The 2026 Startup Cost Index.
What US small businesses actually cost to launch, niche by niche: startup capital, gross margin, time to opening and break-even. Compiled from primary sources (state licensing databases, SBA loan data, BLS statistics, industry cost reports). Free to cite with attribution and a link.
Updated August 2026 · Methodology
| Business | Startup cost | Gross margin | Time to open | Break-even | Blueprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbershop | — | — | — | — | Full blueprint → |
| Coffee Shop | — | — | — | — | Full blueprint → |
| Yoga Studio | — | — | — | — | Full blueprint → |
| Cleaning Business | — | — | — | — | Full blueprint → |
| Food Truck Business | — | — | — | — | Full blueprint → |
| Gas Station | — | — | — | — | Full blueprint → |
| Vegan Restaurant | $175,000 to $650,000 | 65 to 70% | 6 to 12 months | 18 to 30 months | Full blueprint → |
| n Online Boutique | — | — | — | — | Full blueprint → |
How to read this index.
Startup cost covers the all-in opening budget: deposits, build-out, equipment, licenses and initial stock. Gross margin is the category norm before fixed costs. Break-even is the typical timeline reported by prepared operators. Ranges are honest ranges: your market, your lease and your preparation move you inside them.
Citing this dataset: "How to Start Startup Cost Index, 2026" with a link to this page. For the full per-niche breakdowns (every line item, permit and timeline), each business links to its complete blueprint.