25 Startup Business Costs That Are Often Hidden

LOS ANGELES - Feb. 3, 2025 - PRLog -- For the full article, link is at the end.

1. Research
Even before you set up shop, even if it's a digital company or a service you provide, you'll need to know who your customers are. Market research firms charge a bundle and even if you're doing the research yourself, there will be costs. You can generally expect to pay a market research company $20,000 to $50,000 for a qualitative or quantitative custom market research project based specifically on your brand. Short online surveys may cost $15,000 to $30,000. (1)

Of course, you will find lower rates, based on factors like, how challenging it is to compile the data and how many hours it takes to create the studies and surveys. For instance, it may only cost $1,000 to $10,000 for a basic report. (2)Your needs will greatly affect the price you're quoted, as will the company you choose to work with.

Alternatively, you can do your own market research using tools like Survey Monkey. This method will cost you time over actual cash but you'll need to hustle hard to get large enough data sets for the effort to be worthwhile.

2. Getting the Right Permits
Most businesses need a permit or several to operate legally, and the cost of permits is wide-ranging, depending on where you live and the type of permit needed. Permits can cost as little as a couple of hundred dollars or $10,000.

Even if you plan to run a home-based business, you may need a permit to operate and only if you're not breaking the zoning laws.

If you live in a school district, you may be restricted from certain types of permits.

The best place to start figuring out which permits you need is to visit your state and local government websites, like the Office of Small Business or contact the local planning and zoning department  in your area for more detailed information.

Depending on the type of business you plan to open, the following are common types of permits you may need:

Zoning permit

Building permit

Sign permit

Health permit

Fire department permit

Fictitious business name permit

Seller's permit

For #4-25 visit, https://smartfinancial.com/business-startup-costs