Add up what it takes to open the doors and keep them open until sales cover the costs. Put in your own quotes. Nothing is stored. No email needed.
What you need to start
Total to have available
R0
once-off costs plus your buffer
This is a planning estimate, not financial advice. The example figures are placeholders, not market prices — get real quotes. It leaves out tax, VAT and your own salary; add a salary under "Rent, transport, other" if the business has to pay you from day one.
How to use the result
Total to have available is the money you need before you start: everything once-off, plus enough to pay the monthly bills for the months it takes sales to catch up. Starting with less is how most small businesses close in their first year — not because the idea was bad, but because the cash ran out before the customers arrived.
Running costs a month is the number your sales have to beat. Put it into the profit calculator as your fixed costs to see how many sales a month you need to break even.
Next steps
- How to start an online business in South Africa
- Register a business with CIPC — the R125/R175 fee and what it doesn't cover
- Domain and hosting: what to buy and what to skip
- WooCommerce vs Shopify in SA
How To South Africa is independent. The Online Business Launch Kit is our own product, and ecommercedevelopment.co.za is our own agency. Last checked 9 October 2026.