PLANNING LIBRARY · Original worked examples
How Startup Costs works

Three scores. Three different questions.

A useful score must identify what it measures, which evidence it needs and when it should be withheld.

Keep the questions separate

MeasureQuestionComparison
Business Idea ScoreHow does the national reference format perform on the chosen factors?Comparable national Base formats
State Fit ScoreHow do conditions differ for this same business across states?One business, multiple states
Data QualityHow well are the required inputs supported?Evidence quality, not business attractiveness

Business Idea Score

Proposed v0.1 weights: capital access 20%, economics after necessary labor 25%, cash resilience 15%, demand trend 20%, operating simplicity 20%.

Define each factor and freeze its normalization limits against a comparable research frame. A different page filter must not change a business’s score.

State Fit Score

Proposed v0.1 weights: demand/supply 30%, operating basket 25%, entry cost 20%, procedures 15%, labor 10%. These compare the same operating concept across states.

A Restaurant State Fit of 70 and a Bakery State Fit of 60 would not establish which business is better for Texas. Their comparison sets differ.

Data Quality and publication gates

Evidence conditionFinancial displayScore display
Critical input absent or quality below 60Withhold dependent totals; show what is missingWithheld
Quality 60–79 with critical inputs presentOnly supported preliminary ranges and visible limitationsWithheld
Quality at least 80 and all critical checks passedEligible for reviewed financial resultsStill requires complete factors and calibrated normalization

Quality weights: authority 30%, directness 25%, freshness 20%, corroboration 15%, traceability 10%. Every critical input must pass its own gate. A good average cannot conceal a missing rent basis or an invalid operating format.

What the current prototype can say

Not scored.

No real research frame, normalization calibration or evidence-quality assessment has been completed. The isolated numeric scoring illustration on the restaurant page demonstrates weighted arithmetic only.

The weights and thresholds are a proposal requiring calibration and sensitivity checks. None is a probability of success.

Read all financial definitions →
Financial information disclaimer

Published research and calculations support business planning and education. They are not personalized financial, investment, tax or legal advice, and they do not guarantee costs, revenue, profit or financing. Estimates depend on the stated format, location, source periods and assumptions. Check the requirements and commitments that apply to your circumstances.

Research not prepared

Research is not available yet.

Missing research is not a negative assessment. No local cost, score or rank is assigned.