The Costs of Starting a Business
I've broken down the costs of starting a business, from a frugal budget to a more well-padded venture. Do you know the average costs to start a business?
This week, I’ve had some frugal breakthroughs in the kitchen. I’ve discussed being in my “I can make that better” era.
I used to think buying meal essentials at the store was easier and more convenient. But when you’re paying $5 for eight tortillas in plastic bags that have been transported from who knows where, in a house that goes through at least two bags a meal (not to mention the many quesadilla snacks the kids make every day), store-bought becomes less convenient.
So, the kids and I explored making homemade tortillas. We tried different flour types, fats, cooking methods, and utensils. I was pleasantly shocked by how easy it was. And because I keep all the staple ingredients on hand, it was cost-effective.
The kids even memorized the recipes and processes to make them anytime. Do you trust your children in the kitchen using the various appliances? What is your limit? Mine is hot grease. That’s an advanced lesson we haven’t started yet.
Making tortillas was similar to making bread, which our youngest son loves to do. He’s mastered cooking several mid-level dishes from scratch, including bread bowls, biscuits, cornbread, and his favorite food, chili.
Do you know how simple it is to bake fresh bread and make a delicious pot of chili without grabbing the pre-done version at the store? I added a new recipe pack to the store for 5 different homemade chilis. Grab it while it’s on sale for only $3. You can also check out my guide to delicious fresh-baked bread.
I’ve added some freebies to my vault, including homemade chili seasonings, a breadbaking starter guide, a sourdough starter kit, and a tasty gumbo recipe pack. You can get the password by joining my awesome FREE email list. Or comment password on this post!
It’s been a busy time for me as I have focused heavily on expanding my store inventory with digital products, memberships, freelance services, online courses, business coaching, and management packages.
I’ve finally figured out my target audience:
Femalepreneurs and stay-at-home moms who want to build creative businesses from home that generate income while prioritizing frugal spending, self-reliance, and natural living.
I have also identified my USP - unique selling point. I provide practical tools and passive income strategies to help others grow a business they love without sacrificing time with family or their peace of mind.
It’s been a struggle, and years of wasted money, time, and energy have been spent trying to find what works and what doesn’t.
Understanding everything involved in being a business owner can be exhausting, given the many steps and expenses. But once you’ve done it the right way once, it’s pretty easy to replicate.
I just published a free 10-step checklist for starting a business. If you prefer a DIY approach, I also have an online course designed to walk you through building a business.
Would you prefer to launch a business without completing all the work to set one up?
Ask me about my Build a Business Service. You can pay me to do all the work for you (creating your business or running it after it’s launched). It can get expensive to do everything and have all the tools involved for a full business set up for success.
Check out the cost breakdown below.
💰 Business Costs Breakdown: What to Expect
Starting a business doesn’t have to drain your wallet, but there are some upfront, maintenance, and optional costs to consider. Here’s what you’re looking at in terms of costs.
🔹Start-Up Costs
✅ Registration & Legal ($50-$500) – LLC, DBA, EIN, contracts of us
✅Domain & Website Setup ($10-$300) – Domain name, hosting, website builder (WordPress, Shopify, etc.)
✅ Branding ($0-$500) – Logo, colors, fonts (DIY with Canva or hire a pro)
✅ Product Creation/Sourcing ($0-$2,000+) – Inventory for physical products or tools for digital services
✅ Software & Tools ($0-$200) – Email marketing, design tools, payment processors
🔹 Maintenance Costs (Ongoing Expenses)
💻 Website Hosting & Domains ($10-$50/month)
📧 Email Marketing ($10-$50/month) – ConvertKit, Mailchimp, etc.
📱 Software Subscriptions ($0-$100/month) – Canva, Shopify, scheduling tools
📣 Marketing & Ads ($0-$500/month) – Organic growth is free, paid ads cost 💰
📦 Inventory & Shipping (Varies) – If selling physical products
🔹 Other Costs (Optional, But Helpful)
🚀 Paid Marketing & Ads ($50-$1,000/month) – Facebook, Google, Pinterest ads
📢 Social Media Management ($0-$500/month) – DIY or hire a VA
📝 Professional Services ($100-$1,000) – Copywriters, designers, accountants
📦 Scaling Costs (Varies) – Hiring help, upgrading software, expanding offers
💡 Total Cost? You can start for under $500 with a lean business model (digital products, services, or print-on-demand). A more structured business with inventory, ads, and branding can run $1,000-$5,000+.
Start where you are, scale as you grow! 🚀
To help me grow my business and audience, I’ve signed up for these awesome events.
Music & Art Homeschool Summit - A three-day event for Christian homeschooling families with learning sessions for parents and live music and art classes for students
Emails That Make Bank - A collection of 40+ email marketing resources packed with tips, hacks, and strategies to help you grow, nurture, and monetize your email list.
Love Evolution Gift Bundle - Heal Your Life with Love Experience 5 part training
Moms Behind the Mic Summit - Learn How to Take Your Podcast to the Next Level from Over 15 Top Female Entrepreneurs in the Online Space
Break into Tech Summit - Land More Clients & Grow Your Service-Based Business with Confidence
The Family Photographer Advanced Blueprint Summit - Advanced Workflows, Systems, & Education for Sustainable Growth in 2025 and Beyond
Free masterclass - Hey Etsy seller or handmade biz owner, You're About To Learn...How to monetize your blog and make money from your traffic
AI Foundations: Grow Your Blog & Audience with AI - Learn how to research, create, and market great content faster with the help of AI. Unlock our playbook for growing to 10,000+ monthly readers and beyond.
Mess of Success - A free 4-day event to help you create & sell your courses without guilt, burnout, or trying to fit into a mold that was never designed for you.
Instagram on Fire - THE 4-STEP FIRE METHOD THAT GENERATED OVER $20M IN ONLINE SALES...
What I’m Reading/Promoting
Bundles I’m Participating In
March 2025 B2C Bundle: Mindful Living: A Guide to Inner Peace and Growth
Springtime Magic: Embrace the Energy of Beltane & Ignite Your Spells
Crafts I’ve Added to My To-Do List
Party & Business with Cricut - 18+ workshops on creating PARTY CRAFTS and making $$$ with your Cricut
One-of-a-kind 3-day virtual event for Cricut & other cutting machine crafters
Massive Craft Collection - inspiration for St. Patrick’s and Easter crafts