Startup cost calculator
How much opening funding does your entered budget and reserve assumption require?
A teaching example in the units shown below.
These authored example inputs illustrate the calculation. Replace them with your own documented amounts, periods and rates; they are not measured industry averages or available offers.
Applies only to the one-time item subtotal, excluding the operating reserve.
Exclude cash payments already counted in opening items. No future receipts are assumed.
User-selected horizon; fractional months are allowed. This simple allowance does not validate cash adequacy.
Count accessible, committed funding once.
Your entered scenario
Starting exampleCalculation updated using the entered assumptions.
- One-time item subtotal
- $25,000.00
- Opening contingency
- $2,500.00
- Available funding
- $45,000.00
- Funding balance
- −$6,500.00
Formula and interpretation
Opening spend = one-time item subtotal × (1 + contingency fraction)
Operating reserve = future monthly cash spending × reserve months
Funding need = opening spend + operating reserve
Funding balance = available funding − funding need
Opening items describe one-time uses before trading. The reserve is funding held for future spending, not another opening-day expense.
Contingency applies only to opening items. Reserve coverage and contingency are separate author-selected assumptions.
Definitions and sources
These references support the definitions and calculation boundaries. The starting numerical example is authored for arithmetic; each available business preset has its own evidence and limitations.
- Startup cost planning — U.S. Small Business Administration. Supports separating one-time and ongoing expenses; no reserve horizon or contingency percentage is prescribed here. Accessed September 5, 2026.
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Review startup uses, staffing, annual results and input evidence alongside the relevant worksheets. A single calculation does not replace local quotes or a dated cash schedule.
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