Startup Cost Calculator
Pick a business type to see what it typically costs to open. Every line has a low and high estimate and a source; with JavaScript on, drag each line to match your plans.
Dropshipping Store: estimated startup costs
Assumes: A Shopify store selling products a supplier ships directly, covering setup plus roughly the first 3 months of tools and ads.
| Cost line | Low | High | Your estimate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic plan, first year$29 per month paid yearly. | $348 | $348 | Shopifyest. | |
| Domain name, first yearA free .myshopify.com address is also available. | $10 | $30 | Shopifyest. | |
| Store themePrebuilt themes range from free to $500. | $0 | $500 | Shopifyest. | |
| Dropshipping app, first 3 monthsLow: Shopify Collective, free for eligible US stores. High: $50 per month, the top of Shopify's $20 to $50 range for dropshipping apps, times 3 months. | $0 | $150 | Shopifyest. | |
| Product sample ordersShopify's range for sample orders with shipping, for products retailing at $20 to $50. | $50 | $100 | Shopifyest. | |
| Paid ads, first 3 monthsShopify's budget of $100 to $300 per month for testing paid ads, times 3 months. | $300 | $900 | Shopifyest. | |
| Business registrationShopify's US range for state registration fees; varies by state. | $50 | $500 | Shopifyest. | |
| Business insurance, first yearInsureon median annual premiums for e-commerce businesses. Low: general liability. High: business owner's policy. | $550 | $1,590 | Insureonest. | |
| Total | $1,308 | $4,118 |
These are estimates for planning only, not financial advice. Real costs depend on your city, your suppliers and the choices you make. Get quotes before you commit money.
Startup cost ranges at a glance
| Business | Category | Low | High | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Truck | Food & Drink | $46,906 | $89,503 | November 2026 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Drink | $22,332 | $87,967 | November 2026 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $2,046 | $2,690 | November 2026 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $7,406 | $8,001 | November 2026 |
| Lawn Care Business | Home Services | $9,239 | $14,104 | November 2026 |
| Dropshipping Store | Online | $1,308 | $4,118 | November 2026 |
| Vending Machines | Retail | $9,000 | $35,970 | November 2026 |
| Clothing Brand | Creative | $1,664 | $4,631 | November 2026 |
| Photography Business | Creative | $4,088 | $6,299 | November 2026 |
How we build these estimates
- Each business is broken into the costs you pay before opening day. Every line has its own source, listed in the table.
- We prefer government sources (fees, wages) and published list prices. Where neither exists we use an established industry publisher's estimate and mark it "est.". Lines we cannot source are left out rather than guessed.
- Totals are the sum of the lines, so the low total assumes the cheapest choice on every line and the high total the most expensive.
- Figures are national. Rent, wages and permit fees vary a lot by city; we do not adjust for location yet.
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Tell us. See our editorial policy.