Photo by Starting a home business can cost anywhere from $0 to well over $100 a month, and the sign-up price is usually the smallest part. The real cost is everything you pay every month to keep going: monthly orders, tools, fees on each sale and training upgrades. Add those up before you join, and you'll know if it fits your family's budget.
When I went looking for a way to help my family stop struggling to get by, every dollar counted. A "small" $50 a month was a tank of gas and a few days of groceries. So when I started reviewing home businesses, the monthly cost was the first thing I put on every page.
The 5 costs nobody puts on the sign-up page
1. Monthly orders to stay active
In many network marketing companies, a monthly order is part of staying active. Young Living has a monthly subscription called Essential Rewards. Melaleuca runs on a membership model where members order monthly. That isn't automatically bad if you'd buy the products anyway. It is a cost, and it belongs on your list.
2. Tools you're told you need
Affiliate marketing usually needs a page to send people to and a way to collect emails. Here's what some of those tools cost, from my reviews:
Systeme.io: free plan for up to 2,000 contacts.
LeadsLeap: free, with an optional $27 a month Pro plan.
AWeber: 14-day free trial, then paid plans from $15 a month.
GetResponse: free plan, paid plans from $19 a month.
HBA Builder: $25 a month.
Kartra: from $59 a month.
ClickFunnels: from $97 a month.
Similar jobs, from $0 to $97 a month. You don't need the most expensive one to get started.
3. Fees on every sale
Selling platforms often have no monthly fee but take a cut when you sell. Mercari charges a flat 10% selling fee. Gumroad has no monthly fee but takes a fee on each sale. If you build your own store, Shopify plans start at $39 a month. These fees can be fair for what you get. Just count them.
4. Training and upgrades
Some programs sell a cheap front door and a much more expensive back room. Six Figure Mentors, for example, is connected to the higher-priced Digital Experts Academy. Before you join any training, ask what the next level costs and whether you'll be pushed toward it.
5. Your time
Time is a cost too. A free business that takes 20 hours a week to set up can cost your family more than a paid one you can run in an hour a day. Be honest about the hours you really have.
What a home business costs each month, by type
Affiliate marketing: $0 to join most networks, like Amazon Associates, impact.com and Digistore24. Plan on a tool for pages and email, which can be free or run $15 to $97 a month.
Freelancing: usually free to join sites like Fiverr and Upwork. The platform keeps a share of what you earn, and some, like Upwork, also charge for the credits you use to bid on jobs.
Selling online: often no monthly fee to start on Etsy, eBay, Poshmark or Mercari, with fees on each sale. Your own Shopify store starts at $39 a month.
Network marketing: a starter kit, plus any monthly order you need to stay active. Ask for the exact number in writing.
Training memberships: these charge monthly. The Home Business Academy, for example, is $125 a month. Ask what's included and what costs extra.
Want the cheapest options in one place? See my lists of businesses that are free to start and under $30 a month.
How to set a home business budget your family can live with
Pick a monthly number before you look. Not after the pitch. Before.
Decide how long you'll try. Three months, six months. Put the date on the calendar.
Agree on it together. If someone at home will worry about the money, they get a say in the number.
Leave room for surprises. There's almost always one more tool or fee you didn't see coming.
Where my numbers come from, and their limits
The prices here come from my business reviews. Companies change their prices, so always check the company's own website before you pay. And a low price doesn't make something a good fit. It just makes the mistake cheaper if it isn't one.
Questions people ask
Can you really start a home business for free?
Yes. 44 of the businesses I review cost $0 a month to join. Free to join doesn't always mean free to run, though. You may still need a tool, a little inventory or a lot of time.
What's the cheapest home business to start?
Usually freelancing a skill you already have, or sharing affiliate links for products you already use. Both can start at $0.
Know the real cost before you say yes
The first question on my free checklist is "What will this really cost me each month?" The other six matter just as much. Get the free 7-question checklist and run your next opportunity through it before you spend a dime.
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