Nov. 2, 2026, 5:02 a.m. MT
With an increasing number of people looking into opening their own business, it’s important to get a sense of what that entails.
The costs — particularly to open a brick-and-mortar location — can be considerable. A new report by Pixartprinting looked at those costs in every state, and the numbers varied wildly based on what type of business was planned.
The report found the average cost to open a store in Colorado is $138,779, with a restaurant, at an average of $364,500, the most expensive. A bakery required $26,000 on average, the cheapest.
The economics are different, of course, if you’re looking at a “gig” job like shopping, driving or delivery work. You can tackle some of those tasks if you already own a car — or even just have access to a bike in some areas.
But when you need a fixed address for meeting customers, doing the work or keeping inventory, prices go up. The report looked at average startup costs, LLC filing fees, income tax and sales tax burdens.
What does it cost to open businesses in Colorado?
These 14 businesses require a physical location, with costs listed in a news release on the report.
- Restaurant, $364,500
- Laundromat, $315,000
- Daycare, $265,125
- Coffee shop, $209,000
- Ice cream shop, $183,750
- Food truck, $112,500
- Hair salon, $99,900
- Nail salon, $97,200
- Barber shop, $78,300
- Yoga studio, $60,375
- Catering, $44,625
- Florist, $44,625
- Pet grooming, $42,000
- Bakery, $26,000
What are the cheapest states to open a store in?
The South reigns here, with low regulatory demands compared to other parts of the country, keeping startup costs down.
- Mississippi, $107,298
- West Virginia, $109,384
- Arkansas, $110,329
What are the most expensive states to open a business in?
- Hawaii, $188,154
- California, $187,048
- New York, $172,925
Nate Trela covers trending news in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network, with an emphasis on consumer finance, legal issues and state laws.
Leave a Reply