Startup Costs: How Much to Open a Maternity Clothing Store?

Runway Management

• The $63,000 CapEx is a sunk cost.
• Your primary focus is covering the monthly burn rate.
• You need cash reserves for 26 months minimum.
• Every month you operate under budget increases total funding needs.

Working Capital Takes Priority

• The $540,000 buffer covers the necessary operating expenses (OpEx) runway.
• This cash is crucial for covering payroll and rent before sales stabilize.
• It funds initial marketing spend to acquire style-conscious expecting mothers.
• If onboarding new suppliers takes longer than expected, this buffer gets drained fast.

Cash Management Levers

• Intensely focus on reducing customer acquisition cost (CAC).
• Drive repeat purchases to boost customer lifetime value.
• Negotiate 60-day payment terms with apparel vendors.
• Reduce inventory holding costs by optimizing stock turns.

Capital Allocation Strategy

• Equity dilution is likely required given the slim initial returns.
• Minimize founder funds until unit economics show stronger potential.
• Debt financing is tough when projected returns are below 10%.
• Target an equity raise of at least $540,000 to cover the gap.

Optimization Tactics

Avoid scope creep; complex custom features drive costs past $15k fast. Start with a proven platform template and defer non-essential integrations until after launch. Many founders overspend on bespoke UX when a clean template works fine initially.

• Use established platform templates.
• Delay non-essential integrations.
• Get three detailed developer quotes.

Inventory Inputs

This $25,000 covers the cost of goods sold (COGS) needed to stock your boutique on day one. Estimate this by multiplying initial SKU counts by average landed unit cost, including shipping and duties. It’s the biggest upfront investment in physical product, dwarfing the $15,000 E-commerce build cost.

• Target initial SKU breadth.
• Calculate landed cost per unit.
• Confirm minimum order quantities (MOQ).

Managing Setup Spend

Focus on modularity; don't over-spec the initial build. Buying used, industrial-grade shelving can save you 30% to 50% versus new retail fixtures. Avoid custom builds early on. You can defintely scale equipment purchases later as order volume increases post-launch.

• Prioritize modular, scalable shelving.
• Source used industrial equipment first.
• Avoid expensive, fixed-layout builds.

Asset Cost Breakdown

This $5,000 allocation is for the initial visual identity required before launch. It funds the creation of core marketing materials. Since initial inventory stock is $25,000, this branding spend represents 20% of that initial physical investment. It’s a necessary upfront expense.

• Logo design and brand style guide creation.
• Professional photography sessions for core launch items.
• Basic graphic templates for immediate marketing use.

Managing Fixed Expenses

Still, fixed costs are tricky because they don't scale down easily when sales dip. For software, audit usage quarterly to remove unused seats or downgrade tiers. Negotiate rent terms early, aiming for a longer lease commitment to secure better rates. You defintely need to track these line items monthly to spot creep.

• Audit software licenses bi-annually.
• Negotiate rent based on 3-year terms.
• Challenge utility rate increases promptly.

Payroll Inputs

This $9,792 estimate is your base salary expense before taxes or benefits, which you must add later. It relies on defining the exact headcount needed for operations—10 executives, 5 support roles, and 5 fulfillment staff. This cost directly impacts your $540,000 working capital buffer.

• Headcount by role (20 total FTE).
• Average salary per FTE.
• Statutory burden percentage (Taxes/Benefits).

Managing Burn Rate

Manage this cash by aggressively reducing the time to positive cash flow, not just cutting initial spend. Delay non-critical hiring or negotiate longer payment terms with initial inventory suppliers. If operational burn is lower than projected, the runway extends defintely.