Orion Design
Interactive tool

Startup Cost Planner

Estimate the capital a hardware product needs before launch by combining design engineering, prototypes, tooling, compliance, first inventory, launch work, and contingency in one plan.

Inputs
Results

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When to use this

Use the startup cost planner before the funding target or launch budget hardens.

The planner is most useful when a product has moved beyond a loose idea but the team has not yet committed to tooling, compliance spend, first inventory, or launch activity. It turns scattered cost assumptions into one pre-launch budget.

What the result means

The headline budget combines development, prototypes, tooling, compliance, first stock, launch work, and contingency. The monthly burn figure spreads that budget across the months to launch, which helps reveal whether the planned pace is realistic.

If the result looks uncomfortable, do not only reduce contingency. Look for staged decisions: a smaller prototype build, delayed tooling, a narrower launch, or a supplier conversation that can replace guesswork with real numbers.

What to do next

  • Check whether the biggest cost category is based on evidence or optimism.
  • Separate costs needed to learn from costs needed to launch.
  • Use the cashflow tool after this to see whether the launch plan creates a runway problem.
  • Bring uncertain line items into supplier, compliance, or product design conversations early.

FAQ

Should contingency be removed to make the budget look better?

No. A lower contingency does not remove risk. It usually just hides it until the project is harder to change.

Is this the same as a cashflow forecast?

No. This estimates pre-launch budget. Cashflow also needs timing, payment delay, stock purchases, overhead, and sales ramp assumptions.

How this calculator works

Early-stage estimate, not final quotation

This calculator turns the assumptions you enter into an early budget model. Use it to compare scenarios and decide which costs need deeper validation next.

Source and Attribution

This engineering calculator and supporting analysis were created by Orion Design. Confirm budget assumptions with suppliers, compliance specialists, manufacturers, and project-specific data.