Contemplating starting a business in Issaquah, Washington? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Issaquah.
What Business to Start
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Evaluating Your Idea.
For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening a Bail Bond Company guide or our Starting a Crushed & Broken Limestone Business guide.
Remember that Issaquah is the place where you are starting a business. If Issaquah already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Study Issaquah demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Issaquah, Washington Demographic Information
Issaquah has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Issaquah demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Issaquah.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
2638 |
| 5-9 Employees |
795 |
| 10-19 Employees |
507 |
| 20-49 Employees |
306 |
| 50-99 Employees |
132 |
| 100-249 Employees |
57 |
| 250-499 Employees |
24 |
| 500-999 Employees |
9 |
| 1000+ Employees |
6 |
| All Issaquah Businesses |
4474 |
As a new Issaquah entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Issaquah for each business category. By looking at this chart, you can get
a general sense for how much competition there is in the business niche that
you are pursuing.
| Business Type |
# of
Businesses |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
10 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
19 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
4 |
| Business Associations |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
20 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
4 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
16 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
7 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
5 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Creamery Butter Manufacturing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
26 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
4 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
6 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
11 |
| Electronic Shopping |
5 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
5 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
22 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
5 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
5 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
7 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
5 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
2 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
8 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
46 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
5 |
| General Automotive Repair |
13 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
7 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
6 |
| Graphic Design Services |
4 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
7 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
1 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
2 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
22 |
| Interior Design Services |
4 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
9 |
| Jewelry Stores |
4 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
14 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
28 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
6 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
7 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
5 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
6 |
| New Car Dealers |
2 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
3 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
11 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
14 |
| Offices of Dentists |
46 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
20 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
5 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
3 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
8 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
5 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
8 |
| Residential Property Managers |
13 |
| Residential Remodelers |
28 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
4 |
| Securities Brokerage |
10 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
3 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
19 |
| Software Publishers |
14 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
9 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
10 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
3 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
2 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
4 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
13 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
17 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
6 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Forming a Company in Issaquah, Washington
It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. The principal advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
When forming a company, you will decide among many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Washington, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Washington. As it turns out, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Pre-Incorporation Agreements. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Issaquah, Washington, our web page covering Incorporating in Washington may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Washington.
Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan
A business plan is vital to the health of your new business. Simply put, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Business Plan Software. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Washington.
Letting the World Know You Exist
To grow your Issaquah business, you need a solid marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Planning an Event is a good read to get your marketing thoughts flowing. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
The Art of Selling
Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Issaquah or are selling to customers throughout Washington, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
Cold Call Selling is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Moving Forward
You have a dream -- starting a business in Issaquah. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Issaquah and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Issaquah, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Issaquah, Washington
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Issaquah.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Washington
Starting a Business in Grand Coulee
Starting a Business in Kennewick
Browse All
Business Startup Guides for Washington
