Last Updated on November 10, 2026
One-off costs (£)
Yearly costs (£ a year)
Monthly running costs (£ a month)
Most startup budgets list what it costs to open. Few list what it costs to stay open until the money comes in. That gap is what closes new businesses.
This calculator adds up your one-off costs, your yearly costs and your monthly running costs, then adds the cash you need to cover the first few months.
The government fees are filled in for you. Every other box is yours to fill from real quotes. We do not guess your costs.
The government fees, checked
| Fee | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Register a limited company online | £100 | Companies House fees from 1 February 2026 |
| Company confirmation statement, online | £50 a year | Same page |
| Register as a sole trader with HMRC | Free | HMRC |
| Data protection fee, firms with up to 10 staff or turnover up to £632,000 | £52 a year, £47 by direct debit | Information Commissioner’s Office |
Not every business has to pay the data protection fee. The Information Commissioner’s Office has a short self-check.
Where to get real numbers for the other boxes
Do not fill these from memory. Use published prices and written quotes.
- Website build: the web design cost calculator shows what UK firms publish.
- Software: the software cost calculator totals 19 common tools.
- Marketing: the marketing budget planner builds a plan from published UK prices.
- Business rates: the business rates calculator covers all four nations.
- Staff: the employee cost calculator adds National Insurance and pension.
- Insurance and accountant: get two written quotes for each.
Sole trader or limited company
A sole trader pays nothing to register. A limited company pays £100 to register and £50 a year after that, and usually pays more for accounts. The choice also changes your tax and your risk, so talk to an accountant before you decide on cost alone.
Start with the basics, then spend
Before you spend on marketing, check there is room for you. The Local Market Gap Finder counts businesses like yours by area. When your site is live, the free Visibility Check shows what search engines and AI assistants can read on it.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to register a company in the UK?
£100 to register a limited company online with Companies House, since 1 February 2026. The yearly confirmation statement costs £50 online. Registering as a sole trader is free.
How much working capital does a new business need?
There is no set figure. A common starting point is enough to cover three months of running costs. If your customers pay late, hold more.
What startup costs do people forget?
The yearly ones and the months before income arrives: insurance, the accountant, software, the data protection fee and your own pay.
This is an estimate from the figures you enter. It is not financial, tax or legal advice.
