Starting a Business
Plan, price, and fund your startup
Break-Even Calculator
Most PopularFind how many units you need to sell to cover your costs and start making profit. Enter fixed costs, variable costs per unit, and selling price.
Fixed costs ÷ (Price − Variable cost per unit)
Startup Cost Estimator
Estimate one-time and recurring costs for starting your business based on industry averages.
Loan Comparison
Compare up to 3 loan options side by side. See monthly payments, total interest, and total cost.
Can I Afford to Start a Business?
Enter your savings and financing to see if you are funded to open. Gap analysis + verdict by business type and city.
Managing Employees
Understand the true cost of your workforce
Employee Cost Calculator
51 State DatasetsFind the true cost of hiring an employee — salary plus payroll taxes, workers' comp, SUTA, and benefits overhead. Covers all 50 states and DC.
Salary + FICA + FUTA + SUTA + Workers' Comp
Payroll Tax Calculator
Estimate employer payroll taxes by state including FICA, FUTA, SUTA, and workers' comp.
W-2 vs 1099 Calculator
Compare the true cost of W-2 employees vs 1099 contractors. Find the break-even rate.
Salary to Hourly
Convert annual salary to hourly rate. See all pay periods and employer tax cost by state.
Specialized Tools
Deeper calculators for specific decisions
Startup Cost Estimator
City-adjusted estimates for 8 business types. Pick your city — gets numbers for your market, not national averages.
costcrunch.app/tools/startup-cost-estimator →
Employee Cost Calculator
True cost per employee, broken down by state. FICA, SUTA, workers' comp — every line. Compare two states side by side.
costcrunch.app/tools/employee-cost-calculator →
W-2 vs 1099 Calculator
Find the break-even contractor rate before you sign. See how much W-2 costs vs 1099 for all 50 states.
costcrunch.app/tools/w2-vs-1099-calculator →
Compare States
Which state is cheaper to hire in?
California vs Texas
High-tax state vs no income tax
New York vs Florida
Highest burden vs Sun Belt savings
California vs New York
Two highest-cost states compared
Florida vs Texas
Both no income tax — see the differences
California vs Washington
Two tech-hub states side by side
New York vs Texas
Remote hiring: East Coast vs South
Illinois vs Texas
Midwest high costs vs low-tax South
California vs Florida
West Coast vs Southeast business costs
Financial Analysis
Measure profitability and cash position
Profit Margin Calculator
3 Margin TypesCalculate gross, operating, and net profit margins. Compare against industry benchmarks to see how your business stacks up.
Net Profit ÷ Revenue × 100 = Net Margin %
Markup & Margin
Convert between markup and margin percentages. Understand the difference and set the right prices.
Cash Flow Forecast
Project your cash flow month by month. See your runway, break-even point, and danger zones.
Self-Employment Tax
Estimate SE tax, quarterly payments, and QBI deduction for freelancers and sole proprietors.
Explore the Data
2,500+ pages of employer cost data — Tax season resources
New York vs Florida: Employer Costs
High-tax state vs no-income-tax state — how much does location affect hiring cost?
Bakery Startup Costs in Austin, TX (2026)
One-time and monthly costs to open a bakery in Austin, adjusted for local cost of living
Employee Costs in California
SUTA, disability insurance, paid family leave, and total hiring cost breakdown
Popular Guides
State data across all 50 states and DC
Employee Costs in California
SUTA, workers' comp, disability insurance
Employee Costs in Texas
No state income tax + low SUTA rates
California vs Texas: Hiring Costs
Side-by-side employer cost comparison
Restaurant Startup Costs — NYC
Itemized one-time and monthly costs
LLC Filing Fees by State
$35–$500 state fees, all 50 states + DC
Why CostCrunch?
Free, forever
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Your data stays private
All calculations run client-side in your browser. Nothing is sent to our servers.
2026 official data
Tax rates sourced from the IRS, SSA, and state workforce agencies. Updated annually.
2,500+ data pages
The most comprehensive employer cost database in the US — no payroll product to sell.
From the Blog
All guides →Business Startup Costs in 2026: What You'll Actually Spend
Real cost ranges by business type — restaurant, salon, food truck, retail. The three budget buckets most guides miss. Location comparisons across 7 cities.
10 min read • Updated March 2026
Specialized Calculators
Industry-specific cost tools from our network
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