There are common startup costs you're likely to have no matter what. Look through this list, and make sure to add any other expenses that are unique to your business. Office space Equipment and supplies Communications Utilities Licenses and permits Insurance Lawyer and accountant Inventory Employee salaries Advertising and marketing Market research. Printed marketing materials Making a website Estimate how much your expenses will cost Once you have your list of expenses, you can estimate how much they'll actually cost. This process will be different for each expense you have. Some expenses will have well-defined costs- permits and licenses tend to have clear, published costs. You might have to estimate other costs that are less certain, like employee salaries. Look online and talk directly to mentors, vendors, and service providers to see what similar companies pay for expenses. Add up your expenses for a full financial picture Once you've identified your business expenses and how much they'll cost, you should organize your expenses into one-time expenses and monthly expenses. One-time expenses are the initial costs needed to start the business. Buying major equipment, hiring a logo designer, and paying for permits, licenses, and fees are generally considered to be one-time expenses. You can typically deduct one-time expenses for tax purposes, which can save you money on the amount of taxes you'll owe. Monthly expenses typically include things like salaries, rent, and utility bills. You'll want to count at least one year of monthly expenses, but counting five years is ideal. LASTLY, Add up your one-time expenses and share THE DETAILS AND THE FINAL AMOUNT