Cheapest Businesses to Start

All 50 business types ranked by minimum startup cost — 2026 data

We ranked all 50 business types in our database by their minimum startup cost, from lowest to highest. Every figure comes directly from the line-item breakdowns in our interactive calculators, so you can see exactly where each dollar goes.

The cheapest businesses to start tend to be service-based: you sell your time and expertise instead of inventory or equipment. That means lower risk, faster break-even, and the ability to scale revenue before scaling costs.

Use the rankings below to compare options side by side. Click any business type to open its full calculator with cost categories, tips, and a budget slider you can adjust to your situation.

Dropshipping Business ($500)

Cheapest

Gas Station ($250,000)

Most Expensive

$15,000

Median Min. Cost

12 business types

Under $5K

All 50 Business Types — Ranked by Cost

#1📦

Dropshipping Business

$500 – $15K

#2🐶

Pet Sitting Business

$1K – $20K

#3📚

Tutoring Business

$1K – $25K

#4🧹

Cleaning Business

$2K – $50K

#5🛒

E-Commerce Store

$2K – $50K

#6💼

Consulting Business

$2K – $50K

#7🏧

Vending Machine Business

$3K – $50K

#8🎨

Painting Business

$3K – $60K

#9🚗

Auto Detailing

$3K – $30K

#10💪

Personal Training Business

$3K – $50K

#11📊

Accounting Firm

$3K – $60K

#12📱

App Development Business

$3K – $50K

#13🌿

Landscaping Business

$5K – $100K

#14📸

Photography Business

$5K – $50K

#15💆

Massage Therapy Business

$5K – $80K

#16❄️

HVAC Business

$10K – $150K

#17📦

Moving Company

$10K – $150K

#18👶

Daycare

$10K – $500K

#19🚛

Trucking Company

$10K – $200K

#20🐕

Dog Grooming Business

$10K – $100K

#21🔧

Plumbing Business

$10K – $150K

#22🍽️

Catering Business

$10K – $150K

#23⚡

Electrical Business

$10K – $120K

#24🏢

Real Estate Agency

$10K – $150K

#25🧘

Yoga Studio

$15K – $200K

#26🌻

Flower Shop

$15K – $200K

#27🏠

Roofing Business

$15K – $150K

#28♻️

Thrift Store

$15K – $150K

#29🧁

Bakery

$20K – $400K

#30👗

Clothing Boutique

$20K – $300K

#31🍦

Ice Cream Shop

$20K – $300K

#32🥤

Juice Bar

$20K – $250K

#33☕

Coffee Shop

$25K – $375K

#34🚚

Food Truck

$28K – $200K

#35🔧

Auto Repair Shop

$30K – $250K

#36🐾

Pet Store

$30K – $300K

#37🚛

Towing Company

$30K – $250K

#38🔧

Tire Shop

$30K – $250K

#39💧

Car Wash

$50K – $800K

#40💅

Nail Salon

$50K – $250K

#41💈

Barbershop

$50K – $200K

#42🍺

Bar

$50K – $500K

#43🏋️

Gym

$50K – $500K

#44🍷

Liquor Store

$50K – $500K

#45🏪

Convenience Store

$50K – $350K

#46🍽️

Restaurant

$100K – $1M

#47✨

Med Spa

$100K – $750K

#48🦷

Dental Practice

$150K – $800K

#49🧰

Coin Laundry

$200K – $1M

#50⛽

Gas Station

$250K – $2.5M

Browse by Budget

Under $5K Under $10K Under $20K Under $50K Under $100K

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the absolute cheapest business to start?

Based on our data, Dropshipping Business ranks #1 with a minimum startup cost of just $500. It tops our list because it requires minimal equipment and no commercial space, making it accessible to almost anyone.

How many businesses can you start for under $10,000?

Our data shows 15 out of 50 business types can be started for under $10,000. These are primarily service-based and online businesses where your skills and time are the main investment, not equipment or inventory.

Are cheap businesses less profitable?

Not at all. Low startup cost does not mean low profit. Many of the cheapest businesses on our list — like consulting, cleaning services, and tutoring — have profit margins above 50% because overhead stays low even as revenue grows. The key advantage is a faster path to profitability since you have less capital to recoup.