How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Fort Collins, CO?
Population: 169,810 | Cost of living: 113.5% | Sales tax: 7.65% | Min wage: $14.42
Startup Costs by Industry in Fort Collins
| Industry | Estimated Startup Cost | National Average | Local Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Firm | $18,000 - $74,000 | $15,000 - $60,000 | +23% |
| Acupuncture Practice | $9,000 - $54,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | -10% |
| Affiliate Marketing Business | $2,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +173% |
| After-School Program | $20,000 - $119,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +16% |
| AI Consulting Business | $7,000 - $53,000 | $2,000 - $50,000 | +15% |
| Airbnb Rental Business | $10,000 - $55,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +8% |
| Amazon FBA Business | $7,000 - $69,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +38% |
| App Development | $18,000 - $115,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +16% |
| Aquaponics Farm | $18,000 - $142,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -6% |
| Arcade & Gaming Center | $91,000 - $543,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +6% |
| ATM Business | $5,000 - $53,000 | $3,000 - $30,000 | +76% |
| Auto Detailing | $9,000 - $64,000 | $5,000 - $75,000 | -9% |
| Auto Repair Shop | $56,000 - $300,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +2% |
| Axe Throwing Venue | $43,000 - $230,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +9% |
| Bakery | $56,000 - $242,000 | $60,000 - $250,000 | -4% |
| Bar | $88,000 - $358,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | -11% |
| Barbershop | $41,000 - $154,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | -3% |
| Beauty Supply Store | $24,000 - $118,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -21% |
| Bed & Breakfast | $114,000 - $568,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +14% |
| Beekeeping Business | $12,000 - $57,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +15% |
| Bike Shop | $24,000 - $155,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | -22% |
| Auto Body Shop | $40,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -23% |
| Bookkeeping Service | $3,000 - $18,000 | $2,000 - $10,000 | +75% |
| Bookstore | $43,000 - $184,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | -5% |
| Boutique | $46,000 - $232,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -7% |
| Bowling Alley | $430,000 - $2,728,000 | $500,000 - $3,000,000 | -10% |
| Brewery | $219,000 - $1,231,000 | $250,000 - $1,500,000 | -17% |
| Campground | $109,000 - $1,073,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +7% |
| Candy Shop | $22,000 - $107,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +8% |
| Car Rental Business | $53,000 - $496,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | Avg |
| Car Wash | $82,000 - $505,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | +2% |
| Carpentry Business | $19,000 - $100,000 | $15,000 - $75,000 | +32% |
| Carpet Cleaning Business | $5,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +9% |
| Catering Business | $26,000 - $133,000 | $20,000 - $125,000 | +10% |
| Chiropractic | $87,000 - $315,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -11% |
| Christmas Tree Farm | $26,000 - $156,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +52% |
| Cleaning Service | $7,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -2% |
| Clothing Store | $21,000 - $118,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | -21% |
| Coding Bootcamp | $9,000 - $83,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -16% |
| Coffee Roastery | $22,000 - $273,000 | $20,000 - $300,000 | -8% |
| Coffee Shop | $62,000 - $246,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | -19% |
| Computer Repair Business | $5,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +9% |
| Concrete Business | $30,000 - $160,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +6% |
| Construction Company | $62,000 - $525,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +7% |
| Consulting Business | $10,000 - $68,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Convenience Store | $48,000 - $308,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | -11% |
| Courier & Delivery Service | $8,000 - $57,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +18% |
| Coworking Space | $78,000 - $376,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | -24% |
| Cybersecurity Firm | $9,000 - $83,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -16% |
| Dance Studio | $29,000 - $139,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -7% |
| Daycare | $46,000 - $193,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -32% |
| Demolition Company | $63,000 - $290,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +18% |
| Dental Practice | $314,000 - $782,000 | $350,000 - $750,000 | Avg |
| Digital Marketing | $10,000 - $62,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +31% |
| Distillery | $90,000 - $830,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | -16% |
| Dog Daycare | $38,000 - $274,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | -20% |
| Dog Grooming Business | $11,000 - $62,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +22% |
| Dog Training Business | $4,000 - $27,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | +41% |
| Dog Walking Business | $2,000 - $11,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +136% |
| Donut Shop | $48,000 - $228,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -8% |
| Driving School | $25,000 - $109,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +7% |
| Drone Business | $5,000 - $41,000 | $3,000 - $50,000 | -13% |
| Dropshipping Business | $3,000 - $19,000 | $500 - $10,000 | +110% |
| Electrical | $18,000 - $96,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -1% |
| Embroidery & Custom Apparel | $9,000 - $47,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -7% |
| Escape Room | $50,000 - $325,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +7% |
| Etsy Shop | $2,000 - $12,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +155% |
| Event Planning Business | $8,000 - $40,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +37% |
| Excavation Business | $88,000 - $396,000 | $80,000 - $350,000 | +13% |
| Farm | $46,000 - $542,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +7% |
| Fast Food Franchise | $140,000 - $2,199,000 | $100,000 - $2,500,000 | -10% |
| Fencing Business | $9,000 - $47,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -7% |
| Financial Advisory Practice | $9,000 - $47,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -7% |
| Fitness Studio | $40,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -23% |
| Flooring Business | $13,000 - $77,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +29% |
| Flower Shop | $31,000 - $165,000 | $30,000 - $175,000 | -4% |
| Food Delivery Service | $16,000 - $90,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +25% |
| Food Truck | $60,000 - $224,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +14% |
| Franchise Business | $36,000 - $1,157,000 | $20,000 - $1,000,000 | +17% |
| Garage Door Business | $9,000 - $47,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -7% |
| Gas Station | $194,000 - $1,479,000 | $250,000 - $2,000,000 | -26% |
| General Contractor | $34,000 - $205,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +4% |
| Ghost Kitchen | $22,000 - $107,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +8% |
| Gift Shop | $31,000 - $150,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +1% |
| Glamping Business | $17,000 - $155,000 | $20,000 - $200,000 | -22% |
| Graphic Design Business | $6,000 - $28,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +48% |
| Greenhouse Business | $26,000 - $205,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | Avg |
| Grocery Store | $106,000 - $1,390,000 | $80,000 - $2,000,000 | -28% |
| Gym | $86,000 - $425,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -7% |
| Hair Salon | $57,000 - $211,000 | $60,000 - $200,000 | +3% |
| Handyman | $9,000 - $49,000 | $5,000 - $40,000 | +29% |
| Home Health Care Agency | $50,000 - $349,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +2% |
| Home Inspection Business | $7,000 - $34,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +37% |
| Hostel | $40,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -23% |
| Hotel | $555,000 - $5,260,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +6% |
| HVAC | $27,000 - $137,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -4% |
| Ice Cream Shop | $52,000 - $276,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -6% |
| Insurance Agency | $21,000 - $90,000 | $20,000 - $80,000 | +11% |
| Interior Design Business | $5,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +9% |
| IT Services | $17,000 - $102,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +3% |
| Jewelry Store | $40,000 - $192,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -23% |
| Juice Bar | $40,000 - $188,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | -5% |
| Junk Removal Business | $5,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -5% |
| Landscaping | $14,000 - $82,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +7% |
| Language School | $9,000 - $65,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | -13% |
| Laundromat | $146,000 - $808,000 | $200,000 - $1,000,000 | -21% |
| Lavender Farm | $17,000 - $83,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | -17% |
| Law Firm | $44,000 - $202,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -2% |
| Liquor Store | $90,000 - $348,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | -12% |
| Locksmith Business | $5,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +9% |
| Managed IT Services | $9,000 - $65,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | -13% |
| Manufacturing Business | $64,000 - $1,071,000 | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | +8% |
| Marketing Agency | $17,000 - $99,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +36% |
| Martial Arts Studio | $28,000 - $139,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -7% |
| Masonry Business | $19,000 - $99,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +24% |
| Massage Therapy Practice | $5,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -5% |
| Meal Prep Business | $17,000 - $86,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -10% |
| Med Spa | $205,000 - $591,000 | $250,000 - $600,000 | -6% |
| Medical Practice | $100,000 - $572,000 | $70,000 - $500,000 | +18% |
| Microgreens Farm | $3,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +41% |
| Mini Golf Course | $89,000 - $502,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | -2% |
| Mobile Mechanic | $8,000 - $54,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +13% |
| Moving Company | $27,000 - $137,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -4% |
| Mushroom Farm | $11,000 - $81,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +2% |
| Music School | $26,000 - $129,000 | $25,000 - $120,000 | +7% |
| Nail Salon | $36,000 - $144,000 | $40,000 - $150,000 | -5% |
| Notary Business | $2,000 - $14,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 | +167% |
| Plant Nursery | $28,000 - $168,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +12% |
| Oil Change Shop | $44,000 - $241,000 | $40,000 - $250,000 | -2% |
| Online Coaching Business | $3,000 - $25,000 | $1,000 - $10,000 | +155% |
| Online Store | $4,000 - $45,000 | $2,000 - $30,000 | +53% |
| Painting | $10,000 - $56,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +20% |
| Pawn Shop | $40,000 - $155,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -22% |
| Personal Training | $13,000 - $94,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -3% |
| Pest Control | $16,000 - $82,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +15% |
| Pet Boarding Facility | $49,000 - $433,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -12% |
| Pet Sitting Business | $2,000 - $10,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +118% |
| Pet Store | $54,000 - $279,000 | $60,000 - $300,000 | -8% |
| Pharmacy | $282,000 - $1,465,000 | $250,000 - $1,700,000 | -10% |
| Phone Repair Shop | $9,000 - $47,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -7% |
| Photography Business | $12,000 - $76,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +47% |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | $40,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -23% |
| Pilates Studio | $24,000 - $118,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -21% |
| Pizza Shop | $69,000 - $268,000 | $75,000 - $300,000 | -10% |
| Plumbing | $17,000 - $93,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -4% |
| Podcast Studio | $17,000 - $87,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +9% |
| Pool Construction Business | $40,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -23% |
| Pool Cleaning & Service | $5,000 - $29,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +13% |
| Preschool | $73,000 - $285,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | -6% |
| Pressure Washing Business | $3,000 - $24,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +17% |
| Print-on-Demand Business | $2,000 - $15,000 | $500 - $8,000 | +100% |
| Printing Business | $48,000 - $239,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -4% |
| Property Management Company | $6,000 - $36,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -24% |
| Real Estate Agency | $29,000 - $122,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +21% |
| Real Estate Investment Business | $28,000 - $513,000 | $20,000 - $500,000 | +4% |
| Recording Studio | $43,000 - $206,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | Avg |
| Restaurant | $85,000 - $333,000 | $75,000 - $250,000 | +29% |
| Retail Store | $41,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -10% |
| Roofing | $27,000 - $145,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +1% |
| SaaS Company | $26,000 - $208,000 | $25,000 - $200,000 | +4% |
| Security Company | $17,000 - $110,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +15% |
| Self-Storage Facility | $384,000 - $4,546,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | -10% |
| Senior Care Facility | $113,000 - $1,110,000 | $100,000 - $1,500,000 | -24% |
| SEO Agency | $10,000 - $63,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Sign Shop | $17,000 - $83,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | -17% |
| Smoke Shop | $24,000 - $118,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -21% |
| Solar Installation Business | $40,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -23% |
| Spa | $86,000 - $328,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -8% |
| Staffing Agency | $37,000 - $164,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +12% |
| Subscription Box Business | $7,000 - $60,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +22% |
| Swim School | $40,000 - $229,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -23% |
| Tanning Salon | $40,000 - $192,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -23% |
| Tattoo Shop | $24,000 - $118,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -21% |
| Tax Preparation Business | $10,000 - $51,000 | $8,000 - $40,000 | +27% |
| Tech Startup | $22,000 - $168,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +12% |
| Thrift Store | $20,000 - $113,000 | $20,000 - $120,000 | -5% |
| Tire Shop | $55,000 - $266,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +7% |
| Tour Company | $13,000 - $89,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +13% |
| Towing Company | $55,000 - $285,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -3% |
| Trampoline Park | $366,000 - $1,687,000 | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | -18% |
| Travel Agency | $8,000 - $43,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +46% |
| Tree Service | $13,000 - $83,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -17% |
| Trucking Company | $22,000 - $296,000 | $15,000 - $400,000 | -23% |
| Tutoring Business | $4,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Used Car Dealer | $48,000 - $333,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | -5% |
| Vape Shop | $29,000 - $138,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | -5% |
| Vending Machine Business | $8,000 - $73,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +47% |
| Veterinary Clinic | $290,000 - $1,766,000 | $300,000 - $2,000,000 | -11% |
| Videography Business | $14,000 - $68,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +17% |
| Virtual Assistant Business | $2,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $3,000 | +329% |
| Waste Management Business | $37,000 - $438,000 | $30,000 - $500,000 | -10% |
| Web Design Business | $5,000 - $31,000 | $3,000 - $25,000 | +29% |
| Wedding Planning Business | $8,000 - $38,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +31% |
| Welding Business | $21,000 - $117,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +20% |
| Window Cleaning Business | $3,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +41% |
| Winery | $80,000 - $959,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | -6% |
| Yoga Studio | $46,000 - $181,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -9% |
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Local Market Factors in Fort Collins
113.5%
Cost of Living Index
$16-$36
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)
1.05x
Labor Rate Index
7.65%
Sales Tax Rate
Local Permit Fees in Fort Collins
| Permit | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Business License | $50 - $200 |
| Food Service Permit | $200 - $500 |
| Liquor License | $1,000 - $5,000 |
| General Contractor License | $100 - $300 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $25 - $75 |
About Starting a Business in Fort Collins
Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University and a nationally recognized craft beer scene, with New Belgium and Odell Brewing anchoring a cluster of over 20 breweries. The city's highly educated population, strong cycling culture, and clean energy focus create a thriving market for food, fitness, and tech businesses.
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