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How Much Money Do You Need? You need money to start a new business--but how much exactly? Here are eight easy ways to do the math.

By Marcie Geffner

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Think you're ready to start your new business? Not so fast. Before you take off, you need to know how much money it will cost to get started.

You may have a ballpark estimate, but that's not detailed enough to create a viable business plan and actually get your business off the ground. Accurately gauging how much capital you need is crucial to success. Underestimate your needs, and you'll run out of money before the business becomes profitable. Overestimate your costs, and you'll never raise enough money to get your business off the ground.

Whether your start-up costs total $5,000 or $500,000, you'll need solid numbers. The challenge is finding information that's credible and reliable. The good news: You can get hard data, plus valuable insight, from a variety of sources. Here are eight places to explore: