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Blog Starting a business How much does it cost to start a business in the UK?

How much does it cost to start a business in the UK?

10 min. read
19 Jun 2020
09 Mar 2026
19 Jun 2020
10 min. read
09 Mar 2026

Business

Fixed costs

Variable costs

Estimated start up cost

Photographer

Camera equipment (if not owned), portfolio website, insurance, software subscriptions

Marketing, travel, client appraisals, professional services

£500-10,000

Decorator

Tools, transport, insurance, portfolio website, licenses

Marketing, materials for initial projects, professional services

£2,000-10,000 (more if buying a vehicle)

Catering company

Kitchen equipment, health and safety compliance, licenses, insurance, vehicle

Initial food inventory, branding, marketing, staff, training

£10,000-30,000

Clothing manufacturer

Machinery, premises, quality control setup, insurance

Raw materials for first batch, prototyping, branding, marketing, staffing

£10,000-50,000

Coffee shop

Premises lease, equipment, plumbing and electrical upgrades, branding

Initial stock, staff uniforms, marketing, POS systems

£20,000-100,000

Tech start up

Computers, software licenses, IP protection, legal setup, office space

Hiring, product development, marketing, beta testing, hosting

£50,000-200,000+

Restaurant

Premises, heavy kitchen equipment, ventilation, licenses, insurance

Initial food stock, staff, branding, marketing

£100,000-500,000+

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