How much money do I actually need to start a small online business?

For software/services, the honest floor is startlingly low — and the real cost isn't money: Bare minimum (~₹5–15k for year one): domain ~₹1k/yr, hosting free tiers (Vercel/Railway/Supabase cover you to real traffic), email ~₹1.5k/yr, basic design/tools free tiers. A services business (freelancing, agency, consulting) needs even less. Worth paying for once revenue exists: payment gateway (they take %, no upfront), accounting help at tax time (~₹5–15k), proper business registration when clients require it (₹5–20k depending on structure — many start as sole proprietors for near-zero). What actually kills bootstrappers isn't the ₹15k — it's runway for LIVING expenses while income ramps. That's the real number: 6–12 months of your personal burn, either saved or covered by a job you keep while building nights and weekends. The trap to avoid: spending ₹2 lakhs on branding, office space and incorporation before the first customer. Every rupee spent pre-revenue on looking like a company instead of finding customers is usually regret with a receipt.