Build a realistic estimate of your startup costs before you launch. Enter your one-off setup costs and monthly running costs to see how much capital you need.
Enter estimated costs in the relevant fields. Leave blank if not applicable to your business.
For guidance only. TheBizHQ.com is a private, independent website — not affiliated with HMRC, Companies House or any UK government body. All figures are estimates based on the information you enter and should not be relied upon for financial, tax or legal decisions. Tax rates are reviewed periodically but may not always reflect the latest HMRC changes. Full disclaimer →
The cost of starting a business varies enormously — from a few hundred pounds for a simple sole trader operation to hundreds of thousands for a business requiring premises, stock and staff. The most important thing is to plan realistically before you spend a penny.
Underestimating how long it takes to become profitable. Most businesses take 6-18 months to break even. If you run out of cash before you reach that point the business fails — even if it would eventually have been successful. Always build in more runway than you think you need.
This tool automatically adds 20% contingency to your total. This covers the inevitable surprises — equipment that costs more than expected, delayed revenue, unexpected legal costs, tax bills. If you come in under budget, great. But plan for the unexpected.
Registering a limited company at Companies House costs £50 online. You can also use a formation agent for £10-£100 which includes registered address services. As a sole trader there is no registration fee — you simply register for Self Assessment with HMRC.
Many new business owners forget to include their own living costs in the startup budget. If you are leaving employment to start a business you need enough runway to pay yourself a salary or at least cover your personal expenses until the business generates enough revenue.
If your capital requirement exceeds your savings, options include startup loans (the UK government-backed Start Up Loan scheme offers £500-£25,000 at 6% interest), bank loans, angel investment, crowdfunding and grants. Use our Break-Even Calculator to understand how much revenue you need to cover these costs.