How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Pasadena, CA?
Population: 138,699 | Cost of living: 152.3% | Sales tax: 10.25% | Min wage: $16.00
Startup Costs by Industry in Pasadena
| Industry | Estimated Startup Cost | National Average | Local Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Firm | $24,000 - $103,000 | $15,000 - $60,000 | +69% |
| Acupuncture Practice | $13,000 - $79,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +31% |
| Affiliate Marketing Business | $4,000 - $22,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +373% |
| After-School Program | $28,000 - $164,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +60% |
| AI Consulting Business | $9,000 - $67,000 | $2,000 - $50,000 | +46% |
| Airbnb Rental Business | $13,000 - $69,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +37% |
| Amazon FBA Business | $10,000 - $83,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +69% |
| App Development | $23,000 - $154,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +54% |
| Aquaponics Farm | $23,000 - $169,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +13% |
| Arcade & Gaming Center | $116,000 - $706,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +37% |
| ATM Business | $5,000 - $55,000 | $3,000 - $30,000 | +82% |
| Auto Detailing | $11,000 - $76,000 | $5,000 - $75,000 | +9% |
| Auto Repair Shop | $71,000 - $389,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +31% |
| Axe Throwing Venue | $59,000 - $327,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +54% |
| Bakery | $71,000 - $309,000 | $60,000 - $250,000 | +23% |
| Bar | $110,000 - $454,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | +13% |
| Barbershop | $53,000 - $202,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | +28% |
| Beauty Supply Store | $37,000 - $180,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +21% |
| Bed & Breakfast | $174,000 - $865,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +73% |
| Beekeeping Business | $14,000 - $67,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +35% |
| Bike Shop | $37,000 - $238,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +20% |
| Auto Body Shop | $61,000 - $353,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +18% |
| Bookkeeping Service | $3,000 - $18,000 | $2,000 - $10,000 | +75% |
| Bookstore | $55,000 - $243,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +24% |
| Boutique | $58,000 - $301,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +20% |
| Bowling Alley | $555,000 - $3,646,000 | $500,000 - $3,000,000 | +20% |
| Brewery | $304,000 - $1,710,000 | $250,000 - $1,500,000 | +15% |
| Campground | $155,000 - $1,600,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +60% |
| Candy Shop | $29,000 - $139,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +40% |
| Car Rental Business | $59,000 - $538,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +9% |
| Car Wash | $108,000 - $627,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | +28% |
| Carpentry Business | $24,000 - $124,000 | $15,000 - $75,000 | +64% |
| Carpet Cleaning Business | $7,000 - $45,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +49% |
| Catering Business | $32,000 - $166,000 | $20,000 - $125,000 | +37% |
| Chiropractic | $108,000 - $393,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | +11% |
| Christmas Tree Farm | $35,000 - $221,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +113% |
| Cleaning Service | $9,000 - $59,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +24% |
| Clothing Store | $31,000 - $180,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +21% |
| Coding Bootcamp | $13,000 - $124,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +25% |
| Coffee Roastery | $28,000 - $336,000 | $20,000 - $300,000 | +14% |
| Coffee Shop | $78,000 - $312,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | +3% |
| Computer Repair Business | $7,000 - $45,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +49% |
| Concrete Business | $34,000 - $180,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +19% |
| Construction Company | $71,000 - $584,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +19% |
| Consulting Business | $13,000 - $84,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +76% |
| Convenience Store | $64,000 - $420,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +21% |
| Courier & Delivery Service | $10,000 - $67,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +40% |
| Coworking Space | $122,000 - $582,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +17% |
| Cybersecurity Firm | $13,000 - $124,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +25% |
| Dance Studio | $40,000 - $195,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +31% |
| Daycare | $63,000 - $269,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -5% |
| Demolition Company | $69,000 - $313,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +27% |
| Dental Practice | $362,000 - $913,000 | $350,000 - $750,000 | +16% |
| Digital Marketing | $13,000 - $87,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +82% |
| Distillery | $124,000 - $1,149,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +16% |
| Dog Daycare | $57,000 - $444,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +28% |
| Dog Grooming Business | $15,000 - $92,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +78% |
| Dog Training Business | $6,000 - $41,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | +114% |
| Dog Walking Business | $4,000 - $19,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +318% |
| Donut Shop | $64,000 - $308,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +24% |
| Driving School | $30,000 - $135,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +32% |
| Drone Business | $7,000 - $50,000 | $3,000 - $50,000 | +8% |
| Dropshipping Business | $5,000 - $28,000 | $500 - $10,000 | +214% |
| Electrical | $21,000 - $110,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +14% |
| Embroidery & Custom Apparel | $13,000 - $67,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Escape Room | $72,000 - $467,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +54% |
| Etsy Shop | $4,000 - $21,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +355% |
| Event Planning Business | $10,000 - $52,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +77% |
| Excavation Business | $94,000 - $424,000 | $80,000 - $350,000 | +20% |
| Farm | $57,000 - $773,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +51% |
| Fast Food Franchise | $195,000 - $3,390,000 | $100,000 - $2,500,000 | +38% |
| Fencing Business | $13,000 - $67,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Financial Advisory Practice | $13,000 - $67,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Fitness Studio | $61,000 - $353,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +18% |
| Flooring Business | $16,000 - $89,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +50% |
| Flower Shop | $40,000 - $214,000 | $30,000 - $175,000 | +24% |
| Food Delivery Service | $21,000 - $115,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +60% |
| Food Truck | $70,000 - $255,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +30% |
| Franchise Business | $40,000 - $1,702,000 | $20,000 - $1,000,000 | +71% |
| Garage Door Business | $13,000 - $67,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Gas Station | $302,000 - $2,305,000 | $250,000 - $2,000,000 | +16% |
| General Contractor | $37,000 - $233,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +17% |
| Ghost Kitchen | $29,000 - $139,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +40% |
| Gift Shop | $40,000 - $200,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +33% |
| Glamping Business | $25,000 - $238,000 | $20,000 - $200,000 | +20% |
| Graphic Design Business | $8,000 - $37,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +96% |
| Greenhouse Business | $32,000 - $247,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +21% |
| Grocery Store | $145,000 - $1,953,000 | $80,000 - $2,000,000 | +1% |
| Gym | $109,000 - $545,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +19% |
| Hair Salon | $73,000 - $272,000 | $60,000 - $200,000 | +33% |
| Handyman | $12,000 - $60,000 | $5,000 - $40,000 | +60% |
| Home Health Care Agency | $62,000 - $434,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +27% |
| Home Inspection Business | $7,000 - $36,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +43% |
| Hostel | $61,000 - $353,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +18% |
| Hotel | $768,000 - $7,694,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +54% |
| HVAC | $31,000 - $154,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +9% |
| Ice Cream Shop | $65,000 - $342,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Insurance Agency | $29,000 - $124,000 | $20,000 - $80,000 | +53% |
| Interior Design Business | $7,000 - $45,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +49% |
| IT Services | $20,000 - $119,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +21% |
| Jewelry Store | $61,000 - $295,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +19% |
| Juice Bar | $51,000 - $241,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +22% |
| Junk Removal Business | $7,000 - $67,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +35% |
| Landscaping | $17,000 - $95,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +24% |
| Language School | $13,000 - $96,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +28% |
| Laundromat | $181,000 - $1,036,000 | $200,000 - $1,000,000 | +1% |
| Lavender Farm | $25,000 - $124,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +24% |
| Law Firm | $58,000 - $276,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +34% |
| Liquor Store | $124,000 - $476,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | +20% |
| Locksmith Business | $7,000 - $45,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +49% |
| Managed IT Services | $13,000 - $96,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +28% |
| Manufacturing Business | $81,000 - $1,349,000 | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | +36% |
| Marketing Agency | $23,000 - $134,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +85% |
| Martial Arts Studio | $38,000 - $192,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +28% |
| Masonry Business | $22,000 - $112,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +41% |
| Massage Therapy Practice | $7,000 - $67,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +35% |
| Meal Prep Business | $23,000 - $115,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +20% |
| Med Spa | $240,000 - $708,000 | $250,000 - $600,000 | +12% |
| Medical Practice | $133,000 - $781,000 | $70,000 - $500,000 | +60% |
| Microgreens Farm | $3,000 - $22,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Mini Golf Course | $122,000 - $716,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +40% |
| Mobile Mechanic | $10,000 - $63,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Moving Company | $31,000 - $154,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +9% |
| Mushroom Farm | $15,000 - $117,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +47% |
| Music School | $35,000 - $174,000 | $25,000 - $120,000 | +44% |
| Nail Salon | $47,000 - $188,000 | $40,000 - $150,000 | +24% |
| Notary Business | $2,000 - $15,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 | +183% |
| Plant Nursery | $38,000 - $229,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +53% |
| Oil Change Shop | $58,000 - $318,000 | $40,000 - $250,000 | +30% |
| Online Coaching Business | $5,000 - $34,000 | $1,000 - $10,000 | +255% |
| Online Store | $6,000 - $53,000 | $2,000 - $30,000 | +84% |
| Painting | $12,000 - $68,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +45% |
| Pawn Shop | $61,000 - $238,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +20% |
| Personal Training | $17,000 - $127,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +31% |
| Pest Control | $19,000 - $96,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +35% |
| Pet Boarding Facility | $74,000 - $702,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +41% |
| Pet Sitting Business | $4,000 - $18,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +300% |
| Pet Store | $68,000 - $362,000 | $60,000 - $300,000 | +19% |
| Pharmacy | $354,000 - $1,845,000 | $250,000 - $1,700,000 | +13% |
| Phone Repair Shop | $13,000 - $67,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +33% |
| Photography Business | $14,000 - $102,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +93% |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | $61,000 - $353,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +18% |
| Pilates Studio | $37,000 - $180,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +21% |
| Pizza Shop | $94,000 - $364,000 | $75,000 - $300,000 | +22% |
| Plumbing | $20,000 - $107,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +10% |
| Podcast Studio | $24,000 - $119,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +51% |
| Pool Construction Business | $61,000 - $353,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +18% |
| Pool Cleaning & Service | $7,000 - $39,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +53% |
| Preschool | $96,000 - $383,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Pressure Washing Business | $4,000 - $25,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +26% |
| Print-on-Demand Business | $4,000 - $24,000 | $500 - $8,000 | +229% |
| Printing Business | $59,000 - $295,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +18% |
| Property Management Company | $9,000 - $56,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +18% |
| Real Estate Agency | $39,000 - $167,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +65% |
| Real Estate Investment Business | $41,000 - $844,000 | $20,000 - $500,000 | +70% |
| Recording Studio | $56,000 - $264,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +28% |
| Restaurant | $106,000 - $424,000 | $75,000 - $250,000 | +63% |
| Retail Store | $51,000 - $304,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +18% |
| Roofing | $31,000 - $165,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +15% |
| SaaS Company | $32,000 - $236,000 | $25,000 - $200,000 | +19% |
| Security Company | $20,000 - $126,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +33% |
| Self-Storage Facility | $609,000 - $7,644,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +50% |
| Senior Care Facility | $155,000 - $1,671,000 | $100,000 - $1,500,000 | +14% |
| SEO Agency | $13,000 - $88,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +84% |
| Sign Shop | $25,000 - $124,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +24% |
| Smoke Shop | $37,000 - $180,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +21% |
| Solar Installation Business | $61,000 - $353,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +18% |
| Spa | $109,000 - $422,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | +18% |
| Staffing Agency | $49,000 - $220,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +49% |
| Subscription Box Business | $10,000 - $72,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +49% |
| Swim School | $61,000 - $353,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +18% |
| Tanning Salon | $61,000 - $295,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +19% |
| Tattoo Shop | $37,000 - $180,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +21% |
| Tax Preparation Business | $13,000 - $72,000 | $8,000 - $40,000 | +77% |
| Tech Startup | $28,000 - $222,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +47% |
| Thrift Store | $29,000 - $164,000 | $20,000 - $120,000 | +38% |
| Tire Shop | $70,000 - $344,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +38% |
| Tour Company | $16,000 - $103,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +32% |
| Towing Company | $65,000 - $340,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +16% |
| Trampoline Park | $479,000 - $2,232,000 | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | +8% |
| Travel Agency | $11,000 - $60,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +103% |
| Tree Service | $19,000 - $124,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +24% |
| Trucking Company | $24,000 - $312,000 | $15,000 - $400,000 | -19% |
| Tutoring Business | $6,000 - $30,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +112% |
| Used Car Dealer | $60,000 - $406,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +17% |
| Vape Shop | $37,000 - $182,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +25% |
| Vending Machine Business | $8,000 - $74,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +49% |
| Veterinary Clinic | $405,000 - $2,619,000 | $300,000 - $2,000,000 | +31% |
| Videography Business | $16,000 - $80,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +37% |
| Virtual Assistant Business | $2,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $3,000 | +329% |
| Waste Management Business | $41,000 - $466,000 | $30,000 - $500,000 | -4% |
| Web Design Business | $7,000 - $39,000 | $3,000 - $25,000 | +64% |
| Wedding Planning Business | $11,000 - $49,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +71% |
| Welding Business | $25,000 - $148,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +50% |
| Window Cleaning Business | $3,000 - $22,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Winery | $101,000 - $1,329,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +30% |
| Yoga Studio | $61,000 - $247,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +23% |
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Local Market Factors in Pasadena
152.3%
Cost of Living Index
$30-$65
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)
1.32x
Labor Rate Index
10.25%
Sales Tax Rate
Local Permit Fees in Pasadena
| Permit | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Business License | $100 - $450 |
| Food Service Permit | $400 - $1,000 |
| Liquor License | $2,500 - $12,000 |
| General Contractor License | $200 - $600 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $75 - $200 |
About Starting a Business in Pasadena
Pasadena is known for Caltech, JPL, and the Rose Bowl, creating a uniquely educated and culturally engaged consumer base in the San Gabriel Valley. Its charming Old Town district draws regional foot traffic and supports a vibrant dining and boutique retail scene.
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