Starting a Business Expense Budget

Before you can open the doors of your new business do you know your Start up Expenses?

This list is provided as a simple start up budget planning tool.  Pre-opening typically costs more and takes longer than planned.  Estimates should be on the high side, you can always spend under budget, but it is very difficult to obtain more money when you run short. Plan a contingency fund of 20% of your start up budget and enough working capital to last to cover operating expenses for six months. 

Capital Purchases Buildings/Real Estate

Leasehold Improvements

Item 1 -$
Item 2 -$
Item 3 -$
Item 4 -$
Total Leasehold Improvements $-

Moving and Set up

Labor -$
Decorating-$
Moving Expenses -$
Total Moving & Set up -$

Capital Equipment Purchases 

Furniture - $
Equipment - $
Fixtures - $
Machinery - $
Other - $
Total Capital Equipment $- $

Prepaid Expenses 

Location and Admin Expenses

Rent - $
Utility deposits - $
Legal and accounting fees - $
Prepaid insurance - $
Pre-opening salaries - $
Permits and Licenses - $
Other - $
Total Location and Admin Expenses $-

Opening Inventory

Category 1 - $
Category 2 - $
Category 3 - $
Category 4 - $
Category 5 - $
Total Inventory $-

Advertising and Promotional Expenses

Advertising - $
Signage - $
Printing - $
Travel/entertainment - $
Other/additional categories - $
Total Advertising/Promotional Expenses $-

Other Expenses

Other expense 1 - $
Other expense 2 - $

Total Other Expenses $-

Reserve for Contingencies - $

Working Capital - $ 

Summary of Start up Expenses

Buildings/real estate - $
Leasehold improvements - $
Moving & Setup - $
Capital equipment - $
Location/administration expenses - $
Opening inventory - $
Advertising/promotional expenses - $
Other expenses - $
Contingency fund - $
Working capital - $

Total Start up Expenses - $                                   

Security and Collateral for Loan Proposal

Collateral for Loans

Real estate
Other collateral
Other collateral
Other collateral

Owners Investment

Your name here, amount of investment and source
Other owner, amount of investment and source
Other owner, amount of investment and source

Loan Guarantors (co-signers other than owners)

Loan guarantor 1
Loan guarantor 2
Loan guarantor 3

Branding Includes A Customer Experience Promise

A brand helps people identify their expectations about your business. A strong brand includes a customer experience promise that helps new customers choose your business, strengthens customer loyalty, ultimately increasing repeat sales and profitability. Customer experiences become your brand’s reputation creating your unique competitive advantage enabling your business to standout with distinction from competitors.


Businesses that have earned a strong brand reputation understand the customer’s total experience includes non-monetary concerns for customer interaction and trust. By creating a total customer experience they help potential customers to clearly set expectations for a purchase and for after-the-sale use of products and services. When expectations are met customers are happier and more likely to be repeat purchasers.

To improve your brand’s customer experience promise determine which monetary and non-monetary factors you can control and those you cannot control then:

• Use price strategies like price points, discounts, sales or specials to control monetary values.

• Influence non-monetary issues with customer interactions and listening to customers, offer warranties, level of quality, staff knowledge of products and services, loyalty programs.

• Create a vision of what customer experience should include promote this vision as a company culture, with staff authorized to resolve any customer problem.

• Set goals for customer experience outcomes that align with the vision. Trainings and continuous reinforcement of a customer service culture.

• Measure outcomes against goals by collecting customer feedback. Celebrate and reward achievements.

• Use customer feedback to continuously improve customer loyalty.

Creating a total customer experience that builds on and strives to exceed customer expectation will enhance your reputation and brand value with increased repeat customers.