Startup cost and break-even calculator
How much cash do you need to open, and how many sales would cover a month of costs? Change the inputs to explore your idea before committing to a lease, equipment or advertising.
Your planning snapshot
- Startup cash + fixed-cost reserve
- $33,000
- Fixed-cost reserve included
- $18,000
- Monthly sales revenue
- $10,000
- Contribution per sale
- $70
- Monthly operating result
- $1,000
- Break-even sales per month
- 86
These inputs cover the fixed costs you entered. Check capacity and customer demand before relying on this result.
How the calculation works
Break-even sales = monthly fixed costs ÷ (average sale − variable cost per sale), rounded up. Monthly operating result = sales revenue − variable costs − fixed costs. Startup cash = one-time startup costs + monthly fixed costs × reserve months.
For several services or menu items, use a sales-weighted average ticket and matching variable cost. Check that the resulting bookings or orders fit your staff, hours and equipment. A service appointment and a restaurant order are different units; neither necessarily equals a unique customer.
This simple operating estimate excludes taxes, loan payments, additional capital spending and any costs you did not enter. The reserve is a fixed-cost buffer; opening inventory, supplier payment timing and seasonal sales may require more cash. Do not count the same cost in both fixed and variable expenses.
Method reference: U.S. Small Business Administration break-even calculator. For business setup and local-cost considerations, see the SBA launch guide. Bizzy11 examples are our own, not SBA benchmarks.
Turn the numbers into a business plan
Tell Buzz your business type, ZIP code, services, available cash and opening timeline. Use your own estimates to build a plan you can review and refine.
Start your free blueprintFree includes the guided interview and blueprint preview. Full workspace and website features require a paid plan.