Start-up and Operating Costs Worksheet

Start-up and Operating Costs Worksheet

2025-2026                                                                                                                            


                                                Operating and Start-up Costs Worksheet

Use this worksheet to help determine the startup and operating costs for your business venture.  

Only fill in the areas you will need. This will help determine the commercial feasibility of your product/service. 


Operating Costs/Expenses:

  1. Determine the number of products you plan to manufacture per day or the number of services you will provide per day.___________________

Outsource–Specify the service outsourced and its cost. Examples include:  manufacturing, customer support, or software development.

To find salaries visit https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary


Service Outsourced

Total Cost 

(per day)

Total Cost 

(per month)







xxxxxxx

Total:

Total:



Management and Administrative Costs–Determine the number of employees, job titles, and associated salaries.  
To find salaries visit https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary


Job Title

Salary/Hourly Cost

# of Employees

Total Cost (per day)

Total Cost 

(per month)
















xxxxxx

xxxxxx

xxxxxx

Total:

Total:



Labor costs–Determine the number of laborers you will need and their associated salaries. To find salaries visit https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary


Job Title

Salary/Hourly Cost

# of Employees

Total Cost (per day)

Total Cost 

(per month)

Laborers







Materials–List each material needed to create your product, its weight, quantity needed, and it’s cost.


Material

(include amount per pack)

Weight

(per item)

Quantity (needed per day)

Cost per item (includes shipping)

Total Cost

(per day) 

Total Cost (per month)































xxxxxx

Total:

xxxx

xxxx

Total:

Total:



Shipping–Research the shipping type and costs for reaching consumers. Visit https://www.easyship.com/shipping-rate-calculator/usa-to-usa
to compare shipping costs from different carriers. (You will use the weight from the table above to help with calculations).


Shipping Type

Quantity Shipped (per day)

Total Cost 

(per day)

Total Cost 

(per month)

Ground




Air






Facility–Research the facility size and the cost for renting or purchasing. To find commercial spaces in Ohio visit  https://www.loopnet.com/ 


Square feet required for space.______________    Cost per month ________________



Utilities Costs– gas, electric, water, trash service, and internet.  ($1.00 per square foot of building space for each service).


Utilities

Cost (per month)

Gas


Electric


Water


Trash Service


Internet


xxxxxxxxxxxx

Total:



Start-Up Costs


Manufacturing Equipment–Research the type of equipment needed to manufacture your product and the cost:


Manufacturing Equipment 

Cost









xxxxxxxx

Total:



Office Equipment– chairs, tables, printers, computers, paper, pens, etc.

Office Equipment 

Cost









xxxxxxx

Total:



Prototype–Research the cost of developing and testing a prototype:


  1. Cost of developing a prototype._____________


  1. Cost of testing a prototype.________________




Research and Development–Research the cost of additional R&D.

  1. Cost of additional research and development.  __________________



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