How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Chesapeake, VA?
Population: 249,422 | Cost of living: 101.5% | Sales tax: 6% | Min wage: $12.41
Startup Costs by Industry in Chesapeake
| Industry | Estimated Startup Cost | National Average | Local Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Firm | $17,000 - $69,000 | $15,000 - $60,000 | +15% |
| Acupuncture Practice | $8,000 - $51,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | -16% |
| Affiliate Marketing Business | $2,000 - $12,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +155% |
| After-School Program | $19,000 - $111,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +8% |
| AI Consulting Business | $6,000 - $50,000 | $2,000 - $50,000 | +8% |
| Airbnb Rental Business | $10,000 - $52,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +3% |
| Amazon FBA Business | $7,000 - $66,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| App Development | $17,000 - $108,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +9% |
| Aquaponics Farm | $17,000 - $134,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -11% |
| Arcade & Gaming Center | $88,000 - $522,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +2% |
| ATM Business | $4,000 - $53,000 | $3,000 - $30,000 | +73% |
| Auto Detailing | $8,000 - $62,000 | $5,000 - $75,000 | -13% |
| Auto Repair Shop | $55,000 - $288,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -2% |
| Axe Throwing Venue | $41,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +2% |
| Bakery | $53,000 - $228,000 | $60,000 - $250,000 | -9% |
| Bar | $82,000 - $338,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | -16% |
| Barbershop | $39,000 - $144,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | -9% |
| Beauty Supply Store | $23,000 - $111,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -26% |
| Bed & Breakfast | $106,000 - $526,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +5% |
| Beekeeping Business | $12,000 - $55,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +12% |
| Bike Shop | $23,000 - $146,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | -27% |
| Auto Body Shop | $37,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Bookkeeping Service | $3,000 - $18,000 | $2,000 - $10,000 | +75% |
| Bookstore | $41,000 - $173,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | -11% |
| Boutique | $44,000 - $219,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -12% |
| Bowling Alley | $411,000 - $2,602,000 | $500,000 - $3,000,000 | -14% |
| Brewery | $208,000 - $1,174,000 | $250,000 - $1,500,000 | -21% |
| Campground | $101,000 - $986,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | -1% |
| Candy Shop | $21,000 - $104,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +4% |
| Car Rental Business | $52,000 - $487,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -2% |
| Car Wash | $78,000 - $482,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | -3% |
| Carpentry Business | $19,000 - $97,000 | $15,000 - $75,000 | +29% |
| Carpet Cleaning Business | $5,000 - $31,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +3% |
| Catering Business | $25,000 - $128,000 | $20,000 - $125,000 | +6% |
| Chiropractic | $82,000 - $298,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -16% |
| Christmas Tree Farm | $25,000 - $147,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +43% |
| Cleaning Service | $7,000 - $45,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -5% |
| Clothing Store | $19,000 - $111,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | -26% |
| Coding Bootcamp | $8,000 - $78,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -22% |
| Coffee Roastery | $22,000 - $266,000 | $20,000 - $300,000 | -10% |
| Coffee Shop | $59,000 - $232,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | -23% |
| Computer Repair Business | $5,000 - $31,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +3% |
| Concrete Business | $30,000 - $156,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +3% |
| Construction Company | $59,000 - $507,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +3% |
| Consulting Business | $10,000 - $64,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +35% |
| Convenience Store | $45,000 - $295,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | -15% |
| Courier & Delivery Service | $7,000 - $55,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Coworking Space | $73,000 - $353,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | -29% |
| Cybersecurity Firm | $8,000 - $78,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -22% |
| Dance Studio | $27,000 - $128,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -14% |
| Daycare | $43,000 - $180,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -36% |
| Demolition Company | $62,000 - $285,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +16% |
| Dental Practice | $301,000 - $748,000 | $350,000 - $750,000 | -5% |
| Digital Marketing | $9,000 - $58,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +22% |
| Distillery | $86,000 - $792,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | -20% |
| Dog Daycare | $35,000 - $253,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | -26% |
| Dog Grooming Business | $11,000 - $58,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +15% |
| Dog Training Business | $4,000 - $25,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | +32% |
| Dog Walking Business | $2,000 - $10,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +118% |
| Donut Shop | $45,000 - $218,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -12% |
| Driving School | $24,000 - $104,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +2% |
| Drone Business | $5,000 - $39,000 | $3,000 - $50,000 | -17% |
| Dropshipping Business | $3,000 - $17,000 | $500 - $10,000 | +90% |
| Electrical | $18,000 - $93,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -3% |
| Embroidery & Custom Apparel | $8,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -12% |
| Escape Room | $47,000 - $300,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -1% |
| Etsy Shop | $2,000 - $11,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +136% |
| Event Planning Business | $8,000 - $37,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +29% |
| Excavation Business | $87,000 - $389,000 | $80,000 - $350,000 | +11% |
| Farm | $44,000 - $512,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +1% |
| Fast Food Franchise | $132,000 - $2,073,000 | $100,000 - $2,500,000 | -15% |
| Fencing Business | $8,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -12% |
| Financial Advisory Practice | $8,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -12% |
| Fitness Studio | $37,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Flooring Business | $13,000 - $74,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +24% |
| Flower Shop | $30,000 - $156,000 | $30,000 - $175,000 | -9% |
| Food Delivery Service | $15,000 - $86,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +19% |
| Food Truck | $59,000 - $220,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +12% |
| Franchise Business | $35,000 - $1,090,000 | $20,000 - $1,000,000 | +10% |
| Garage Door Business | $8,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -12% |
| Gas Station | $181,000 - $1,386,000 | $250,000 - $2,000,000 | -30% |
| General Contractor | $33,000 - $198,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | Avg |
| Ghost Kitchen | $21,000 - $104,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +4% |
| Gift Shop | $30,000 - $141,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -5% |
| Glamping Business | $16,000 - $146,000 | $20,000 - $200,000 | -26% |
| Graphic Design Business | $6,000 - $27,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +43% |
| Greenhouse Business | $25,000 - $193,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | -5% |
| Grocery Store | $101,000 - $1,317,000 | $80,000 - $2,000,000 | -32% |
| Gym | $81,000 - $402,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -12% |
| Hair Salon | $54,000 - $198,000 | $60,000 - $200,000 | -3% |
| Handyman | $9,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $40,000 | +24% |
| Home Health Care Agency | $47,000 - $327,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | -4% |
| Home Inspection Business | $6,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +30% |
| Hostel | $37,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Hotel | $517,000 - $4,888,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | -2% |
| HVAC | $27,000 - $133,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -6% |
| Ice Cream Shop | $50,000 - $261,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -11% |
| Insurance Agency | $20,000 - $84,000 | $20,000 - $80,000 | +4% |
| Interior Design Business | $5,000 - $31,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +3% |
| IT Services | $16,000 - $98,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -1% |
| Jewelry Store | $37,000 - $180,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -28% |
| Juice Bar | $37,000 - $176,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | -11% |
| Junk Removal Business | $5,000 - $45,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -9% |
| Landscaping | $14,000 - $79,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +3% |
| Language School | $8,000 - $61,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | -19% |
| Laundromat | $142,000 - $777,000 | $200,000 - $1,000,000 | -23% |
| Lavender Farm | $16,000 - $78,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | -22% |
| Law Firm | $41,000 - $188,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -8% |
| Liquor Store | $86,000 - $333,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | -16% |
| Locksmith Business | $5,000 - $31,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +3% |
| Managed IT Services | $8,000 - $61,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | -19% |
| Manufacturing Business | $60,000 - $1,024,000 | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | +3% |
| Marketing Agency | $16,000 - $93,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +28% |
| Martial Arts Studio | $27,000 - $130,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -13% |
| Masonry Business | $19,000 - $96,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +21% |
| Massage Therapy Practice | $5,000 - $45,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -9% |
| Meal Prep Business | $16,000 - $81,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -16% |
| Med Spa | $196,000 - $565,000 | $250,000 - $600,000 | -10% |
| Medical Practice | $94,000 - $537,000 | $70,000 - $500,000 | +11% |
| Microgreens Farm | $3,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +41% |
| Mini Golf Course | $82,000 - $463,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | -9% |
| Mobile Mechanic | $8,000 - $52,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +9% |
| Moving Company | $27,000 - $133,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -6% |
| Mushroom Farm | $10,000 - $76,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | -4% |
| Music School | $25,000 - $120,000 | $25,000 - $120,000 | Avg |
| Nail Salon | $34,000 - $135,000 | $40,000 - $150,000 | -11% |
| Notary Business | $2,000 - $14,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 | +167% |
| Plant Nursery | $27,000 - $158,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +6% |
| Oil Change Shop | $42,000 - $228,000 | $40,000 - $250,000 | -7% |
| Online Coaching Business | $3,000 - $23,000 | $1,000 - $10,000 | +136% |
| Online Store | $4,000 - $44,000 | $2,000 - $30,000 | +50% |
| Painting | $9,000 - $53,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Pawn Shop | $37,000 - $146,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -27% |
| Personal Training | $13,000 - $89,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -7% |
| Pest Control | $16,000 - $79,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +12% |
| Pet Boarding Facility | $45,000 - $401,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -19% |
| Pet Sitting Business | $2,000 - $9,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +100% |
| Pet Store | $51,000 - $263,000 | $60,000 - $300,000 | -13% |
| Pharmacy | $270,000 - $1,407,000 | $250,000 - $1,700,000 | -14% |
| Phone Repair Shop | $8,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -12% |
| Photography Business | $12,000 - $74,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +43% |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | $37,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Pilates Studio | $23,000 - $111,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -26% |
| Pizza Shop | $66,000 - $256,000 | $75,000 - $300,000 | -14% |
| Plumbing | $16,000 - $90,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -8% |
| Podcast Studio | $16,000 - $81,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +2% |
| Pool Construction Business | $37,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Pool Cleaning & Service | $5,000 - $28,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +10% |
| Preschool | $68,000 - $265,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | -12% |
| Pressure Washing Business | $3,000 - $24,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +17% |
| Print-on-Demand Business | $2,000 - $14,000 | $500 - $8,000 | +88% |
| Printing Business | $46,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -8% |
| Property Management Company | $6,000 - $34,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -27% |
| Real Estate Agency | $27,000 - $114,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +13% |
| Real Estate Investment Business | $26,000 - $471,000 | $20,000 - $500,000 | -4% |
| Recording Studio | $41,000 - $193,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -6% |
| Restaurant | $80,000 - $314,000 | $75,000 - $250,000 | +21% |
| Retail Store | $39,000 - $217,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -15% |
| Roofing | $27,000 - $141,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -1% |
| SaaS Company | $25,000 - $201,000 | $25,000 - $200,000 | Avg |
| Security Company | $16,000 - $107,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +12% |
| Self-Storage Facility | $353,000 - $4,181,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | -18% |
| Senior Care Facility | $105,000 - $1,037,000 | $100,000 - $1,500,000 | -29% |
| SEO Agency | $10,000 - $59,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +25% |
| Sign Shop | $16,000 - $78,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | -22% |
| Smoke Shop | $23,000 - $111,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -26% |
| Solar Installation Business | $37,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Spa | $81,000 - $308,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -14% |
| Staffing Agency | $34,000 - $152,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +3% |
| Subscription Box Business | $7,000 - $57,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +16% |
| Swim School | $37,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Tanning Salon | $37,000 - $180,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -28% |
| Tattoo Shop | $23,000 - $111,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -26% |
| Tax Preparation Business | $9,000 - $48,000 | $8,000 - $40,000 | +19% |
| Tech Startup | $21,000 - $158,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +5% |
| Thrift Store | $19,000 - $105,000 | $20,000 - $120,000 | -11% |
| Tire Shop | $53,000 - $253,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +2% |
| Tour Company | $13,000 - $86,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +10% |
| Towing Company | $53,000 - $276,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -6% |
| Trampoline Park | $351,000 - $1,620,000 | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | -21% |
| Travel Agency | $7,000 - $41,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +37% |
| Tree Service | $12,000 - $78,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -22% |
| Trucking Company | $22,000 - $292,000 | $15,000 - $400,000 | -24% |
| Tutoring Business | $4,000 - $19,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +35% |
| Used Car Dealer | $46,000 - $321,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | -8% |
| Vape Shop | $28,000 - $129,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | -10% |
| Vending Machine Business | $8,000 - $73,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +47% |
| Veterinary Clinic | $275,000 - $1,663,000 | $300,000 - $2,000,000 | -16% |
| Videography Business | $14,000 - $65,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +13% |
| Virtual Assistant Business | $2,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $3,000 | +329% |
| Waste Management Business | $36,000 - $429,000 | $30,000 - $500,000 | -12% |
| Web Design Business | $5,000 - $30,000 | $3,000 - $25,000 | +25% |
| Wedding Planning Business | $8,000 - $36,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +26% |
| Welding Business | $20,000 - $113,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +16% |
| Window Cleaning Business | $3,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +41% |
| Winery | $75,000 - $905,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | -11% |
| Yoga Studio | $43,000 - $167,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -16% |
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Local Market Factors in Chesapeake
101.5%
Cost of Living Index
$14-$34
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)
0.95x
Labor Rate Index
6%
Sales Tax Rate
Local Permit Fees in Chesapeake
| Permit | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Business License | $50 - $200 |
| Food Service Permit | $200 - $500 |
| Liquor License | $1,000 - $4,000 |
| General Contractor License | $100 - $300 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $25 - $75 |
About Starting a Business in Chesapeake
Chesapeake is part of the Hampton Roads metro and benefits from the region's massive military and defense presence, with multiple Navy installations nearby driving demand for services. The city's suburban character, strong schools, and proximity to the Port of Virginia make it attractive for family-oriented businesses and logistics ventures.
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