Is Setting Up A Business Expensive?

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How much you spend on setting up a business can vary dramatically. And because of this, it’s a good idea to itemize everything ahead of time to find out how much you need to budget. 

But what do you need to include? What do the initial costs actually look like? That’s this post’s topic. We explore where your money is likely to go and how much things will probably cost. 

Legal And Registration Fees

The most unavoidable costs are legal and registration fees. You need to pay these to set up your enterprise and compensate officials. 

The cost of obtaining an EIN is free, but there may be other associated costs, such as fees for printing out paperwork and documents. You may also need to pay for specific permits, depending on the type of enterprise you want to run. Local officials may not be willing to hand these out quickly, just because you ask for them. 

Setting Up Your Locations

Another set of costs will relate to setting up your location. Moving into physical premises is rarely cheap, and there’s almost always work you need to do. 

For example, setting up a workshop requires you to buy equipment and design the space for optimal flow. Even setting up a home office can be costly if you lack any of the equipment you need in your house already. 

If renting, you may need to pay some of the leases upfront as surety to the organization providing it. These sums can be substantial, especially if you’re not turning over any revenue. Some may ask for several months in advance, especially if you enter a multi-year contract. 

Buying Inventory

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Depending on the type of business you want to set up, you may also want to buy inventory. How much this costs to acquire depends on how much you intend to sell and the stock levels you need to keep for your customers. 

High levels may be necessary for some industries, particularly those with highly variable volume orders and where suppliers cannot replenish your stock quickly. You may find you need to spend vast sums of money at this stage. 

Professional Services

In addition to these costs, some businesses require professional services. These are legal and accounting services that help you achieve various compliance objectives and ensure you remain within the law. 

For example, professional services can provide you with guidance during the business setup process. These individuals can show you what you need to do next and how to navigate various legal challenges. Consultants can also help you with managing your finances and signing contracts if you’re not entirely sure what they mean. 

Personnel Services

If you need to hire people you may also need to pay for personnel. While wages will usually only come out after someone has been there a month, you may need to pay recruitment fees to attract the specific people you want. 

You’ll also need to set aside a budget for salaries. If you’re just starting up, you should rely on operational revenue to provide this cash. 

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