Business Startup Tools2 min check

UK Startup Cost Calculator

Estimate how much cash you need to launch and survive the first 6 months of your UK business.

Short answer

Typical UK startup setup costs: online/service business £500–£3,000, e-commerce £2,000–£15,000 (stock + site), physical retail £20,000–£80,000 (fit-out + deposit), café/restaurant £40,000–£150,000. Then add 6 months of operating costs (rent, salaries, marketing) as runway buffer.

Step 1 of 30%

How it works

The estimator combines sector, scale and one-off vs ongoing costs to project both day-1 outlay and 6-month operating burn — the realistic minimum a founder needs before opening doors.

Worked example

Solo SaaS founder: setup £600 (incorporation + tools + brand), monthly £400 (hosting + tools), 6-month runway £2,400 → minimum capital £3,000.

Who should use this

•First-time founders budgeting
•Start Up Loan applicants
•Investors stress-testing a founder's plan

Common mistakes

×Forgetting working capital (you pay suppliers before customers pay you)
×Missing insurance, software and accountant fees
×Underestimating marketing — usually the biggest year-1 line

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get funding?▾

Start Up Loans (£500–£25k at 6%), grants via local growth hubs, friends & family, then angels/VCs.

Do I need an office?▾

Almost never in year 1 — coworking (£150–£300/mo) is cheaper and more flexible.

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