Compare Business Startup Costs UK
Compare estimated startup costs, monthly running costs, difficulty, profit potential, licence complexity and who each business model is best for.
| Business type | Estimated start-up cost | Monthly running cost | Difficulty | Profit potential | Licence complexity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile car valeting | £800 - £8,000+ | £250 - £1,200+ | Low | Good | Low | Practical founders who can sell locally and work on-site |
| Food truck | £5,000 - £50,000+ | £1,200 - £6,500+ | High | High | High | Operators comfortable with food safety, events and fast service |
| Kebab van | £7,000 - £45,000+ | £1,500 - £7,000+ | High | High | High | Food operators targeting evening trade, events or fixed pitches |
| Lash business | £300 - £3,000+ | £120 - £900+ | Medium | Good | Low | Beauty beginners who can build repeat appointments |
| Dog grooming | £1,500 - £20,000+ | £350 - £3,000+ | Medium | Good | Medium | Animal lovers with patience, handling skills and repeat demand |
| Cleaning business | £200 - £3,000+ | £150 - £1,200+ | Low | Good | Low | Local founders who can win repeat clients and manage quality |
| Pressure washing | £800 - £6,000+ | £200 - £1,500+ | Medium | Good | Low | Outdoor service founders targeting driveways, patios and commercial surfaces |
| Window cleaning | £300 - £5,000+ | £150 - £1,200+ | Medium | Good | Low | Route-based operators who want recurring local rounds |
| Nail tech | £300 - £4,000+ | £120 - £1,100+ | Medium | Good | Low | Beauty founders who can build loyal repeat appointments |
| TikTok Shop seller | £300 - £5,000+ | £250 - £5,000+ | Medium | Variable | Medium | Online sellers who can test products, content and fulfilment quickly |
How to choose between business ideas
Do not choose only from the lowest startup cost. A low-cost business can still need strong sales ability, repeat customers and careful route planning. A higher-cost business can work if it has clear demand, healthy margin and enough working capital.
Compare each idea using three numbers: setup cost, monthly running cost and contribution per job or order. Then check the licence and insurance requirements before you spend. Food, beauty, public-space trading and product-based businesses can have extra rules depending on council, premises and product category.
Quick comparison method
1. Pick three calculators and replace the defaults with real quotes.
2. Check whether monthly net profit still works after owner labour, waste and slow weeks.
3. Choose the idea where you can reach break-even with realistic demand, not optimistic demand.
Free template
Get the free UK start-up budget template
Use the spreadsheet-style checklist to compare setup costs, monthly costs and break-even targets before you spend.