start-off vs kickoff

start-off and kickoff both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
start-off	Yes	No	No	No
kickoff	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, start-off and kickoff are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of start-off include send-off.

start-off (noun)	kickoff (noun)
a start given to contestants	(football) a kick from the center of the field to start a football game or to resume it after a score
	a start given to contestants
	the time at which something is supposed to begin