Millions of individuals have been misled into purchasing online courses, influenced by self-proclaimed business experts who claim that one can establish a fashion brand with merely $100 and achieve instant success. Most individuals recognise this assertion as utterly false. However, I must admit that a significant portion of those I have conversed with have succumbed to this fallacy. It is perplexing why they believed such a scenario was feasible. After all, starting a million-dollar enterprise with just $100? This represents the most egregious form of YouTube clickbait, wasting valuable time. Today, we will conduct a brief analysis of the estimated costs associated with launching a fashion brand in 2025! Many individuals have deluded themselves into believing that an investment of $100 will yield substantial returns. This notion extends to dropshipping ventures as well. While it is true that upfront inventory costs may not be a concern, expenses related to marketing, clothing samples, and website hosting will likely exceed $500+. Perhaps in a bygone era when costs were significantly lower, one could initiate a business with a mere $100 and achieve great success. However, in 2025, it is highly improbable that such a scenario will unfold.

Numerous entrepreneurs worldwide possess innovative business concepts and are actively seeking funding to establish their ventures. This underscores the reality that initiating a business often necessitates an investment exceeding way more than $100. What do you believe the essence of programs like Shark Tank, Dragons’ Den, and The Apprentice is? Beyond mere entertainment, these shows fundamentally revolve around participants striving to secure financial backing for their enterprises or to obtain capital in return for equity from angel investors and venture capitalists.

Website Hosting

Certainly, there are alternative hosting platforms available at a lower cost, including Wix, WooCommerce, and Squarespace, with some plans starting at just £9.00 per month. However, it is likely that the more economical the plan, the more limited the store’s capabilities will be. Shopify continues to be the premier hosting platform, distinguished by its exceptional integrations and features, most of our favourite fashion brands are using Shopify.

Shopify Themes

The fundamental Shopify plan includes complimentary website themes; however, these designs are quite simplistic. As a result, many stores prefer to invest in premium themes, which typically range from £150-£300. Alternatively, one may consider hiring a UI or UX designer to develop a custom website, but it is important to anticipate the significant expenses associated with this option.

Graphic Design | Canva

An exceptionally cost-effective graphic design studio essential for every brand. Services range from social media posts and stories to website banner designs. While a free plan is available, it comes with limited features and restrictions on background removal. To access the full range of functionalities, an upgrade to the £13 package is necessary. Alternatively, opting for the annual plan provides a more advantageous discount rate. Canva is an excellent tool for those just starting out, especially if you don’t yet have the budget to hire a full-time social media manager or outsource to a marketing agency.

Email Marketing | Klaviyo Vs Mailchimp

You have probably received countless emails from fashion brands promoting discounts or new product drops, some helpful, others just plain annoying (I’ve unsubscribed from more than I can count, haha!). Messages like “We noticed you left something in your cart” are classic examples of automated email marketing funnels. These automated tools however are not free many start from £28 per month . While many platforms offer a free plan typically for under 500 subscribers your list will likely grow as your brand gains traction. Eventually, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan to unlock advanced features and automation. I won’t dive into a full comparison of each platform here, but a quick Google or YouTube search comparing Klaviyo and Mailchimp will give you a solid overview. And yes, while there are long-term costs, the upside is clear! When executed right, email marketing delivers an excellent return on investment.

Social Media Automation

As your business expands, you will find that you have diminishing time to dedicate to the manual posting of content on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. While it is certainly an option to hire a marketing manager to oversee your social media accounts, many businesses prefer to pre-schedule their posts weeks or even months in advance. This approach not only conserves time but also allows you to concentrate on the overall management of your business. Buffer and Hootsuite are two widely recognized scheduling applications, and their paid plans are particularly advantageous. The last time I checked the cost was around £6 for each social media channel. Although there are additional scheduling tools available, the aforementioned options have received endorsements from numerous marketing agencies and brands.

Domain And Email Set-Up

Before launching your business, it is crucial to register and secure your domain. It is advisable to complete this step first to confirm the availability of your preferred business name, and it is only £0.99 for the first year, which is a bargain! Please also refrain from using personal email addresses as a means for your business. It is disconcerting to observe online businesses displaying their personal email addresses on the 'contact us' page of their websites. Hosting platforms such as GoDaddy offer a complimentary Microsoft 360 business account for the initial 12 months. It is prudent to invest in a business email that incorporates your company name. For instance, if your boutique is named Glam Boutique, you might consider using contact@glamboutique.com or info@glamboutique.com. This practice enhances the credibility of your business.

Marketing Cost

You are now fully prepared to launch your venture; however, it is important to recognise that establishing a sophisticated e-commerce platform alone will not yield sales without a robust marketing strategy. I will not delve into the intricacies of marketing, as a comprehensive exploration of each sales funnel would necessitate multiple blog entries. Nevertheless, initiating your first few digital advertising campaigns will likely incur costs amounting to hundreds if not thousands. Some brands allocate thousands of pounds weekly for digital advertising. This is a crucial point often overlooked by newbie entrepreneurs. It is essential to allocate a marketing budget; otherwise, your newly established fashion enterprise may struggle to gain traction or MRR ( Monthly Recurring Revenue). From Meta advertisements and influencer marketing to Google ads and the development of marketing campaigns, this will represent the second largest expenditure in the process of launching your fashion brand. I always advise new brand owners to set aside a minimum of £2,000 for their initial advertising spend. It's a crucial overhead cost that shouldn’t be overlooked, especially during the launch phase of your fashion brand. Without strategic ad investment, even the best products can go unnoticed.

• Facebook Ads
• Google Ads
• Blogger/Influencer collaborations
• YouTube Ads
• Pintrest Ads
• Tik Tok Ads

Photography, Studio Hire And Brand Campaigns

We’re not finished yet! Let’s not forget the cost of photoshoots, brand campaigns, and e-commerce stills. Hiring models, photographers, makeup artists, and stylists can quickly add up ranging from several hundred to thousands of pounds per shoot. These creative elements are essential to building a compelling brand identity and strong visual presence. High-quality visuals aren't just a 'nice-to-have' they're your brand's first impression, especially in a digital-first world. Consumers often judge your professionalism and product value based on imagery alone. Poor visuals can devalue your brand before a customer even reads your product description. Marketing is often the second largest expense for a fashion start-up, right after production. This includes not only paid advertising but also influencer collaborations, content creation, PR, and social media strategy. All of these play a vital role in getting your brand noticed and trusted. It’s one of the key reasons why launching a fashion brand requires thoughtful budgeting, strategic planning, and realistic expectations.

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• Studio rental costs in the UK vary from £40 per hour to a daily rate of £350-£600.
• The fee for a professional makeup artist ranges from £100 to £300.
• Hiring an agency signed model typically cost between £300-£600 a day even more for high-fashion models
• A professional stylist may charge between £200-£500 upwards.
• Photographers generally charge between £250-£800 plus more for retouching and editing.

The Truth You DON'T Want To Hear But Need To KNOW!

Even if you’re running a physical boutique or store and don’t plan to invest heavily in online marketing, your overheads will likely exceed £2000 per month just factoring in your lease, utilities, and basic operational costs. I’m not here to crush dreams, but it’s important to be transparent before you dive in. Automating your online store setting up e-commerce infrastructure, basic integrations, and essential tools requires a minimum investment of around £500. Inventory costs will climb even higher, depending on your sourcing strategy and product range. And the truth is, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to leave your 9–5 job in the early stages, as most of your profits will need to be reinvested into growing the business. Launching a fashion brand or boutique takes more than just passion it takes time, capital, resilience, and a willingness to make (and learn from) mistakes. It’s risky and demanding, I have always said launching a business is like investing in the stock market it's a hit or miss ! However if you’re realistic, committed, and resourceful, the rewards are absolutely worth it. If you’ve got that mindset, you’re already ahead of the curve.