How much does it cost to start a credit repair business in 2026?

Total startup costs range from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on your state. The main costs are: LLC formation ($299 average), CROA surety bond ($1,000-$1,872 depending on state), initial marketing budget ($300-$500/mo), and optional software ($0-$97/mo). With free AI tools from CreditAIPro, you can eliminate the $97/mo software cost entirely.

How many clients do I need to break even?

Most credit repair businesses break even with just 3 clients at standard pricing ($297/client/month). With startup costs of $2,171-$2,997 and monthly revenue of $891+ from 3 clients, you can recoup your investment within 2-3 months.

Do I need Credit Repair Cloud ($97/mo) to start?

No. While Credit Repair Cloud is the industry-leading platform with 420K+ users, CreditAIPro provides 50+ free AI tools including a 609 Dispute Letter Generator, AI Credit Report Analyzer, CROA Compliance Scanner, and Profit Calculator. You can launch with $0/mo in software costs and upgrade to CRC when you scale past 20+ clients.

What is a CROA surety bond and do I need one?

A CROA (Credit Repair Organizations Act) surety bond is required in certain states to operate a credit repair business legally. California requires $1,872/yr, Texas $1,000/yr, Florida $1,500/yr. Some states don't require a bond. Check your state requirements before launching.

How much can I earn in year one?

With 5 clients at $297/mo and $500/mo marketing spend, your year one profit is approximately $103,836. Top agencies scale to 20+ clients within 6 months, reaching $71,280/yr+ in pure profit. The key is using free AI tools to keep overhead near zero while scaling client acquisition.

CRC USERS: CALCULATE YOUR SAVINGS

Credit Repair Startup Calculator$2,997 Startup --> $120K/yr

Calculate your exact startup costs, breakeven point, and Year 1 profit forecast. Compare CRC $97/mo vs $0/mo with 50+ free AI tools.

CLIENTS TO BREAK EVEN

MONTHLY SOFTWARE

$1,872

CROA BOND (CA)

50+

FREE TOOLS

Your Credit Repair Startup Costs (60 Seconds)

1. LLC Formation

2. CROA Bond (State)

3. Monthly Marketing

4. Price Per Client /mo

5. Clients Per Month

6. Software Costs

7. E&O Insurance /yr

$300/yr avg for new agencies

8. Website Setup

$0 with CRC, ~$200 standalone

How the Startup Calculator Works

Enter Costs

Input your LLC, bond, marketing, client pricing, and software choice across 8 fields.

Compare Plans

See side-by-side comparison: CRC $97/mo vs CreditAIPro $0/mo vs DisputeBee $49/mo.

Get Forecast

Instant breakeven clients, monthly profit, Year 1 revenue, ROI %, and annual savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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