How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Columbus, OH?
Population: 905,748 | Cost of living: 96.8% | Sales tax: 7.5% | Min wage: $10.45
Startup Costs by Industry in Columbus
| Industry | Estimated Startup Cost | National Average | Local Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Firm | $18,000 - $71,000 | $15,000 - $60,000 | +19% |
| Acupuncture Practice | $9,000 - $51,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | -14% |
| Affiliate Marketing Business | $3,000 - $14,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +209% |
| After-School Program | $20,000 - $112,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +10% |
| AI Consulting Business | $7,000 - $52,000 | $2,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Airbnb Rental Business | $11,000 - $53,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +7% |
| Amazon FBA Business | $8,000 - $68,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +38% |
| App Development | $17,000 - $109,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +10% |
| Aquaponics Farm | $18,000 - $136,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -9% |
| Arcade & Gaming Center | $87,000 - $523,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +2% |
| 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 | $56,000 - $291,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -1% |
| Axe Throwing Venue | $40,000 - $215,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +2% |
| Bakery | $53,000 - $229,000 | $60,000 - $250,000 | -9% |
| Bar | $82,000 - $336,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | -16% |
| Barbershop | $39,000 - $146,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | -8% |
| Beauty Supply Store | $23,000 - $112,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -25% |
| Bed & Breakfast | $107,000 - $531,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +6% |
| Beekeeping Business | $13,000 - $57,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +17% |
| Bike Shop | $23,000 - $147,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | -26% |
| Auto Body Shop | $37,000 - $216,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Bookkeeping Service | $3,000 - $18,000 | $2,000 - $10,000 | +75% |
| Bookstore | $42,000 - $174,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | -10% |
| Boutique | $44,000 - $220,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -12% |
| Bowling Alley | $410,000 - $2,606,000 | $500,000 - $3,000,000 | -14% |
| Brewery | $208,000 - $1,177,000 | $250,000 - $1,500,000 | -21% |
| Campground | $102,000 - $993,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | Avg |
| Candy Shop | $21,000 - $104,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +4% |
| Car Rental Business | $51,000 - $484,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -3% |
| Car Wash | $79,000 - $484,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | -2% |
| Carpentry Business | $20,000 - $98,000 | $15,000 - $75,000 | +31% |
| Carpet Cleaning Business | $5,000 - $31,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +3% |
| Catering Business | $25,000 - $130,000 | $20,000 - $125,000 | +7% |
| Chiropractic | $82,000 - $297,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -16% |
| Christmas Tree Farm | $25,000 - $149,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +45% |
| Cleaning Service | $8,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | Avg |
| Clothing Store | $19,000 - $112,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | -25% |
| Coding Bootcamp | $9,000 - $78,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -21% |
| Coffee Roastery | $23,000 - $268,000 | $20,000 - $300,000 | -9% |
| Coffee Shop | $60,000 - $233,000 | $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 - $500,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +2% |
| Consulting Business | $11,000 - $66,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +40% |
| Convenience Store | $45,000 - $295,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | -15% |
| Courier & Delivery Service | $8,000 - $57,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +18% |
| Coworking Space | $73,000 - $354,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | -29% |
| Cybersecurity Firm | $9,000 - $78,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -21% |
| Dance Studio | $28,000 - $130,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -12% |
| Daycare | $44,000 - $180,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -36% |
| Demolition Company | $62,000 - $284,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +15% |
| Dental Practice | $299,000 - $744,000 | $350,000 - $750,000 | -5% |
| Digital Marketing | $10,000 - $59,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +25% |
| Distillery | $86,000 - $793,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | -20% |
| Dog Daycare | $36,000 - $256,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | -25% |
| Dog Grooming Business | $11,000 - $60,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +18% |
| Dog Training Business | $5,000 - $27,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | +45% |
| Dog Walking Business | $3,000 - $12,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +173% |
| Donut Shop | $45,000 - $219,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -12% |
| Driving School | $25,000 - $106,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +5% |
| Drone Business | $6,000 - $41,000 | $3,000 - $50,000 | -11% |
| Dropshipping Business | $4,000 - $19,000 | $500 - $10,000 | +119% |
| Electrical | $19,000 - $95,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -1% |
| Embroidery & Custom Apparel | $9,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -10% |
| Escape Room | $47,000 - $300,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -1% |
| Etsy Shop | $3,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +191% |
| Event Planning Business | $8,000 - $39,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +34% |
| Excavation Business | $88,000 - $389,000 | $80,000 - $350,000 | +11% |
| Farm | $44,000 - $516,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +2% |
| Fast Food Franchise | $133,000 - $2,092,000 | $100,000 - $2,500,000 | -14% |
| Fencing Business | $9,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -10% |
| Financial Advisory Practice | $9,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -10% |
| Fitness Studio | $37,000 - $216,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Flooring Business | $14,000 - $76,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +29% |
| Flower Shop | $31,000 - $157,000 | $30,000 - $175,000 | -8% |
| Food Delivery Service | $16,000 - $87,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +21% |
| Food Truck | $60,000 - $222,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +13% |
| Franchise Business | $35,000 - $1,091,000 | $20,000 - $1,000,000 | +10% |
| Garage Door Business | $9,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -10% |
| Gas Station | $182,000 - $1,394,000 | $250,000 - $2,000,000 | -30% |
| General Contractor | $34,000 - $198,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +1% |
| Ghost Kitchen | $21,000 - $104,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +4% |
| Gift Shop | $31,000 - $143,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -3% |
| Glamping Business | $16,000 - $147,000 | $20,000 - $200,000 | -26% |
| Graphic Design Business | $7,000 - $29,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +57% |
| Greenhouse Business | $25,000 - $193,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | -5% |
| Grocery Store | $102,000 - $1,319,000 | $80,000 - $2,000,000 | -32% |
| Gym | $82,000 - $403,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -12% |
| Hair Salon | $55,000 - $200,000 | $60,000 - $200,000 | -2% |
| Handyman | $10,000 - $48,000 | $5,000 - $40,000 | +29% |
| Home Health Care Agency | $46,000 - $320,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | -6% |
| Home Inspection Business | $6,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +30% |
| Hostel | $37,000 - $216,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Hotel | $517,000 - $4,913,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | -1% |
| HVAC | $27,000 - $133,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -6% |
| Ice Cream Shop | $50,000 - $262,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -11% |
| Insurance Agency | $21,000 - $85,000 | $20,000 - $80,000 | +6% |
| Interior Design Business | $5,000 - $31,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +3% |
| IT Services | $17,000 - $98,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | Avg |
| Jewelry Store | $37,000 - $181,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -27% |
| Juice Bar | $38,000 - $177,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | -10% |
| Junk Removal Business | $5,000 - $45,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -9% |
| Landscaping | $15,000 - $81,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +7% |
| Language School | $9,000 - $62,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | -16% |
| Laundromat | $142,000 - $778,000 | $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 - $334,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | -16% |
| Locksmith Business | $5,000 - $31,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +3% |
| Managed IT Services | $9,000 - $62,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | -16% |
| Manufacturing Business | $60,000 - $1,019,000 | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | +3% |
| Marketing Agency | $17,000 - $95,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +32% |
| Martial Arts Studio | $27,000 - $131,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -12% |
| Masonry Business | $20,000 - $98,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +24% |
| Massage Therapy Practice | $5,000 - $45,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -9% |
| Meal Prep Business | $17,000 - $83,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -13% |
| Med Spa | $195,000 - $562,000 | $250,000 - $600,000 | -11% |
| Medical Practice | $93,000 - $533,000 | $70,000 - $500,000 | +10% |
| Microgreens Farm | $3,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +41% |
| Mini Golf Course | $82,000 - $464,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | -9% |
| Mobile Mechanic | $9,000 - $54,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +15% |
| Moving Company | $27,000 - $133,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -6% |
| Mushroom Farm | $11,000 - $78,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | -1% |
| Music School | $26,000 - $122,000 | $25,000 - $120,000 | +2% |
| Nail Salon | $35,000 - $136,000 | $40,000 - $150,000 | -10% |
| Notary Business | $2,000 - $14,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 | +167% |
| Plant Nursery | $27,000 - $160,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +7% |
| Oil Change Shop | $43,000 - $229,000 | $40,000 - $250,000 | -6% |
| Online Coaching Business | $4,000 - $25,000 | $1,000 - $10,000 | +164% |
| Online Store | $5,000 - $46,000 | $2,000 - $30,000 | +59% |
| Painting | $10,000 - $55,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +18% |
| Pawn Shop | $37,000 - $147,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -26% |
| Personal Training | $13,000 - $91,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -5% |
| Pest Control | $17,000 - $81,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +15% |
| Pet Boarding Facility | $46,000 - $406,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -18% |
| Pet Sitting Business | $3,000 - $11,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +155% |
| Pet Store | $52,000 - $264,000 | $60,000 - $300,000 | -12% |
| Pharmacy | $269,000 - $1,404,000 | $250,000 - $1,700,000 | -14% |
| Phone Repair Shop | $9,000 - $45,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -10% |
| Photography Business | $13,000 - $76,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +48% |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | $37,000 - $216,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Pilates Studio | $23,000 - $112,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -25% |
| Pizza Shop | $66,000 - $257,000 | $75,000 - $300,000 | -14% |
| Plumbing | $17,000 - $92,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -5% |
| Podcast Studio | $17,000 - $82,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +4% |
| Pool Construction Business | $37,000 - $216,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Pool Cleaning & Service | $5,000 - $28,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +10% |
| Preschool | $69,000 - $265,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | -12% |
| 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 | $47,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -8% |
| Property Management Company | $7,000 - $36,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -22% |
| Real Estate Agency | $28,000 - $115,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +14% |
| Real Estate Investment Business | $25,000 - $471,000 | $20,000 - $500,000 | -5% |
| Recording Studio | $41,000 - $194,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -6% |
| Restaurant | $81,000 - $314,000 | $75,000 - $250,000 | +22% |
| Retail Store | $40,000 - $221,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -13% |
| 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 - $105,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +10% |
| Self-Storage Facility | $356,000 - $4,237,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | -16% |
| Senior Care Facility | $105,000 - $1,038,000 | $100,000 - $1,500,000 | -29% |
| SEO Agency | $11,000 - $60,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +29% |
| Sign Shop | $16,000 - $78,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | -22% |
| Smoke Shop | $23,000 - $112,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -25% |
| Solar Installation Business | $37,000 - $216,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Spa | $81,000 - $309,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -13% |
| Staffing Agency | $35,000 - $152,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +4% |
| Subscription Box Business | $8,000 - $59,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +22% |
| Swim School | $37,000 - $216,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -28% |
| Tanning Salon | $37,000 - $181,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -27% |
| Tattoo Shop | $23,000 - $112,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -25% |
| Tax Preparation Business | $10,000 - $49,000 | $8,000 - $40,000 | +23% |
| Tech Startup | $21,000 - $158,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +5% |
| Thrift Store | $20,000 - $106,000 | $20,000 - $120,000 | -10% |
| Tire Shop | $54,000 - $255,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +3% |
| Tour Company | $14,000 - $88,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +13% |
| Towing Company | $54,000 - $277,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -5% |
| Trampoline Park | $351,000 - $1,621,000 | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | -21% |
| Travel Agency | $8,000 - $42,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +43% |
| Tree Service | $12,000 - $78,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -22% |
| Trucking Company | $21,000 - $290,000 | $15,000 - $400,000 | -25% |
| Tutoring Business | $5,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +53% |
| Used Car Dealer | $47,000 - $320,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | -8% |
| Vape Shop | $28,000 - $131,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | -9% |
| Vending Machine Business | $8,000 - $72,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +45% |
| Veterinary Clinic | $275,000 - $1,671,000 | $300,000 - $2,000,000 | -15% |
| 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 | $36,000 - $427,000 | $30,000 - $500,000 | -13% |
| Web Design Business | $6,000 - $32,000 | $3,000 - $25,000 | +36% |
| Wedding Planning Business | $9,000 - $37,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +31% |
| Welding Business | $21,000 - $115,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +18% |
| 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 - $169,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -15% |
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Local Market Factors in Columbus
96.8%
Cost of Living Index
$14-$35
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)
0.95x
Labor Rate Index
7.5%
Sales Tax Rate
Local Permit Fees in Columbus
| Permit | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Business License | $50 - $175 |
| Food Service Permit | $200 - $500 |
| Liquor License | $2,000 - $6,000 |
| General Contractor License | $100 - $350 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $25 - $75 |
About Starting a Business in Columbus
Columbus is Ohio's fastest-growing city and a major test market for national retail and restaurant chains due to its demographically representative population. The presence of Ohio State University fuels a strong talent pipeline and a vibrant startup ecosystem.
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