Startup Cost Calculator — Itemized Business Launch Budget
Build your own itemized startup cost list and see your real total, category breakdown and runway · free, no signup
Startup Cost Calculator
Add your own line items under real startup categories — rent/deposit, equipment, licensing and permits, initial inventory, marketing and ads, website and software, and miscellaneous — each with its own dollar amount. This tool adds them up for a real total startup cost and breaks the total down by category so you can see exactly where the money goes.
If you also enter your starting capital and an estimated monthly burn rate (ongoing monthly costs after launch), it calculates a real runway figure: (starting capital − total startup cost) ÷ monthly burn rate, showing exactly how many months you can operate before running out of money at your current spending rate.
Key features
Fully itemized, editable list
Add or remove any line item under real startup cost categories.
Real category breakdown
See exactly what share of your budget goes to rent, equipment, inventory, marketing and more.
Optional runway calculation
Enter starting capital and monthly burn rate for a real 'months until you run out of money' figure.
Transparent totals
Every number is a direct sum of what you entered — no hidden estimates.
How to use it
- Add line items with a name, category and amount.
- Remove any item you don't need with the trash icon.
- See your real total and category breakdown update live.
- Optionally enter starting capital and monthly burn rate to see your runway in months.
Worked example
Example
Rent deposit $3,000, equipment $4,500, licensing $600, inventory $5,000, marketing $1,200, website $400, misc $500 → total startup cost $15,200. With $25,000 starting capital and $3,000/month burn rate → about 3.3 months of runway after startup costs.
Who uses this tool
First-time founders
Build a real, itemized picture of launch costs instead of guessing a round number.
Anyone pitching for a loan or investment
Show a transparent, categorized cost breakdown.
Side-hustle and small shop owners
Check whether starting capital genuinely covers both launch costs and early operating months.
Tips for the best results
- Add a miscellaneous/contingency line item of at least 10-15% of your other costs — nearly every launch budget runs into unplanned expenses.
- Separate one-time startup costs (equipment, licensing) from ongoing monthly costs (rent, subscriptions) when estimating your burn rate, so runway isn't double-counted.
- Revisit the list as real quotes come in — early estimates are often lower than actual supplier or vendor pricing.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting licensing, permits or insurance costs, which are easy to underestimate before actually researching local requirements.
- Using a monthly burn rate that's really your first month's one-time costs, which understates how long the money will actually last.
- Leaving out a contingency line item entirely, leaving no buffer for the unplanned costs almost every launch runs into.
Why use AZRS QuickFix?
It is 100% free, needs no signup and has no watermark or usage limits. The tool runs in your browser, so what you type stays on your device, and it works on phones, tablets and desktops. New tools are added every week — bookmark this page or browse the full QuickFix toolbox.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a startup cost vs an ongoing cost?
Startup costs are one-time expenses to get the business open (deposits, equipment, initial inventory, licensing, initial marketing push, website build); ongoing costs are recurring monthly expenses (rent, subscriptions, restocking) used for the separate burn-rate/runway figure.
How is runway calculated?
(Starting capital − total startup cost) ÷ monthly burn rate = months of runway — real division on your own entered numbers.
What if my runway is negative or very short?
It means your starting capital doesn't fully cover your itemized startup costs plus even one month of operating expenses — a sign to either raise more capital, cut startup costs, or lower planned monthly spending before launching.
Should I include my own salary in the burn rate?
If you plan to pay yourself from the business, include that as a monthly cost — leaving it out will overstate your real runway.
Is this financial or legal advice?
No, it's a transparent sum of the numbers you enter, not professional financial, legal or accounting advice — check your specific licensing and startup cost requirements locally.
Is my data stored?
No, everything is calculated locally in your browser unless you choose to note it down elsewhere.