How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Idaho?
Last updated: May 2026
Idaho Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$100
Sales Tax Rate
6.0%
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr
Cost of Living Index
99.3
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$0
Starting a Business in Idaho
Idaho does not have a statewide business license requirement. Many municipalities require local business licenses, and professional licenses are managed by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
Idaho has a flat 5.8% individual and corporate income tax rate. No franchise tax for most entity types.
Idaho's rapid population growth, especially in the Treasure Valley, is creating strong demand for construction, real estate, and service businesses.
For official formation documents, visit the Idaho Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Idaho
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Idaho’s cost of living index of 99.3. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $6,720 | $19,200 | $44,160 |
| Airbnb & Vacation Rental Business | Real Estate | $10,560 | $28,800 | $86,400 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $76,800 | $192,000 | $480,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $9,600 | $28,800 | $76,800 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $19,200 | $52,800 | $124,800 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $4,800 | $28,800 | $96,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $72,000 | $192,000 | $480,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $19,200 | $91,200 | $288,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $96,000 | $336,000 | $816,000 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,400 | $62,400 | $168,000 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $28,800 | $96,000 | $288,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $24,000 | $96,000 | $288,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $240,000 | $384,000 | $1,440,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $119,520 | $318,720 | $1,195,200 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $119,520 | $522,240 | $1,491,840 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $10,080 | $26,880 | $67,200 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $11,520 | $50,880 | $124,800 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $96,000 | $115,200 | $288,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,440 | $10,560 | $35,520 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $28,800 | $96,000 | $288,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $57,600 | $115,200 | $336,000 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $24,000 | $62,400 | $144,000 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $1,920 | $8,640 | $24,960 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $48,000 | $268,800 | $720,000 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $7,680 | $21,120 | $52,800 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $19,200 | $52,800 | $144,000 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $19,200 | $76,800 | $240,000 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $57,600 | $172,800 | $480,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $28,800 | $76,800 | $192,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $336,000 | $480,000 | $960,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $3,840 | $11,520 | $30,720 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $4,800 | $14,400 | $48,000 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $14,400 | $52,800 | $153,600 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $7,680 | $38,400 | $115,200 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $48,000 | $124,800 | $336,000 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $19,200 | $52,800 | $124,800 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $19,200 | $72,000 | $192,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $9,600 | $49,920 | $124,800 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $192,000 | $240,000 | $720,000 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $43,200 | $115,200 | $192,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $15,360 | $34,560 | $76,800 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $48,000 | $192,000 | $576,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $19,200 | $52,800 | $124,800 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $19,200 | $57,600 | $144,000 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $19,200 | $67,200 | $192,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $48,000 | $240,000 | $960,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,400 | $72,000 | $240,000 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $1,920 | $9,600 | $31,680 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $38,400 | $124,800 | $288,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $19,200 | $67,200 | $192,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $19,200 | $72,000 | $192,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $14,400 | $38,400 | $86,400 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $14,400 | $38,400 | $96,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $24,000 | $86,400 | $240,000 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $9,600 | $38,400 | $115,200 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $96,000 | $240,000 | $576,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $11,520 | $32,640 | $77,760 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $38,400 | $86,400 | $211,200 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $48,000 | $172,800 | $480,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $4,800 | $17,280 | $48,000 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $19,200 | $67,200 | $192,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $19,200 | $62,400 | $192,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $96,000 | $336,000 | $960,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $144,000 | $384,000 | $960,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $14,400 | $48,000 | $144,000 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $28,800 | $96,000 | $288,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $9,600 | $48,000 | $144,000 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $19,200 | $86,400 | $240,000 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $4,800 | $24,000 | $76,800 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $4,800 | $24,000 | $96,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $9,600 | $38,400 | $115,200 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $28,800 | $96,000 | $288,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $240,000 | $384,000 | $960,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $57,600 | $172,800 | $432,000 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $72,000 | $168,000 | $384,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $14,400 | $48,000 | $144,000 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $1,920 | $5,760 | $17,280 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $48,000 | $144,000 | $384,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $10,080 | $23,040 | $52,800 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $9,600 | $26,880 | $67,200 |
| Real Estate Investing & Rental Business | Real Estate | $24,000 | $72,000 | $240,000 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $168,000 | $360,000 | $720,000 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $14,400 | $57,600 | $172,800 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $19,200 | $57,600 | $192,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $9,600 | $67,200 | $240,000 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $19,200 | $52,800 | $144,000 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $192,000 | $576,000 | $1,920,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $19,200 | $56,640 | $192,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,360 | $9,600 | $25,920 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $19,200 | $72,000 | $192,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $48,000 | $144,000 | $384,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $48,000 | $144,000 | $384,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $28,800 | $76,800 | $192,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $1,920 | $23,040 | $96,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $48,000 | $192,000 | $576,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $24,000 | $72,000 | $192,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,360 | $11,520 | $31,680 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $14,400 | $38,400 | $96,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $480,000 | $731,520 | $2,880,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $14,400 | $76,800 | $192,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Idaho
Licenses & Permits in Idaho
General Business License
Idaho does not have a statewide general business license. Businesses must register their entity with the Idaho Secretary of State and obtain a seller's permit from the Idaho State Tax Commission if they sell taxable goods or services. Some cities in Idaho require local business licenses, though this varies by municipality. Boise and several other larger cities require a business license for operations within city limits.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Establishment Permit — Idaho Department of Health and Welfare or Local Health DistrictCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Public Works Contractor License — Idaho Division of Building SafetyCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Cosmetology Establishment License — Idaho State Board of CosmetologyCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Real Estate Broker License — Idaho Real Estate CommissionCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Pesticide Applicator License — Idaho Department of AgricultureCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Child Care Facility License — Idaho Department of Health and Welfare — Child Care LicensingCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Outfitter and Guide License — Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing BoardCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Electrical Contractor License — Idaho Division of Building Safety — Electrical BureauCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Home-based businesses in Idaho are regulated by local zoning ordinances in incorporated areas. Many rural Idaho communities and unincorporated county areas have no restrictions on home-based businesses. Boise and other cities allow home occupations with restrictions on customer visits, signage, and commercial vehicle storage. Idaho's cottage food law explicitly supports home-based food production and direct sales.
Idaho Business Resources
SBA District Office
Idaho SBA District Office — Boise
Secretary of State
https://sos.idaho.gov/businessZoning Information
Idaho municipalities control zoning. Rapidly growing cities like Boise and Meridian have active commercial zoning with technology and mixed-use districts.
Health Department Notes
Food businesses need a facility license from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare or the local health district. Idaho has a cottage food law allowing home-based food sales.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers. Idaho operates through a competitive private workers comp insurance market.