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%

Calculation method, coverage and version

Inputs used: Incorporation & legal, Branding, logo, website, Equipment / stock, Premises deposit / setup, Rent / coworking, Software & subscriptions, Marketing / ads, Salaries (incl. yours), Other (insurance, accounting, utilities), Months of runway you want, Expected average monthly revenue (early).
Calculation approach: The calculator applies the rules and assumptions described in “How it works” to the values you enter. Rounding can cause small differences from an official or provider calculation.
Coverage: Business Startup Tools. UK nations, tax treatment, local rules and provider criteria can differ; check the official sources shown below before acting.
Content version: No page-specific review date is currently published. Treat the result as indicative and verify current rules independently.

Not included unless explicitly requested: personal circumstances not entered, provider discretion, future rule changes, professional fees and case-specific exceptions. Read the full calculator methodology.

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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