Sleep Product

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Sleep Product? (In 2024)

Updated: October 6th, 2024

Looking to start a sleep product?

But curious about:

  • how much it costs to start a sleep product?
  • what are the typical sleep product startup costs?
  • or the actual cost of starting sleep products?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real sleep products and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

What is the average cost of starting a sleep product?

Based on our data reported by actual sleep product founders, the average cost of starting a sleep product is between $1,000 and $320,000.

Additionally, our data shows that the the median startup costs for a sleep product are around $15K.

Remember, though, not all sleep products are the same - and neither are people's budgets. It's important to distinguish between different levels or types of sleep products

Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a sleep product?

We asked real sleep product founders and business owners how much it actually cost to get started?

Here is what they said:

Sandeep Prasad

Founder of Wink & Nod ($130K/month)

"I started the company by raising some capital from my boss and invested the same in building the platform."

Sandeep Prasad is the founder of Wink & Nod, an innovative sleep-focused business that seeks to redefine the sleeping experience for consumers in India.

Read by 9,285 founders

Nan, Wendy and Jessica

Founder of Ocochi ($10K/month)

"The pop-up shops in luxury apartments in Chicago have not only generated revenue, but they’ve essentially been free research, costing nothing apart from the nibbles and our time."

Nanny Peggy, Wendy, and Jess are the founders of Ocochi, a family-run business that specializes in boutique bamboo bed linen and luxurious mulberry silk duvets, focused on sustainability and chemical-free products.

Read by 8,751 founders

Robin

Founder of Luna Wellness ($250K/month)

"When I got back from the China trip, we immediately put in a small order of about 500 blankets. We didn’t want to seek out any sort of outside financing just yet, so we used what we had saved up (definitely glad I saved!).

Robin is the co-founder of Luna, a company specializing in weighted blankets that help with anxiety, stress, and insomnia, established in 2017.

Read by 10,663 founders

Emma Lovell

Founder of CoziGo ($26K/month)

"I set about finding an alternative manufacturer and started the whole process again. New molds had to be paid for, but I knew the right questions to ask this time around and we kept moving forward."

Emma Lovell is the founder of CoziGo, a baby stroller accessory business that sprang to success after gaining an investment on Shark Tank Australia and having a solid manufacturing and quality control process.

Read by 10,680 founders

Elizabeth Grojean

Founder of Baloo Living ($416K/month)

"In the process of leaving every familiar security behind, I came to understand that I’d been looking for wholeness through external validation. In the first weeks without a title, company, or convenient identity, I felt completely naked. Over the course of weeks that then became months, I softened my external cover and started to discover what life could be like when there’s nothing to prove, nothing to justify, and no one to impress; the experience of being enough, satisfied and happy, just because, was the greatest and most beautiful discovery!"

"[...] I’d spent almost all of my savings and had just a few thousand dollars left, but made the difficult decision to choose the path of uncertainty and risk, and go back to Bali with no income, with the intention of launching a business that I could run remotely and independently."

Elizabeth Grojean is the founder of Baloo Living, a sleep and wellness company launched from Bali in 2018, that started with just a few thousand dollars.

Read by 12,512 founders

Tracey Wallace

Founder of Doris Sleep ($10K/month)

"I ended up spending about $10,000 on the entire launch –– much of that to the site design."

Tracey Wallace is the founder of Doris Sleep, a direct-to-consumer bed pillow business that focuses on eco-friendly products made in the USA.

Read by 10,817 founders

Rumana Bai

Founder of Turmerry ($150K/month)

"From launch to the present day, we have bootstrapped the business every step of the way."

Rumana Bai is the founder of Turmerry, an online retail store specializing in all-natural and non-toxic bedding products that has grown steadily since its online launch.

Read by 9,010 founders

Julien Sylvain

Founder of Tediber ($3.5M/month)

"As in my previous businesses, my main investors were family. With my own and family money, we reached 80k€ that helped us to get a 100k€ loan from the bank and 50k€ from public money to support innovation. This money financed the 50k€ needed for prototyping, lab tests and product development and 50k€ for the financing of the first batch of product to sell."

[FOUNDER NAME] is the founder of Tediber, a leading Bed-in-box company in France that offers high-quality bedding products across France, Italy, and Spain.

Read by 10,748 founders

Colin McIntosh

Founder of Sheets & Giggles ($200K/month)

"For little-known brands that don’t “sell themselves,” merchandising costs add up super quick. I.e., if you’re a new company and need to educate people on your product to sell through, you need to spend money on displays, which can wind up being hundreds of dollars per store. If you’re in 1000 stores and you’re merchandising correctly, you’ll spend over $100,000 before you sell a single unit."

Colin McIntosh is the founder of Sheets & Giggles, a pun-based, eco-friendly bedding brand that launched in 2018.

Read by 63,061 founders

David Smith

Founder of Mattress Depot USA ($2M/month)

"Our total start-up costs were $10,000 which I made my girlfriend (now spouse) put up half the money."

David Smith is the founder of Mattress Depot USA, a specialty mattress and bedding retailer that has grown significantly since its inception almost 20 years ago.

Read by 6,299 founders

Enjoyed reading these real world examples?

Our platform is full of case studies of successful sleep products that you can learn from.

Starting a sleep product - what you should know:

Embarking on the journey to create a sleep product involves a careful navigation of costs and strategic planning.

Product Development Costs

Developing a new sleep product can range from $10,000 to upwards of $100,000. Prototyping a mattress may cost around $5,000 to $10,000, while developing high-tech sleep gadgets like smart pillows or sleep trackers may push costs to the higher end. Early-stage development fees, including research, design, and initial production, can be significant; thus, allocating budget efficiently is crucial.

Manufacturing Expenses

Manufacturing costs can significantly impact your budget. Producing a single sleep product might cost between $50 to $500 per unit, depending on materials and complexity. High-quality memory foam or latex mattresses can drive costs up, whereas simpler products like sleep masks are more affordable. Bulk production orders can reduce per-unit costs, but initial investments will be higher.

Marketing and Distribution

Marketing expenses can range between $5,000 to $50,000, depending on your approach. Digital marketing campaigns, including social media ads and SEO, might cost around $5,000 to $15,000 per month. Additionally, consider costs related to branding, packaging, and shipping. Partnering with distribution channels and retailers adds another layer of expense but widens your market reach.

Regulatory and Compliance Fees

Navigating regulatory requirements is essential, especially for sleep products that are health-related. Certification and compliance, such as securing FDA approval for medical devices, can cost several thousand dollars. Budget for at least $3,000 to $7,000 for these essential regulatory hurdles.

Miscellaneous Costs

Miscellaneous costs can quickly add up. These include warehousing (ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 monthly based on storage space), legal fees for patents or trademarks (about $1,000 to $2,000+), and customer support infrastructure ($500 to $2,000). Being prepared for these additional expenses can prevent budgetary surprises down the line.

By understanding these cost components, you can better plan and allocate your resources efficiently when starting a sleep product.

Potential Costs of Starting a Sleep Product

Starting a sleep product involves a variety of costs ranging from product development to marketing and distribution. Here is a detailed breakdown of these potential costs.

Cost Category Description Estimated Cost ($)
Research & Development Costs associated with market research, product testing, and initial prototypes $5,000 - $15,000
Product Design Fees for industrial designers and usability experts $3,000 - $8,000
Manufacturing Setup Initial setup costs including machinery, tooling, and first production run $20,000 - $100,000+
Raw Materials Costs for fabric, foam, and other materials $10 - $50 per unit, depending on quality
Labor Costs Wages for workers involved in product manufacturing, assembly, and quality control $15 - $30 per hour
Packaging Design and production of packaging materials $1 - $3 per unit
Shipping & Logistics Costs for shipping materials to the manufacturing unit and final product distribution $2,000 - $10,000
Insurance Business liability, product liability, and worker's compensation insurance $1,000 - $5,000 per year
Intellectual Property Costs associated with patent applications, trademarks, and legal fees $5,000 - $10,000+
Website Development Costs for domain registration, website hosting, professional website design $2,000 - $10,000
E-commerce Platform Monthly fees for platforms like Shopify, Magento, or WooCommerce $30 - $300 per month
Marketing & Advertising Digital marketing, influencer collaborations, traditional advertising $5,000 - $50,000+
Compliance & Certifications Costs for obtaining necessary certifications (e.g., ISO, safety standards) $1,000 - $10,000+
Customer Support Infrastructure Setting up call centers, hiring customer support representatives $30,000 - $70,000+ per year
Miscellaneous Costs Unforeseen expenses, software subscriptions (e.g., project management tools) $1,000 - $5,000+

By considering all of these potential costs, aspiring entrepreneurs can better estimate their initial capital requirements and make informed decisions about the feasibility of their sleep product venture.