Skip to content
Cost of Opening a Dispensary
- Opening a dispensary requires a significant financial investment of $150,000 to $500,000 for various expenses.
- The application fee for a medical marijuana dispensary license is $6,000, and the annual license renewal fee is $10,000.
- State licensure is essential for a successful cannabis business and can be expensive and challenging to acquire.
Primary Categories of Cost
- The 7 primary categories of cost to open a dispensary store are:
- Application
- Staffing
- Rent
- Retail outfitting
- Product
- Consultants
- Operations, software, insurance
Startup Costs and Expenses
- The overall consensus cost to start a dispensary is between $150,000 and $2 million, depending on the location.
- After deducting taxes, net profit margin for marijuana retailers ranges between 15% and 21%.
Chicago Dispensary Costs
- The cost range to start a dispensary in Chicago is $150,000 to $500,000, including licensing, staffing, rent, outfitting, and more.
- Oklahoma offers a comparatively affordable license price of around $2,500.
Construction Costs and Ongoing Expenses
- Construction costs for dispensaries can range from $350,000 to $3.5 million, with location being a significant cost-influencing factor.
- Ongoing expenses include product, payroll, utilities, marketing, legal, and accounting fees, with a net profit margin typically between 15% and 21%.
Startup Considerations in Different Locations
- Startup costs and ongoing expenses vary across different locations like California, Florida, and Illinois, with licensing fees and operational costs differing accordingly.
Tips for Starting a Dispensary
- Careful planning, thorough competition analysis, and strategic budgeting are crucial for successfully starting and managing a dispensary.