Startup costs, honestly
What it really costs to start
Itemized costs, realistic owner profit after your own labor, payback time, and a straight verdict for each business type. The numbers the brochures leave out.
BusinessTypical costYear-one profitPaybackCall
- BarTrapTypical cost$350,000Year-one profitOften negativePayback3-5 yearsTrap
- Beekeeping BusinessCrowdedTypical cost$3,000Year-one profit-$1.5k-$500Payback3-5 yearsCrowded
- BlogCrowdedTypical cost$200Year-one profit$0-$500 totalPaybackMonths (cash costs)Crowded
- Cannabis DispensaryTrapTypical cost$750,000Year-one profitOften a lossPayback4-7 yearsTrap
- Car WashCrowdedTypical cost$3,500,000Year-one profitOften negativePayback5-10 yearsCrowded
- Cleaning BusinessPromisingTypical cost$5,000Year-one profit$35k-$70k soloPayback1-3 monthsPromising
- Clothing BrandCrowdedTypical cost$8,000Year-one profitUsually negativePayback2-4 yearsCrowded
- Coffee ShopCrowdedTypical cost$275,000Year-one profit$0-$40k owner payPayback3-5 yearsCrowded
- Convenience StoreCrowdedTypical cost$250,000Year-one profit$30k-$70kPayback4-7 yearsCrowded
- DaycarePromisingTypical cost$10,000Year-one profit$25k-$50kPaybackHome: 3-9 monthsPromising
- Etsy ShopCrowdedTypical cost$500Year-one profit$0-$3kPaybackMonths (cash costs)Crowded
- Food TruckCrowdedTypical cost$110,000Year-one profit$20k-$60kPayback2-4 yearsCrowded
- FranchiseTrapTypical cost$350,000Year-one profitA loss or breakevenPayback5-8 yearsTrap
- Gas StationCrowdedTypical cost$800,000Year-one profit$40k-$80kPayback5-8 yearsCrowded
- GymCrowdedTypical cost$200,000Year-one profit-$30k-$30kPayback3-5 yearsCrowded
- Hair SalonCrowdedTypical cost$150,000Year-one profit$20k-$60kPayback4-7 yearsCrowded
- Handyman BusinessPromisingTypical cost$15,000Year-one profit$45k-$90kPayback3-6 monthsPromising
- HVAC BusinessPromisingTypical cost$65,000Year-one profit$60k-$130kPayback6-12 monthsPromising
- Junk Removal BusinessPromisingTypical cost$25,000Year-one profit$40k-$90kPayback3-9 monthsPromising
- Landscaping BusinessPromisingTypical cost$18,000Year-one profit$40k-$80kPaybackOne seasonPromising
- LaundromatTrapTypical cost$250,000Year-one profit$15k-$40kPayback5-8 yearsTrap
- LLCIt dependsTypical cost$150Year-one profit$0 by itselfPaybackNot applicableIt depends
- NonprofitIt dependsTypical cost$1,400Year-one profit$0PaybackNoneIt depends
- Online BusinessPromisingTypical cost$2,500Year-one profit$0-$30kPaybackWeeksPromising
- Pizza ShopCrowdedTypical cost$275,000Year-one profit$30k-$70kPayback3-6 yearsCrowded
- PodcastCrowdedTypical cost$600Year-one profit$0PaybackNeverCrowded
- RestaurantTrapTypical cost$350,000Year-one profitUsually a lossPayback5+ yearsTrap
- Roofing BusinessPromisingTypical cost$45,000Year-one profit$50k-$120kPayback6-18 monthsPromising
- Trucking CompanyTrapTypical cost$130,000Year-one profit-$20k-$30kPayback5-plus yearsTrap
- Used Car DealershipCrowdedTypical cost$100,000Year-one profit$40k-$100kPayback1-2 yearsCrowded
Costs are half the question.
Whether anyone in your market wants YOUR version is the other half. Olune pressure-tests a specific idea against live demand signals and gives you a build-or-kill verdict in about 8 minutes.