How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Austin, TX?
Population: 978,908 | Cost of living: 105.2% | Sales tax: 8.25% | Min wage: $7.25
Startup Costs by Industry in Austin
| Industry | Estimated Startup Cost | National Average | Local Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Firm | $20,000 - $81,000 | $15,000 - $60,000 | +35% |
| Acupuncture Practice | $11,000 - $67,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +11% |
| Affiliate Marketing Business | $3,000 - $14,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +209% |
| After-School Program | $22,000 - $131,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +28% |
| AI Consulting Business | $7,000 - $52,000 | $2,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Airbnb Rental Business | $11,000 - $54,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +8% |
| Amazon FBA Business | $8,000 - $68,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +38% |
| App Development | $17,000 - $123,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +22% |
| Aquaponics Farm | $19,000 - $143,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -5% |
| Arcade & Gaming Center | $101,000 - $619,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +20% |
| ATM Business | $4,000 - $53,000 | $3,000 - $30,000 | +73% |
| Auto Detailing | $9,000 - $64,000 | $5,000 - $75,000 | -9% |
| Auto Repair Shop | $64,000 - $342,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Axe Throwing Venue | $49,000 - $273,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +29% |
| Bakery | $60,000 - $259,000 | $60,000 - $250,000 | +3% |
| Bar | $92,000 - $388,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | -4% |
| Barbershop | $44,000 - $166,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | +5% |
| Beauty Supply Store | $31,000 - $150,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +1% |
| Bed & Breakfast | $142,000 - $705,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +41% |
| Beekeeping Business | $12,000 - $57,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +15% |
| Bike Shop | $31,000 - $197,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | -1% |
| Auto Body Shop | $50,000 - $292,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -2% |
| Bookkeeping Service | $3,000 - $18,000 | $2,000 - $10,000 | +75% |
| Bookstore | $46,000 - $200,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +3% |
| Boutique | $49,000 - $252,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | Avg |
| Bowling Alley | $481,000 - $3,148,000 | $500,000 - $3,000,000 | +4% |
| Brewery | $257,000 - $1,463,000 | $250,000 - $1,500,000 | -2% |
| Campground | $127,000 - $1,305,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +30% |
| Candy Shop | $25,000 - $123,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +23% |
| Car Rental Business | $53,000 - $502,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +1% |
| Car Wash | $92,000 - $548,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | +11% |
| Carpentry Business | $20,000 - $105,000 | $15,000 - $75,000 | +39% |
| Carpet Cleaning Business | $6,000 - $39,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +29% |
| Catering Business | $27,000 - $142,000 | $20,000 - $125,000 | +17% |
| Chiropractic | $90,000 - $330,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -7% |
| Christmas Tree Farm | $29,000 - $182,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +76% |
| Cleaning Service | $7,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -2% |
| Clothing Store | $26,000 - $150,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +1% |
| Coding Bootcamp | $11,000 - $104,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +5% |
| Coffee Roastery | $24,000 - $299,000 | $20,000 - $300,000 | +1% |
| Coffee Shop | $66,000 - $263,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | -13% |
| Computer Repair Business | $6,000 - $39,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +29% |
| Concrete Business | $30,000 - $158,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +4% |
| Construction Company | $60,000 - $513,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +4% |
| Consulting Business | $11,000 - $67,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Convenience Store | $55,000 - $362,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +4% |
| Courier & Delivery Service | $8,000 - $57,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +18% |
| Coworking Space | $99,000 - $480,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | -4% |
| Cybersecurity Firm | $11,000 - $104,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +5% |
| Dance Studio | $33,000 - $155,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +4% |
| Daycare | $50,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -24% |
| Demolition Company | $63,000 - $287,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +17% |
| Dental Practice | $320,000 - $804,000 | $350,000 - $750,000 | +2% |
| Digital Marketing | $10,000 - $68,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Distillery | $106,000 - $984,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | -1% |
| Dog Daycare | $46,000 - $352,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +2% |
| Dog Grooming Business | $12,000 - $73,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Dog Training Business | $4,000 - $30,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | +55% |
| Dog Walking Business | $3,000 - $11,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +155% |
| Donut Shop | $55,000 - $266,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +7% |
| Driving School | $26,000 - $114,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +12% |
| Drone Business | $5,000 - $41,000 | $3,000 - $50,000 | -13% |
| Dropshipping Business | $3,000 - $19,000 | $500 - $10,000 | +110% |
| Electrical | $19,000 - $95,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -1% |
| Embroidery & Custom Apparel | $11,000 - $57,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Escape Room | $59,000 - $383,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Etsy Shop | $3,000 - $12,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +173% |
| Event Planning Business | $8,000 - $39,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +34% |
| Excavation Business | $88,000 - $392,000 | $80,000 - $350,000 | +12% |
| Farm | $48,000 - $650,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +27% |
| Fast Food Franchise | $165,000 - $2,841,000 | $100,000 - $2,500,000 | +16% |
| Fencing Business | $11,000 - $57,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Financial Advisory Practice | $11,000 - $57,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Fitness Studio | $50,000 - $292,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -2% |
| Flooring Business | $14,000 - $76,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +29% |
| Flower Shop | $34,000 - $178,000 | $30,000 - $175,000 | +3% |
| Food Delivery Service | $17,000 - $96,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +33% |
| Food Truck | $64,000 - $234,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +19% |
| Franchise Business | $36,000 - $1,412,000 | $20,000 - $1,000,000 | +42% |
| Garage Door Business | $11,000 - $57,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Gas Station | $246,000 - $1,898,000 | $250,000 - $2,000,000 | -5% |
| General Contractor | $34,000 - $202,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +3% |
| Ghost Kitchen | $25,000 - $123,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +23% |
| Gift Shop | $34,000 - $165,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +11% |
| Glamping Business | $21,000 - $197,000 | $20,000 - $200,000 | -1% |
| Graphic Design Business | $7,000 - $28,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +52% |
| Greenhouse Business | $27,000 - $207,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +2% |
| Grocery Store | $122,000 - $1,647,000 | $80,000 - $2,000,000 | -15% |
| Gym | $92,000 - $463,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +1% |
| Hair Salon | $61,000 - $227,000 | $60,000 - $200,000 | +11% |
| Handyman | $10,000 - $49,000 | $5,000 - $40,000 | +31% |
| Home Health Care Agency | $51,000 - $349,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +3% |
| Home Inspection Business | $7,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +33% |
| Hostel | $50,000 - $292,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -2% |
| Hotel | $637,000 - $6,389,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +28% |
| HVAC | $27,000 - $135,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -5% |
| Ice Cream Shop | $55,000 - $292,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -1% |
| Insurance Agency | $23,000 - $96,000 | $20,000 - $80,000 | +19% |
| Interior Design Business | $6,000 - $39,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +29% |
| IT Services | $17,000 - $100,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +2% |
| Jewelry Store | $50,000 - $244,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -2% |
| Juice Bar | $42,000 - $200,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +1% |
| Junk Removal Business | $6,000 - $57,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +15% |
| Landscaping | $15,000 - $81,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +7% |
| Language School | $11,000 - $80,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +7% |
| Laundromat | $162,000 - $916,000 | $200,000 - $1,000,000 | -10% |
| Lavender Farm | $21,000 - $104,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +4% |
| Law Firm | $46,000 - $219,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +6% |
| Liquor Store | $106,000 - $410,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | +3% |
| Locksmith Business | $6,000 - $39,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +29% |
| Managed IT Services | $11,000 - $80,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +7% |
| Manufacturing Business | $68,000 - $1,165,000 | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | +17% |
| Marketing Agency | $18,000 - $107,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +47% |
| Martial Arts Studio | $31,000 - $154,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +3% |
| Masonry Business | $20,000 - $98,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +24% |
| Massage Therapy Practice | $6,000 - $57,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +15% |
| Meal Prep Business | $19,000 - $93,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -3% |
| Med Spa | $211,000 - $619,000 | $250,000 - $600,000 | -2% |
| Medical Practice | $109,000 - $643,000 | $70,000 - $500,000 | +32% |
| Microgreens Farm | $3,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +41% |
| Mini Golf Course | $101,000 - $590,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +15% |
| Mobile Mechanic | $8,000 - $54,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Moving Company | $27,000 - $135,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -5% |
| Mushroom Farm | $12,000 - $94,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +18% |
| Music School | $29,000 - $140,000 | $25,000 - $120,000 | +17% |
| Nail Salon | $38,000 - $154,000 | $40,000 - $150,000 | +1% |
| Notary Business | $2,000 - $14,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 | +167% |
| Plant Nursery | $31,000 - $190,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +26% |
| Oil Change Shop | $49,000 - $267,000 | $40,000 - $250,000 | +9% |
| Online Coaching Business | $4,000 - $25,000 | $1,000 - $10,000 | +164% |
| Online Store | $4,000 - $46,000 | $2,000 - $30,000 | +56% |
| Painting | $10,000 - $55,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +18% |
| Pawn Shop | $50,000 - $197,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -1% |
| Personal Training | $13,000 - $103,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +5% |
| Pest Control | $17,000 - $81,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +15% |
| Pet Boarding Facility | $59,000 - $565,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +13% |
| Pet Sitting Business | $3,000 - $10,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +136% |
| Pet Store | $58,000 - $304,000 | $60,000 - $300,000 | +1% |
| Pharmacy | $306,000 - $1,616,000 | $250,000 - $1,700,000 | -1% |
| Phone Repair Shop | $11,000 - $57,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Photography Business | $13,000 - $87,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +67% |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | $50,000 - $292,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -2% |
| Pilates Studio | $31,000 - $150,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +1% |
| Pizza Shop | $80,000 - $314,000 | $75,000 - $300,000 | +5% |
| Plumbing | $17,000 - $92,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -5% |
| Podcast Studio | $19,000 - $95,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +20% |
| Pool Construction Business | $50,000 - $292,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -2% |
| Pool Cleaning & Service | $6,000 - $34,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +33% |
| Preschool | $78,000 - $310,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | +2% |
| Pressure Washing Business | $3,000 - $24,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +17% |
| Print-on-Demand Business | $3,000 - $16,000 | $500 - $8,000 | +124% |
| Printing Business | $51,000 - $252,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +1% |
| Property Management Company | $7,000 - $42,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -11% |
| Real Estate Agency | $31,000 - $133,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +31% |
| Real Estate Investment Business | $32,000 - $665,000 | $20,000 - $500,000 | +34% |
| Recording Studio | $46,000 - $219,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +6% |
| Restaurant | $90,000 - $358,000 | $75,000 - $250,000 | +38% |
| Retail Store | $45,000 - $262,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +2% |
| Roofing | $27,000 - $143,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | Avg |
| SaaS Company | $26,000 - $204,000 | $25,000 - $200,000 | +2% |
| Security Company | $16,000 - $108,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +13% |
| Self-Storage Facility | $495,000 - $6,200,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +22% |
| Senior Care Facility | $127,000 - $1,368,000 | $100,000 - $1,500,000 | -7% |
| SEO Agency | $11,000 - $69,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +45% |
| Sign Shop | $21,000 - $104,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +4% |
| Smoke Shop | $31,000 - $150,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +1% |
| Solar Installation Business | $50,000 - $292,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -2% |
| Spa | $91,000 - $354,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -1% |
| Staffing Agency | $39,000 - $172,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +17% |
| Subscription Box Business | $7,000 - $59,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +20% |
| Swim School | $50,000 - $292,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -2% |
| Tanning Salon | $50,000 - $244,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -2% |
| Tattoo Shop | $31,000 - $150,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +1% |
| Tax Preparation Business | $10,000 - $55,000 | $8,000 - $40,000 | +35% |
| Tech Startup | $22,000 - $177,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +17% |
| Thrift Store | $23,000 - $129,000 | $20,000 - $120,000 | +9% |
| Tire Shop | $60,000 - $295,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +18% |
| Tour Company | $14,000 - $88,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +13% |
| Towing Company | $58,000 - $302,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +3% |
| Trampoline Park | $416,000 - $1,942,000 | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | -6% |
| Travel Agency | $8,000 - $46,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +54% |
| Tree Service | $16,000 - $104,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +4% |
| Trucking Company | $22,000 - $293,000 | $15,000 - $400,000 | -24% |
| Tutoring Business | $4,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Used Car Dealer | $51,000 - $356,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +2% |
| Vape Shop | $31,000 - $150,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +3% |
| Vending Machine Business | $8,000 - $73,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +47% |
| Veterinary Clinic | $343,000 - $2,190,000 | $300,000 - $2,000,000 | +10% |
| Videography Business | $14,000 - $67,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +16% |
| Virtual Assistant Business | $2,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $3,000 | +329% |
| Waste Management Business | $37,000 - $436,000 | $30,000 - $500,000 | -11% |
| Web Design Business | $5,000 - $32,000 | $3,000 - $25,000 | +32% |
| Wedding Planning Business | $8,000 - $38,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +31% |
| Welding Business | $22,000 - $128,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +30% |
| Window Cleaning Business | $3,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +41% |
| Winery | $84,000 - $1,115,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +9% |
| Yoga Studio | $50,000 - $198,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -1% |
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Local Market Factors in Austin
105.2%
Cost of Living Index
$22-$55
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)
1.1x
Labor Rate Index
8.25%
Sales Tax Rate
Local Permit Fees in Austin
| Permit | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Business License | $50 - $250 |
| Food Service Permit | $350 - $800 |
| Liquor License | $1,500 - $5,000 |
| General Contractor License | $100 - $400 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $25 - $100 |
About Starting a Business in Austin
Austin has emerged as one of America's top startup cities, fueled by a young, educated workforce and the relocation of major tech companies like Tesla and Oracle. The city's vibrant food truck and live music scenes make it especially attractive for hospitality entrepreneurs.
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