How Much Does It Cost To Start A Lifestyle Product Brand? (In 2024)
Looking to start a lifestyle product brand?
But curious about:
- how much it costs to start a lifestyle product brand?
- what are the typical lifestyle product brand startup costs?
- or the actual cost of starting lifestyle product brands?
Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real lifestyle product brands and how much they actually cost to start.
Let's go over it.
What is the average cost of starting a lifestyle product brand?
Based on our data reported by actual lifestyle product brand founders, the average cost of starting a lifestyle product brand is between $100 and $300,000.
Additionally, our data shows that the the median startup costs for a lifestyle product brand are around $3K.
Remember, though, not all lifestyle product brands are the same - and neither are people's budgets. It's important to distinguish between different levels or types of lifestyle product brands
Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a lifestyle product brand?
We asked real lifestyle product brand founders and business owners how much it actually cost to get started?
Here is what they said:
Julian O'hayon
Founder of Blvck Paris ($100K/month)
"We started Blvck Paris with an initial investment of about $80,000 to cover our main overheads such as setting up an eCommerce store, getting some products and investing in ads."
Julian O’hayon is the co-founder of Blvck Paris, a direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand that specializes in minimalistic, black-themed products.
Jhumkee Iyengar
Founder of Ohrna ($1K/month)
"The MVP took just 2 weeks to build and cost only $400. I registered the domain and it cost $12.99. It really didn't cost much."
Jhumkee Iyengar is the founder of Ohrna, a handmade sustainable fair-trade lifestyle products business launched in 2017 that employs rural women artisans from India to create unique products while showcasing India’s traditional crafts and materials to a global audience.
Amy Leinbach
Founder of Big Bee, Little Bee ($20K/month)
"As with everything to do with this business, the money for the prototypes, the mold, the samples, the patent application, the inventory, and everything else, was coming directly out of my pocket."
Amy Leinbach is the founder of Big Bee, Little Bee, a business that creates innovative reusable household goods and has gained significant traction after being featured on major TV shows.
Matt Olen
Founder of Grip Spritz ($35K/month)
"We each initially invested $1,000 to get things started."
Matt Olen is the co-founder of Grip Spritz, a business that manufactures products to enhance grip for athletes, particularly for basketball shoes.
Brittany Taylor
Founder of Black Luxe Candle Co. ($20K/month)
"My initial investment to get Black Luxe started was between $1,000 and $1,500."*
Brittany Taylor is the founder of Black Luxe Candle Co., a luxury candle business that focuses on uplifting and self-care.
Natalie Kay Costello
Founder of Sustainably Chic ($17K/month)
"The trademark and business license cost around $1,200, and everything was filed through legalzoom.com."
Natalie is the founder of Sustainably Chic, a blog about sustainable fashion that receives around 60k monthly visitors and makes $6,000 per month.
Kara Brook Brown
Founder of Waxing Kara ($33K/month)
"While I am genuinely unable to outline my costs here and now I can tell you that I spent as little as I possibly could for as long as I could, and did as much of the work that I could on my own."
Kara Brook Brown is the founder of Waxing Kara, a business that creates delicious natural Bee Inspired® food products and skin-loving bath and beauty goods.
Stefan Johnson
Founder of Stone ($100K/month)
"We were incredibly lean with our spending, with pretty much our entire budget spent on organic marketing."
Stefan Johnson is the co-founder of STONE, a business that creates specialized notebooks for chefs and launched its first product in 2018, achieving rapid success through Kickstarter.
Janet Wischnia
Founder of American Blossom Linens ($50K/month)
"Making the product for us was the easy part as our factory was already making bedding for over 122 years and we were able to self-fund the inventory."
Janet Wischnia is the founder of American Blossom Linens, a direct-to-consumer brand of bedding made completely in the USA that grew sales by 400% in 2020.
Enjoyed reading these real world examples?
Our platform is full of case studies of successful lifestyle product brands that you can learn from.
Starting a lifestyle product brand - what you should know:
Starting a lifestyle product brand requires understanding various cost factors that can influence your budget.
Product Development
Product development can have a wide range of costs, depending on the complexity of your products. Simple products may cost around $5,000 to $10,000 to develop, while more sophisticated items can easily push your costs into the $20,000 to $50,000 range. These expenses typically encompass prototyping, material sourcing, and initial production runs.
Branding and Design
Investing in branding and design is crucial for differentiating your lifestyle brand in the market. Professional branding services, including logo design, brand guidelines, and packaging design, can range from $10,000 to $30,000. Cheaper alternatives such as freelance designers or DIY design software might cost between $1,000 and $5,000 but may not offer the same level of finesse and market impact.
Marketing and Advertising
Your marketing strategy will significantly impact your overall costs. Traditional advertising methods, like magazine ads and billboards, can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 per campaign. Digital marketing strategies, including social media advertising, influencer partnerships, and SEO, offer a broader range of options. Depending on your scope and ambition, you could spend as little as $500 per month or upwards of $10,000 per month for comprehensive digital campaigns.
Inventory and Storage
Inventory and storage costs will depend on the quantity and nature of your products. Initial inventory costs can be around $10,000 to $50,000. Meanwhile, warehousing fees can vary from $500 to $2,000 per month, depending on your storage needs and location. Consider these factors carefully to avoid overproduction and excessive storage costs, which can strain your budget.
Understanding these cost components can help you plan efficiently and set realistic financial expectations when starting your lifestyle product brand.
Potential Costs of Starting a Lifestyle Product Brand
Starting a lifestyle product brand involves various costs ranging from operational expenses to marketing efforts, and it's crucial to account for all potential costs to plan effectively.
| Category | Item/Description | Estimated Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Product Development | ||
| Prototyping | $500 - $2,000 | |
| Manufacturing | $2,000 - $10,000 | |
| Packaging | $1,000 - $5,000 | |
| Quality Testing | $500 - $1,000 | |
| Product Design (industrial design) | $1,500 - $5,000 | |
| Raw Materials | $1,000 - $7,000 per batch | |
| Labor Costs | ||
| Founder's Salary | $0 - $50,000/year | |
| Employee Wages (per employee) | $30,000 - $70,000/year | |
| Freelance Designer Fees | $20 - $100/hour | |
| Consultant Fees | $50 - $200/hour | |
| Online Presence | ||
| Website Development | $1,500 - $10,000 | |
| E-commerce Platform Fees | $29 - $299/month (e.g., Shopify) | |
| Domain Registration | $10 - $50/year | |
| Hosting Fees | $3 - $50/month | |
| SSL Certificate | $0 - $100/year | |
| Website Maintenance | $100 - $500/month | |
| SEO Services | $500 - $2,000/month | |
| Marketing & Advertising | ||
| Branding (Logo, Business Cards, etc.) | $500 - $5,000 | |
| Content Marketing | $500 - $3,000/month | |
| Social Media Advertising | $200 - $2,000/month | |
| Influencer Marketing | $0 - $10,000/month | |
| Email Marketing | $20 - $500/month | |
| Photography | $200 - $2,000 per session | |
| Videography | $500 - $5,000 per video | |
| Legal & Administrative | ||
| Business Registration | $50 - $500 | |
| Trademark Registration | $225 - $600 | |
| Business Insurance | $500 - $2,000/year | |
| Accounting and Bookkeeping Services | $1,000 - $5,000/year | |
| Legal Fees | $100 - $500/hour | |
| Tools & Software | ||
| Graphic Design Software (e.g., Adobe Suite) | $20 - $50/month | |
| Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Trello) | $0 - $30/month | |
| Email Marketing Platforms (e.g., Mailchimp) | $0 - $299/month | |
| Inventory Management Software | $50 - $200/month | |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) | $12 - $300/month | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Office Supplies | $100 - $500/month | |
| Travel Expenses | $0 - $2,000 | |
| Shopify Apps or Plugins | $0 - $100/month | |
| Storage/ Warehousing | $500 - $2,000/month | |
| Shipping Costs | Depends on volume/location |
This table encompasses an exhaustive list of potential costs which should be considered when planning and budgeting to start a lifestyle product brand. Note that these costs can vary significantly based on many factors such as your location, the complexity of your product, and your business model.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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