A disclosed image forming apparatus includes plural image creating units arranged along a belt surface of a transfer belt; a first electric motor for driving a fixing unit; a second electric motor for driving one of the image creating units and the transfer belt; a third electric motor for driving the rest of the image creating units; a detecting unit for detecting a remaining toner amount in each image creating unit; a timing setting unit for determining a startup timing according to the remaining toner amount and delaying the startup timing if the remaining toner amount is large; and a startup control unit for starting up each of the first electric motor, the second electric motor, and, according to need, the third electric motor, one at a time after the preceding one has been started up, according to the determined startup timings.