How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Boulder, CO?
Population: 105,673 | Cost of living: 148.2% | Sales tax: 9.045% | Min wage: $14.42
Startup Costs by Industry in Boulder
| Industry | Estimated Startup Cost | National Average | Local Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Firm | $23,000 - $96,000 | $15,000 - $60,000 | +59% |
| Acupuncture Practice | $13,000 - $77,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +29% |
| Affiliate Marketing Business | $3,000 - $17,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +264% |
| After-School Program | $26,000 - $156,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +52% |
| AI Consulting Business | $8,000 - $61,000 | $2,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Airbnb Rental Business | $12,000 - $63,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +25% |
| Amazon FBA Business | $9,000 - $77,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +56% |
| App Development | $21,000 - $146,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +45% |
| Aquaponics Farm | $21,000 - $162,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +8% |
| Arcade & Gaming Center | $114,000 - $697,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +35% |
| ATM Business | $5,000 - $54,000 | $3,000 - $30,000 | +79% |
| Auto Detailing | $10,000 - $70,000 | $5,000 - $75,000 | Avg |
| Auto Repair Shop | $69,000 - $381,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +29% |
| Axe Throwing Venue | $58,000 - $322,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +52% |
| Bakery | $69,000 - $301,000 | $60,000 - $250,000 | +19% |
| Bar | $108,000 - $449,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | +11% |
| Barbershop | $51,000 - $195,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | +23% |
| Beauty Supply Store | $37,000 - $177,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +19% |
| Bed & Breakfast | $170,000 - $847,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +70% |
| Beekeeping Business | $13,000 - $61,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +23% |
| Bike Shop | $37,000 - $233,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +17% |
| Auto Body Shop | $60,000 - $346,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Bookkeeping Service | $3,000 - $18,000 | $2,000 - $10,000 | +75% |
| Bookstore | $53,000 - $235,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +20% |
| Boutique | $56,000 - $293,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +16% |
| Bowling Alley | $548,000 - $3,599,000 | $500,000 - $3,000,000 | +18% |
| Brewery | $299,000 - $1,684,000 | $250,000 - $1,500,000 | +13% |
| Campground | $152,000 - $1,574,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +57% |
| Candy Shop | $28,000 - $138,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +38% |
| Car Rental Business | $58,000 - $534,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +8% |
| Car Wash | $105,000 - $617,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | +26% |
| Carpentry Business | $22,000 - $117,000 | $15,000 - $75,000 | +54% |
| Carpet Cleaning Business | $7,000 - $44,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +46% |
| Catering Business | $31,000 - $159,000 | $20,000 - $125,000 | +31% |
| Chiropractic | $105,000 - $384,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | +9% |
| Christmas Tree Farm | $33,000 - $213,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +105% |
| Cleaning Service | $8,000 - $54,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Clothing Store | $31,000 - $177,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +19% |
| Coding Bootcamp | $13,000 - $122,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +23% |
| Coffee Roastery | $27,000 - $328,000 | $20,000 - $300,000 | +11% |
| Coffee Shop | $76,000 - $304,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | Avg |
| Computer Repair Business | $7,000 - $44,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +46% |
| Concrete Business | $33,000 - $173,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +14% |
| Construction Company | $69,000 - $577,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +17% |
| Consulting Business | $12,000 - $78,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +64% |
| Convenience Store | $63,000 - $414,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +19% |
| Courier & Delivery Service | $9,000 - $61,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +27% |
| Coworking Space | $119,000 - $571,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +15% |
| Cybersecurity Firm | $13,000 - $122,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +23% |
| Dance Studio | $39,000 - $187,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +26% |
| Daycare | $61,000 - $260,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -8% |
| Demolition Company | $67,000 - $306,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +24% |
| Dental Practice | $359,000 - $904,000 | $350,000 - $750,000 | +15% |
| Digital Marketing | $11,000 - $80,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +65% |
| Distillery | $122,000 - $1,132,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +14% |
| Dog Daycare | $55,000 - $430,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +24% |
| Dog Grooming Business | $14,000 - $85,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +65% |
| Dog Training Business | $5,000 - $35,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | +82% |
| Dog Walking Business | $3,000 - $14,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +209% |
| Donut Shop | $63,000 - $303,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +22% |
| Driving School | $29,000 - $128,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +26% |
| Drone Business | $6,000 - $44,000 | $3,000 - $50,000 | -6% |
| Dropshipping Business | $3,000 - $22,000 | $500 - $10,000 | +138% |
| Electrical | $20,000 - $104,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +8% |
| Embroidery & Custom Apparel | $13,000 - $66,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +32% |
| Escape Room | $71,000 - $461,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +52% |
| Etsy Shop | $3,000 - $15,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +227% |
| Event Planning Business | $9,000 - $46,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +57% |
| Excavation Business | $93,000 - $416,000 | $80,000 - $350,000 | +18% |
| Farm | $56,000 - $757,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +48% |
| Fast Food Franchise | $192,000 - $3,331,000 | $100,000 - $2,500,000 | +36% |
| Fencing Business | $13,000 - $66,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +32% |
| Financial Advisory Practice | $13,000 - $66,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +32% |
| Fitness Studio | $60,000 - $346,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Flooring Business | $15,000 - $83,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +40% |
| Flower Shop | $39,000 - $207,000 | $30,000 - $175,000 | +20% |
| Food Delivery Service | $19,000 - $108,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +49% |
| Food Truck | $68,000 - $249,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +27% |
| Franchise Business | $40,000 - $1,672,000 | $20,000 - $1,000,000 | +68% |
| Garage Door Business | $13,000 - $66,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +32% |
| Gas Station | $297,000 - $2,262,000 | $250,000 - $2,000,000 | +14% |
| General Contractor | $36,000 - $226,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +14% |
| Ghost Kitchen | $28,000 - $138,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +38% |
| Gift Shop | $39,000 - $193,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +29% |
| Glamping Business | $25,000 - $233,000 | $20,000 - $200,000 | +17% |
| Graphic Design Business | $7,000 - $32,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +70% |
| Greenhouse Business | $31,000 - $240,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +18% |
| Grocery Store | $142,000 - $1,918,000 | $80,000 - $2,000,000 | -1% |
| Gym | $107,000 - $534,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +17% |
| Hair Salon | $71,000 - $264,000 | $60,000 - $200,000 | +29% |
| Handyman | $11,000 - $54,000 | $5,000 - $40,000 | +44% |
| Home Health Care Agency | $61,000 - $427,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +25% |
| Home Inspection Business | $7,000 - $35,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +40% |
| Hostel | $60,000 - $346,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Hotel | $757,000 - $7,586,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +52% |
| HVAC | $30,000 - $148,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +5% |
| Ice Cream Shop | $63,000 - $335,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +14% |
| Insurance Agency | $28,000 - $117,000 | $20,000 - $80,000 | +45% |
| Interior Design Business | $7,000 - $44,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +46% |
| IT Services | $19,000 - $113,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +15% |
| Jewelry Store | $60,000 - $290,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +17% |
| Juice Bar | $49,000 - $234,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +18% |
| Junk Removal Business | $7,000 - $66,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Landscaping | $16,000 - $89,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +17% |
| Language School | $13,000 - $94,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +26% |
| Laundromat | $179,000 - $1,025,000 | $200,000 - $1,000,000 | Avg |
| Lavender Farm | $25,000 - $122,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +23% |
| Law Firm | $56,000 - $266,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +29% |
| Liquor Store | $122,000 - $469,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | +18% |
| Locksmith Business | $7,000 - $44,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +46% |
| Managed IT Services | $13,000 - $94,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +26% |
| Manufacturing Business | $79,000 - $1,332,000 | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | +34% |
| Marketing Agency | $21,000 - $126,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +73% |
| Martial Arts Studio | $37,000 - $184,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +23% |
| Masonry Business | $21,000 - $106,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +34% |
| Massage Therapy Practice | $7,000 - $66,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Meal Prep Business | $22,000 - $108,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +13% |
| Med Spa | $237,000 - $698,000 | $250,000 - $600,000 | +10% |
| Medical Practice | $131,000 - $768,000 | $70,000 - $500,000 | +58% |
| Microgreens Farm | $3,000 - $22,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Mini Golf Course | $121,000 - $707,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +38% |
| Mobile Mechanic | $9,000 - $57,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +20% |
| Moving Company | $30,000 - $148,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +5% |
| Mushroom Farm | $14,000 - $110,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +38% |
| Music School | $34,000 - $167,000 | $25,000 - $120,000 | +39% |
| Nail Salon | $45,000 - $181,000 | $40,000 - $150,000 | +19% |
| Notary Business | $2,000 - $15,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 | +183% |
| Plant Nursery | $36,000 - $221,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +47% |
| Oil Change Shop | $56,000 - $309,000 | $40,000 - $250,000 | +26% |
| Online Coaching Business | $4,000 - $28,000 | $1,000 - $10,000 | +191% |
| Online Store | $5,000 - $48,000 | $2,000 - $30,000 | +66% |
| Painting | $11,000 - $62,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Pawn Shop | $60,000 - $233,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +17% |
| Personal Training | $16,000 - $120,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +24% |
| Pest Control | $18,000 - $90,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +27% |
| Pet Boarding Facility | $71,000 - $683,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +37% |
| Pet Sitting Business | $3,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +191% |
| Pet Store | $66,000 - $353,000 | $60,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Pharmacy | $350,000 - $1,824,000 | $250,000 - $1,700,000 | +11% |
| Phone Repair Shop | $13,000 - $66,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +32% |
| Photography Business | $13,000 - $95,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +80% |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | $60,000 - $346,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Pilates Studio | $37,000 - $177,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +19% |
| Pizza Shop | $93,000 - $359,000 | $75,000 - $300,000 | +21% |
| Plumbing | $19,000 - $101,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +4% |
| Podcast Studio | $22,000 - $113,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +42% |
| Pool Construction Business | $60,000 - $346,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Pool Cleaning & Service | $7,000 - $39,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +53% |
| Preschool | $94,000 - $373,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | +23% |
| Pressure Washing Business | $4,000 - $25,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +26% |
| Print-on-Demand Business | $3,000 - $19,000 | $500 - $8,000 | +159% |
| Printing Business | $57,000 - $287,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +15% |
| Property Management Company | $8,000 - $50,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +5% |
| Real Estate Agency | $37,000 - $160,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +58% |
| Real Estate Investment Business | $40,000 - $825,000 | $20,000 - $500,000 | +66% |
| Recording Studio | $54,000 - $256,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +24% |
| Restaurant | $104,000 - $415,000 | $75,000 - $250,000 | +60% |
| Retail Store | $50,000 - $296,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +15% |
| Roofing | $30,000 - $158,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +11% |
| SaaS Company | $30,000 - $228,000 | $25,000 - $200,000 | +15% |
| Security Company | $19,000 - $121,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +27% |
| Self-Storage Facility | $599,000 - $7,506,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +47% |
| Senior Care Facility | $152,000 - $1,642,000 | $100,000 - $1,500,000 | +12% |
| SEO Agency | $12,000 - $81,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +69% |
| Sign Shop | $25,000 - $122,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +23% |
| Smoke Shop | $37,000 - $177,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +19% |
| Solar Installation Business | $60,000 - $346,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Spa | $107,000 - $413,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | +16% |
| Staffing Agency | $48,000 - $211,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +44% |
| Subscription Box Business | $8,000 - $66,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +35% |
| Swim School | $60,000 - $346,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Tanning Salon | $60,000 - $290,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +17% |
| Tattoo Shop | $37,000 - $177,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +19% |
| Tax Preparation Business | $11,000 - $66,000 | $8,000 - $40,000 | +60% |
| Tech Startup | $26,000 - $213,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +41% |
| Thrift Store | $28,000 - $156,000 | $20,000 - $120,000 | +31% |
| Tire Shop | $68,000 - $335,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +34% |
| Tour Company | $15,000 - $97,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +24% |
| Towing Company | $64,000 - $332,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +13% |
| Trampoline Park | $472,000 - $2,202,000 | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | +7% |
| Travel Agency | $9,000 - $54,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +80% |
| Tree Service | $19,000 - $122,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +23% |
| Trucking Company | $24,000 - $310,000 | $15,000 - $400,000 | -20% |
| Tutoring Business | $5,000 - $25,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +76% |
| Used Car Dealer | $58,000 - $398,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +14% |
| Vape Shop | $36,000 - $175,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +21% |
| Vending Machine Business | $8,000 - $74,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +49% |
| Veterinary Clinic | $399,000 - $2,576,000 | $300,000 - $2,000,000 | +29% |
| Videography Business | $15,000 - $74,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +27% |
| Virtual Assistant Business | $2,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $3,000 | +329% |
| Waste Management Business | $40,000 - $464,000 | $30,000 - $500,000 | -5% |
| Web Design Business | $5,000 - $34,000 | $3,000 - $25,000 | +39% |
| Wedding Planning Business | $9,000 - $43,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +49% |
| Welding Business | $24,000 - $141,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +43% |
| Window Cleaning Business | $3,000 - $22,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Winery | $98,000 - $1,306,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +28% |
| Yoga Studio | $59,000 - $239,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +19% |
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Local Market Factors in Boulder
148.2%
Cost of Living Index
$28-$65
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)
1.32x
Labor Rate Index
9.045%
Sales Tax Rate
Local Permit Fees in Boulder
| Permit | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Business License | $100 - $400 |
| Food Service Permit | $350 - $850 |
| Liquor License | $1,500 - $7,000 |
| General Contractor License | $175 - $500 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $50 - $175 |
About Starting a Business in Boulder
Boulder is a nationally recognized hub for natural foods, outdoor recreation brands, and clean-tech startups, home to companies like Celestial Seasonings and Rally Software. The University of Colorado campus, Pearl Street Mall, and a health-conscious consumer base support premium pricing for wellness, dining, and specialty retail.
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