Startup Cost Calculator
Calculate total launch costs, monthly burn rate, and runway.
One-Time Costs
Monthly Costs
Cost Summary
Runway Health
| Runway | Assessment |
|---|---|
| < 3 months | Critical — Urgent funding needed |
| 3–6 months | Risky — Start fundraising immediately |
| 6–12 months | Healthy — Plan for next funding round |
| > 12 months | Comfortable — Focus on growth |
Startup Cost Calculator — Plan Your Business Launch
Starting a business in India requires careful financial planning. Whether you're launching a tech startup, an e-commerce store, or a service-based business, understanding your total startup costs is the first step toward building a sustainable venture. This startup cost calculator helps you estimate both one-time launch expenses and ongoing monthly costs to determine your total capital requirement and runway.
One-Time Startup Costs
One-time costs are expenses you incur only once during the launch phase. Company registration includes costs for registering a Private Limited Company (₹7,000–₹15,000), LLP (₹5,000–₹10,000), or Sole Proprietorship (₹2,000–₹5,000). Legal and compliance costs cover GST registration, trademark filing, legal agreements, and accounting setup. Equipment includes computers, furniture, machinery, and tools needed to start operations.
Initial inventory is critical for product-based businesses. This covers your first batch of products, raw materials, or stock. Marketing launch costs include website development, brand design, initial advertising campaigns, and launch events. These costs vary significantly by industry — a tech startup may spend ₹50,000 on development, while a retail business may need ₹5,00,000 for initial inventory.
Monthly Operating Costs
Monthly costs are recurring expenses that keep your business running. Rent varies dramatically by location — co-working spaces in Bangalore cost ₹5,000–₹15,000 per seat, while office space in Mumbai can cost ₹50,000–₹2,00,000 per month. Salaries are typically the largest monthly expense, often 40-60% of total operating costs for service businesses.
Marketing costs should be budgeted at 10-20% of expected revenue for startups. Software subscriptions include tools like Google Workspace (₹150/user/month), CRM systems, project management tools, and accounting software. Utilities cover electricity, internet, phone, and water bills. Insurance includes business liability, property, and employee insurance.
Understanding Burn Rate and Runway
Burn rate is the net amount of money your startup spends each month. If your monthly costs are ₹2,00,000 and you earn ₹50,000 in revenue, your net burn rate is ₹1,50,000. Runway is the number of months your startup can survive with the available capital: Runway = Total Capital ÷ Monthly Burn Rate. A runway of less than 6 months is considered risky, as it leaves little time to raise additional funding or achieve profitability.
Tips for Reducing Startup Costs
- Start lean — Use co-working spaces, freelancers, and open-source tools to minimize initial costs.
- Negotiate terms — Many vendors offer startup discounts or deferred payment options.
- Bootstrap first — Validate your idea with minimal investment before scaling up.
- Use government schemes — Startup India, MUDRA loans, and MSME subsidies can reduce costs.
- Outsource non-core functions — Accounting, HR, and IT support can be outsourced initially.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter One-Time Costs — Fill in registration, equipment, inventory, legal, and marketing launch costs.
- Enter Monthly Costs — Fill in rent, salaries, marketing, software, utilities, and insurance.
- Enter Available Capital — The total money you have to start the business.
- Click Calculate — View total costs, annual projection, and runway in months.