How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in San Diego, CA?
Population: 1,423,851 | Cost of living: 160.2% | Sales tax: 7.75% | Min wage: $16.85
Startup Costs by Industry in San Diego
| Industry | Estimated Startup Cost | National Average | Local Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Firm | $26,000 - $110,000 | $15,000 - $60,000 | +81% |
| Acupuncture Practice | $14,000 - $83,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +39% |
| Affiliate Marketing Business | $5,000 - $26,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +464% |
| After-School Program | $29,000 - $173,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +68% |
| AI Consulting Business | $10,000 - $72,000 | $2,000 - $50,000 | +58% |
| Airbnb Rental Business | $14,000 - $73,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +45% |
| Amazon FBA Business | $11,000 - $88,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +80% |
| App Development | $24,000 - $163,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +63% |
| Aquaponics Farm | $23,000 - $173,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +15% |
| Arcade & Gaming Center | $120,000 - $737,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +43% |
| ATM Business | $5,000 - $55,000 | $3,000 - $30,000 | +82% |
| Auto Detailing | $12,000 - $80,000 | $5,000 - $75,000 | +15% |
| Auto Repair Shop | $73,000 - $404,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +36% |
| Axe Throwing Venue | $61,000 - $342,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +61% |
| Bakery | $73,000 - $320,000 | $60,000 - $250,000 | +27% |
| Bar | $113,000 - $467,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | +16% |
| Barbershop | $55,000 - $211,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | +33% |
| Beauty Supply Store | $40,000 - $192,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +29% |
| Bed & Breakfast | $184,000 - $915,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +83% |
| Beekeeping Business | $15,000 - $71,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +43% |
| Bike Shop | $40,000 - $253,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +27% |
| Auto Body Shop | $66,000 - $376,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Bookkeeping Service | $3,000 - $18,000 | $2,000 - $10,000 | +75% |
| Bookstore | $57,000 - $253,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +29% |
| Boutique | $60,000 - $312,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +24% |
| Bowling Alley | $576,000 - $3,805,000 | $500,000 - $3,000,000 | +25% |
| Brewery | $320,000 - $1,800,000 | $250,000 - $1,500,000 | +21% |
| Campground | $161,000 - $1,671,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +67% |
| Candy Shop | $30,000 - $145,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +46% |
| Car Rental Business | $60,000 - $546,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +10% |
| Car Wash | $112,000 - $643,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | +31% |
| Carpentry Business | $25,000 - $130,000 | $15,000 - $75,000 | +72% |
| Carpet Cleaning Business | $8,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +57% |
| Catering Business | $34,000 - $174,000 | $20,000 - $125,000 | +43% |
| Chiropractic | $110,000 - $405,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | +14% |
| Christmas Tree Farm | $37,000 - $235,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +127% |
| Cleaning Service | $10,000 - $64,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +35% |
| Clothing Store | $33,000 - $192,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +29% |
| Coding Bootcamp | $14,000 - $132,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +33% |
| Coffee Roastery | $30,000 - $350,000 | $20,000 - $300,000 | +19% |
| Coffee Shop | $80,000 - $322,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | +6% |
| Computer Repair Business | $8,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +57% |
| Concrete Business | $35,000 - $186,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +23% |
| Construction Company | $73,000 - $598,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +22% |
| Consulting Business | $14,000 - $89,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +87% |
| Convenience Store | $68,000 - $441,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +27% |
| Courier & Delivery Service | $11,000 - $71,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +49% |
| Coworking Space | $130,000 - $621,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +25% |
| Cybersecurity Firm | $14,000 - $132,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +33% |
| Dance Studio | $42,000 - $205,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +37% |
| Daycare | $66,000 - $284,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | Avg |
| Demolition Company | $70,000 - $320,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +30% |
| Dental Practice | $367,000 - $931,000 | $350,000 - $750,000 | +18% |
| Digital Marketing | $14,000 - $94,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +96% |
| Distillery | $131,000 - $1,209,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +22% |
| Dog Daycare | $61,000 - $477,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +38% |
| Dog Grooming Business | $17,000 - $99,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +93% |
| Dog Training Business | $7,000 - $46,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | +141% |
| Dog Walking Business | $5,000 - $23,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +409% |
| Donut Shop | $68,000 - $323,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +30% |
| Driving School | $31,000 - $142,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +38% |
| Drone Business | $8,000 - $54,000 | $3,000 - $50,000 | +17% |
| Dropshipping Business | $5,000 - $32,000 | $500 - $10,000 | +252% |
| Electrical | $22,000 - $115,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +19% |
| Embroidery & Custom Apparel | $14,000 - $71,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Escape Room | $74,000 - $485,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +60% |
| Etsy Shop | $5,000 - $24,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +427% |
| Event Planning Business | $11,000 - $56,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +91% |
| Excavation Business | $96,000 - $431,000 | $80,000 - $350,000 | +23% |
| Farm | $60,000 - $814,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +59% |
| Fast Food Franchise | $206,000 - $3,609,000 | $100,000 - $2,500,000 | +47% |
| Fencing Business | $14,000 - $71,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Financial Advisory Practice | $14,000 - $71,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Fitness Studio | $66,000 - $376,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Flooring Business | $17,000 - $93,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +57% |
| Flower Shop | $42,000 - $223,000 | $30,000 - $175,000 | +29% |
| Food Delivery Service | $22,000 - $122,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +69% |
| Food Truck | $72,000 - $263,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +34% |
| Franchise Business | $41,000 - $1,805,000 | $20,000 - $1,000,000 | +81% |
| Garage Door Business | $14,000 - $71,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Gas Station | $323,000 - $2,460,000 | $250,000 - $2,000,000 | +24% |
| General Contractor | $39,000 - $240,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +21% |
| Ghost Kitchen | $30,000 - $145,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +46% |
| Gift Shop | $42,000 - $209,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +39% |
| Glamping Business | $27,000 - $253,000 | $20,000 - $200,000 | +27% |
| Graphic Design Business | $9,000 - $41,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +117% |
| Greenhouse Business | $33,000 - $251,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +23% |
| Grocery Store | $153,000 - $2,058,000 | $80,000 - $2,000,000 | +6% |
| Gym | $112,000 - $564,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +23% |
| Hair Salon | $75,000 - $282,000 | $60,000 - $200,000 | +37% |
| Handyman | $13,000 - $64,000 | $5,000 - $40,000 | +71% |
| Home Health Care Agency | $64,000 - $449,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +32% |
| Home Inspection Business | $7,000 - $36,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +43% |
| Hostel | $66,000 - $376,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Hotel | $798,000 - $8,047,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +61% |
| HVAC | $32,000 - $160,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +13% |
| Ice Cream Shop | $67,000 - $351,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +19% |
| Insurance Agency | $31,000 - $132,000 | $20,000 - $80,000 | +63% |
| Interior Design Business | $8,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +57% |
| IT Services | $22,000 - $125,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +28% |
| Jewelry Store | $66,000 - $315,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +27% |
| Juice Bar | $53,000 - $250,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +26% |
| Junk Removal Business | $8,000 - $71,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +44% |
| Landscaping | $18,000 - $99,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +30% |
| Language School | $14,000 - $102,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +36% |
| Laundromat | $187,000 - $1,073,000 | $200,000 - $1,000,000 | +5% |
| Lavender Farm | $27,000 - $132,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +33% |
| Law Firm | $61,000 - $289,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +40% |
| Liquor Store | $131,000 - $500,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | +26% |
| Locksmith Business | $8,000 - $47,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +57% |
| Managed IT Services | $14,000 - $102,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +36% |
| Manufacturing Business | $85,000 - $1,401,000 | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | +42% |
| Marketing Agency | $24,000 - $142,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +95% |
| Martial Arts Studio | $40,000 - $202,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +34% |
| Masonry Business | $23,000 - $116,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +46% |
| Massage Therapy Practice | $8,000 - $71,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +44% |
| Meal Prep Business | $25,000 - $122,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +28% |
| Med Spa | $244,000 - $725,000 | $250,000 - $600,000 | +14% |
| Medical Practice | $139,000 - $818,000 | $70,000 - $500,000 | +68% |
| Microgreens Farm | $3,000 - $22,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Mini Golf Course | $125,000 - $742,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +45% |
| Mobile Mechanic | $11,000 - $67,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Moving Company | $32,000 - $160,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +13% |
| Mushroom Farm | $17,000 - $126,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +59% |
| Music School | $37,000 - $183,000 | $25,000 - $120,000 | +52% |
| Nail Salon | $48,000 - $196,000 | $40,000 - $150,000 | +28% |
| Notary Business | $2,000 - $15,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 | +183% |
| Plant Nursery | $40,000 - $240,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +60% |
| Oil Change Shop | $60,000 - $330,000 | $40,000 - $250,000 | +34% |
| Online Coaching Business | $6,000 - $38,000 | $1,000 - $10,000 | +300% |
| Online Store | $6,000 - $57,000 | $2,000 - $30,000 | +97% |
| Painting | $13,000 - $72,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +55% |
| Pawn Shop | $66,000 - $253,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +28% |
| Personal Training | $18,000 - $135,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +39% |
| Pest Control | $20,000 - $101,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +42% |
| Pet Boarding Facility | $79,000 - $753,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +51% |
| Pet Sitting Business | $5,000 - $22,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +391% |
| Pet Store | $70,000 - $375,000 | $60,000 - $300,000 | +24% |
| Pharmacy | $366,000 - $1,911,000 | $250,000 - $1,700,000 | +17% |
| Phone Repair Shop | $14,000 - $71,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +42% |
| Photography Business | $15,000 - $108,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +105% |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | $66,000 - $376,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Pilates Studio | $40,000 - $192,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +29% |
| Pizza Shop | $99,000 - $382,000 | $75,000 - $300,000 | +28% |
| Plumbing | $21,000 - $112,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +16% |
| Podcast Studio | $25,000 - $126,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +59% |
| Pool Construction Business | $66,000 - $376,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Pool Cleaning & Service | $8,000 - $41,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +63% |
| Preschool | $100,000 - $400,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | +32% |
| Pressure Washing Business | $4,000 - $25,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +26% |
| Print-on-Demand Business | $5,000 - $28,000 | $500 - $8,000 | +288% |
| Printing Business | $61,000 - $306,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +22% |
| Property Management Company | $10,000 - $61,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +29% |
| Real Estate Agency | $41,000 - $177,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +74% |
| Real Estate Investment Business | $43,000 - $906,000 | $20,000 - $500,000 | +83% |
| Recording Studio | $58,000 - $274,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +33% |
| Restaurant | $109,000 - $438,000 | $75,000 - $250,000 | +68% |
| Retail Store | $52,000 - $316,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +23% |
| Roofing | $32,000 - $171,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +19% |
| SaaS Company | $33,000 - $243,000 | $25,000 - $200,000 | +23% |
| Security Company | $21,000 - $132,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +39% |
| Self-Storage Facility | $644,000 - $8,166,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +60% |
| Senior Care Facility | $162,000 - $1,773,000 | $100,000 - $1,500,000 | +21% |
| SEO Agency | $14,000 - $95,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +98% |
| Sign Shop | $27,000 - $132,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +33% |
| Smoke Shop | $40,000 - $192,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +29% |
| Solar Installation Business | $66,000 - $376,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Spa | $112,000 - $436,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | +22% |
| Staffing Agency | $52,000 - $232,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +58% |
| Subscription Box Business | $10,000 - $76,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +56% |
| Swim School | $66,000 - $376,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Tanning Salon | $66,000 - $315,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +27% |
| Tattoo Shop | $40,000 - $192,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +29% |
| Tax Preparation Business | $14,000 - $78,000 | $8,000 - $40,000 | +92% |
| Tech Startup | $29,000 - $235,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +55% |
| Thrift Store | $31,000 - $173,000 | $20,000 - $120,000 | +46% |
| Tire Shop | $73,000 - $359,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +44% |
| Tour Company | $17,000 - $108,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +39% |
| Towing Company | $68,000 - $352,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +20% |
| Trampoline Park | $500,000 - $2,335,000 | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | +13% |
| Travel Agency | $12,000 - $65,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +120% |
| Tree Service | $21,000 - $132,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +33% |
| Trucking Company | $25,000 - $315,000 | $15,000 - $400,000 | -18% |
| Tutoring Business | $7,000 - $34,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +141% |
| Used Car Dealer | $62,000 - $420,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +21% |
| Vape Shop | $39,000 - $190,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +31% |
| Vending Machine Business | $8,000 - $74,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +49% |
| Veterinary Clinic | $426,000 - $2,774,000 | $300,000 - $2,000,000 | +39% |
| Videography Business | $17,000 - $84,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +44% |
| Virtual Assistant Business | $2,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $3,000 | +329% |
| Waste Management Business | $42,000 - $472,000 | $30,000 - $500,000 | -3% |
| Web Design Business | $7,000 - $43,000 | $3,000 - $25,000 | +79% |
| Wedding Planning Business | $11,000 - $53,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +83% |
| Welding Business | $26,000 - $156,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +58% |
| Window Cleaning Business | $3,000 - $22,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Winery | $104,000 - $1,395,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +36% |
| Yoga Studio | $63,000 - $258,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +28% |
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Local Market Factors in San Diego
160.2%
Cost of Living Index
$28-$75
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)
1.3x
Labor Rate Index
7.75%
Sales Tax Rate
Local Permit Fees in San Diego
| Permit | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Business License | $125 - $500 |
| Food Service Permit | $500 - $1,200 |
| Liquor License | $3,000 - $15,000 |
| General Contractor License | $300 - $800 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $75 - $200 |
About Starting a Business in San Diego
San Diego is a biotech and defense industry powerhouse with a thriving craft brewery scene and year-round tourism. The city's proximity to the Mexican border creates unique cross-border business opportunities, though high rents remain a challenge for startups.
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