costs. It is advised not to stock too many products to start, but keep it good enough to meet your customer demands. You might need around 25% of the startup budget for inventory alone, which is why availing a separate inventory financing might be a good idea here.

Office Furniture 

If you were planning to start a services company that needs a typical 9 to 5 office environment, you would need furniture, such as desk and chair, for each of your employees, as well as furniture in the reception area. Although this would vary greatly depending upon the number of employees you are planning to hire, it is an important part of the business startup costs and should not be ignored at all.

Marketing

Promoting your business is quite simple these days with online marketing tools and social media. However, you might still need to spend around $100 to $250 per month on paid advertisements. Besides, you should also consider the costs of marketing materials like signboards and business cards when drafting the business plan.

Office Supplies

Office supplies such as computers, phone, filing cabinets, paper, and printer ink, etc., should also be included in the business startup budget. Although these seem to be minor expenses, the accumulated costs of office supplies can go anywhere from $100 to $1000. Usually, this would be around 10% of your total startup costs, but that would depend upon the number of staffs as well.

Utilities

No matter whether you own the building, or are operating from a rented space, you would need to pay the electricity, water, internet, and phone bills every month. You can estimate the cost of utilities based on the total area of your office space (excluding the internet and phone charges) at $2 per sq. ft.

Payroll

It might take some time to start generating revenue from the business. However, you should always have the proper resources to manage employee payroll from day one. Although the costs are based on the number of workers here, it usually comes around 25% of the total business startup budget.

Insurance

It is very important to protect your company with insurance. This would ensure that you do not have to face any great losses in case of an unfortunate event. The cost of insurance would depend upon the type of insurance you choose as well as the size of your business.