Startup Cost Calculator
Add up your one-off and monthly costs to see the cash you really need
General information only — not financial, legal, tax or business advice. Estimates vary by your circumstances.
How much does it cost to start a business in Australia?
There is no single number — it depends entirely on what you are starting. A home-based service business can launch for a few hundred dollars, while a fitted-out café or trade business can run well past $100,000. The honest way to budget is to list every one-off cost, add your monthly running costs, and hold a cash buffer for the months before the business pays for itself.
This calculator does exactly that. Edit the example items, add your own, and it totals the cash you need to get to opening day and survive the early months.
The three numbers that matter
- One-off costs — registration, equipment, a website, a lease bond, initial stock. You pay these once to open.
- Monthly running costs — rent, wages, stock, insurance, software, marketing. These continue whether or not you make a sale.
- Cash buffer — money set aside to cover running costs while revenue builds. Most new businesses take months to break even, so plan for at least three months.
Your real launch figure is your one-off costs plus the buffer. Underestimating the buffer is the most common reason new businesses run out of cash.
Common startup costs to remember
- Business registration and ABN (the ABN itself is free)
- Insurance — public liability is essential for most businesses
- Website, branding and a Google Business Profile
- Equipment, tools or initial inventory
- Licences and permits specific to your industry
- An accounting/invoicing tool and a separate business bank account
Frequently asked questions
What should I include in startup costs?
Include every one-off cost to open (registration, equipment, website, bond, initial stock) and your monthly running costs (rent, wages, stock, insurance, software). Then add a cash buffer for the months before you break even.
How big should my cash buffer be?
At least three months of running costs is a sensible minimum, and many advisors suggest six. New businesses usually take months to become profitable, and running out of cash is the most common failure point.
Is registering a business expensive?
No. An ABN is free, and registering a business name with ASIC costs only a small annual fee. The bigger costs are usually equipment, premises and stock.