The starting point is not universal
SBA’s 2026 FAQ says 82.3% of U.S. small businesses have no paid employees, so a hiring-first checklist misrepresents most firms. BLS found that 57.3% of employer establishments born in 2018 survived five years, but that statistic excludes nonemployers and measures locations rather than necessarily whole firms.
Startup costs vary too widely for one national average to guide a specific owner. A useful estimate starts with official fees and current quotes, separates one-time, fixed, and variable costs, and shows how long cash must last under a slower-sales case.