Tools · free, no sign-up
Rough numbers before the real ones.
Three calculators we use at the start of consultations, opened up for you. They give honest bands, not fantasy precision: enough to think clearly before we sit down and work out your exact case.
Calculator 01
Startup Cost Estimator
An itemized, conservative range for starting in Illinois, built from published filing fees and wide public ballparks, so you plan around a band, not a fantasy number.
Your estimated range
$2,900 – $17,250
- Illinois LLC filing$150
Articles of Organization fee published by the IL Secretary of State.¹ Annual report ($75/yr) comes later.
- Registered agent (year one)$0 – $300
$0 if you act as your own agent at an Illinois street address; commercial services commonly charge $100–300 per year.
- Licenses & permits$50 – $300
Varies widely by city and activity; Chicago licenses are priced per license type.² Regulated trades and food cost more.
- Insurance (year one)$400 – $1,500
General liability ballpark for a small, low-risk business; premiums scale with risk and coverage.² Quotes are free; get one.
- Brand & website$300 – $5,000
From a DIY domain-and-template setup to professional brand and web work. Both are legitimate at different stages.
- Early-months reserve (recommended)$2,000 – $10,000
Not a fee: a cushion for months 2–6, when revenue is slower than hoped. The line most launch budgets forget.
¹ Illinois Secretary of State published fee schedules (ilsos.gov) and county clerk fees; verify current fees before filing. ² Ballparks informed by SBA guidance, City of Chicago licensing (chicago.gov), and published small-business insurance ranges; your quotes will differ.
Educational estimates only, not financial or legal advice; real numbers depend on your situation.
Get exact numbers for your caseCalculator 02
Funding Range Estimator
Which funding types typically fit a business like yours, with wide, indicative bands. This maps doors worth knocking on; it is not an offer, a promise, or a rate quote.
Typically worth exploring
- Grants & pitch competitionstypically $1,000 – $50,000 per award
Money you don’t repay, which is why it’s competitive and slow. Fits every stage as one lane of a plan, never the whole plan.
- SBA microloan (via nonprofit lenders)up to $50,000 (program cap); many loans are well below it
Designed for startups and early businesses that banks decline; intermediaries also coach. A common first door.
- Community lenders (CDFIs)roughly $5,000 – $250,000 depending on lender and case
Mission-driven lenders that weigh the whole story, not just the score. Especially relevant while credit or history is thin.
Usually not yet, and why
- Equipment financing
Lenders generally want to see at least some revenue before financing equipment.
- Business line of credit
Usually wants ~6+ months of operating history.
- Term loan (bank or online)
Most term lenders want 12+ months in business.
- SBA 7(a) loan
Banks typically want ~2+ years in business for 7(a).
Bands are indicative industry ranges, not offers; every lender decides on your full file. SBA program details are published at sba.gov; verify current terms.
Educational estimates only, not financial or legal advice; real numbers depend on your situation.
Get exact numbers for your caseCalculator 03
Break-even Calculator
How many sales a month keep the lights on. Pure arithmetic on your own numbers: fixed costs, average price, and what each sale costs you to deliver.
To break even, you need
115 sales / month
- Break-even revenue$5,714 / month
- You keep per sale$35 (70% of price)
- Everything above 115 sales contributes $35 each toward profit. Everything below it comes out of your pocket.
Straight contribution-margin math; it ignores seasonality, taxes, and growth spend on purpose. Use it as a floor, not a forecast.
Educational estimates only, not financial or legal advice; real numbers depend on your situation.
Get exact numbers for your case