Startup · Free tool
Startup Cost Calculator
How much cash do you need in the bank on opening day? This calculator adds one-off startup costs line by line, then adds a reserve built from your monthly operating costs. It is for founders and small business owners sizing a first raise, a loan, or their own savings before they sign a lease or quit a job.
- OutputCash needed to open
- No sign-up
- Copy or print the result
- How it works ↓
Your entries stay in this browser. Use Fill example to see a finished page first.
What this startup tool gives you
You get three numbers at the top: the total of the lines you entered, the monthly operating figure, and the cash to open with your chosen months of reserve. Below them sit a subtotal for each group and an itemized list, which is useful when a lender asks what the money is for.
What you enter
- Currency: USD, EUR, or GBP
- Months of operating reserve (a number, 0 or more; defaults to 3)
- Cost lines, each with a group (Setup, Equipment, Software, Marketing, Monthly operations, or Other), a line name, and an amount in your chosen currency
Worked example
The example has seven lines. Setup: USD 800 formation fees plus USD 2,400 for a first-year accountant, so USD 3,200. Equipment: USD 2,400. Software: USD 600. Marketing: USD 900. Monthly operations: USD 4,000 founder draw plus USD 2,500 developer, so USD 6,500. Lines entered total USD 13,600. With 3 months of reserve, 6,500 × 3 = 19,500, and cash to open is USD 33,100.
How is the cash needed to start a business calculated?
Lines entered = the sum of every cost line, whatever its group. Monthly operations = the sum of only the lines in the Monthly operations group. Cash to open = lines entered + (monthly operations × months of reserve).
Because the monthly operating lines are already counted once in the total, a reserve of 3 means you are holding the first month plus three more. Each line needs a name and an amount of zero or more; completely blank rows are ignored. The tool does not separate sales tax or VAT, so enter every amount on the same basis.
Tips before you use the result
- Put only recurring costs in Monthly operations. A one-off item there gets multiplied by the reserve months and inflates the total.
- Enter monthly lines at one month's cost, not a quarter or a year. The reserve multiplier assumes a single month.
- If you pay yourself, add a founder draw as a monthly line. Leaving it out makes the reserve look larger than it is.
- Try the reserve at 3 and at 6 months before a bank meeting, so you know both numbers when the question comes.
Frequently asked questions
How many months of operating reserve should a startup hold?
The calculator does not prescribe a number; it starts at 3 and lets you change it. The right count depends on how long it takes before revenue covers your monthly costs. Enter a few values and compare the cash to open figures, then choose the one you can actually fund and defend to a lender.
Why is the cash to open bigger than my list of costs?
Because the reserve is added on top. The tool takes the total of your Monthly operations lines, multiplies it by your reserve months, and adds that to the sum of all lines. Set the reserve to 0 and the cash to open equals the lines you entered.
Can I calculate startup costs in euros or pounds?
Yes. Choose USD, EUR, or GBP at the top. Amounts are typed as plain numbers and the results are formatted in the currency you pick. The tool does not convert between currencies, so enter every line in the same one.
Do I need an account to save my startup cost list?
No sign-up is involved. The list you build is stored locally in your browser and reappears when you return on the same device, so you can add a quote the day it arrives. It is not synced to other devices. To share the figures with a partner or lender, use Copy output or print the page.
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