I always instruct my clients to start a business and not just a website and starting any business requires an investment of money and time. If you just want to get  a website up and running you could probably get it done for free but it isn't going to generate consistent income that you can use to support your family.

I am going to assume that you want a business that is going to generate money over the long term. I am also going to assume that you have a job and are looking to replace that income with your online business or use your online business to generate extra income for you. Either way, you want to build something that generates consistent income and you want that business to grow over time. This requires you to treat your online business as you would any other business you might start. The advantage of an online business is that you can usually get started with less upfront costs and you can even get things started part time while you continue working a job.

One of the most common causes of failure of any businesses is entering that business without a clear understanding of the money required to get that business to produce a profit. Some of the upfront costs required with an internet business are:

1. Domain purchasing
2. Web hosting
3. SSL  certificates (securing your website)
4. Website design
5. Tools needed to maintain the site
6. Promotion of the site

The item that most people leave out of their planning is item 6, promoting your site. If you opened a new pizza place in the middle of you closest forest and did not advertise or consider who your customers would be, then you wouldn't get many sales. In fact, nobody would visit your pizza place. Well, if you create a beautiful website and put it online among the millions of other sites on the internet but don't advertise that site, nobody will come. The theory "If you build it they will come" definitely does not apply to your online business.

For example, to get a listing in the Yahoo directory will cost you $299 per year. You can join Google Adwords and use Pay Per Click campaigns to drive people to your website but you could be paying anywhere from .10 to $50 per click depending on your market.

I can't give you an exact number that is required to start your online business because that will depend on what type of business you are going to start. I can tell you that it may be a bit unrealistic for you to think you can start a website next week and have it generating enough income for you to leave your job by next month. I can also tell you that it is almost impossible to start a profitable online business with no money.

I'm not trying to discourage you. I just want to make sure that you have realistic expectations. With the right research, planning, and investments of time and money you can launch an online business that will produce a consistent income you can depend on.