Thinking about starting a business in Seattle, Washington? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Seattle.
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? We recommend that you read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
Remember that Seattle is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Seattle than others. A critical consideration is whether Seattle demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Seattle has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Seattle demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Seattle.
As a new Seattle entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Seattle 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
2 |
| Advertising Agencies |
100 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
3 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
7 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
8 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
9 |
| Architectural Services |
323 |
| Armored Car Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
52 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
5 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
9 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
16 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
73 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
18 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
19 |
| Barber Shops |
23 |
| Beauty Salons |
269 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
12 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
52 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
7 |
| Boat Building |
10 |
| Boat Dealers |
54 |
| Book Publishers |
29 |
| Book Stores |
67 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
11 |
| Breweries |
3 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
22 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
81 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
8 |
| Cafeterias |
19 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
21 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
9 |
| Car Washes |
24 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
14 |
| Casino Hotels |
1 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
8 |
| Caterers |
62 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
11 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
5 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
70 |
| Child Day Care Services |
347 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
23 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
126 |
| Claims Adjusting |
23 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
25 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
7 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
24 |
| Collection Agencies |
15 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
24 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
70 |
| Commercial Photography |
36 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
18 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
6 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
18 |
| Commuter Rail Systems |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
44 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
12 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
161 |
| Computer Training |
14 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
17 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
18 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
28 |
| Convenience Stores |
123 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
47 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
5 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
4 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Copper Ore and Nickel Ore Mining |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
13 |
| Couriers |
68 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
25 |
| Credit Bureaus |
6 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
58 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
4 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
260 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
5 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
15 |
| Deep Sea Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
30 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
33 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
13 |
| Digital Printing |
10 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
42 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
19 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
22 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
10 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Display Advertising |
6 |
| Document Preparation Services |
36 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
11 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
204 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
45 |
| Educational Support Services |
52 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
186 |
| Electronic Auctions |
2 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
3 |
| Electronic Shopping |
70 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
106 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
13 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
36 |
| Engineering Services |
271 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
2 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
70 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
38 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
13 |
| Facilities Support Services |
14 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
86 |
| Family Planning Centers |
10 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
46 |
| Finfish Fishing |
102 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
93 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
14 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
34 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
110 |
| Flight Training |
8 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
38 |
| Flooring Contractors |
81 |
| Florists |
56 |
| Flour Milling |
2 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
3 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
32 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
81 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
8 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
9 |
| Framing Contractors |
33 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
181 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
24 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
20 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
1,135 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
16 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
57 |
| Furniture Stores |
100 |
| General Automotive Repair |
214 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
47 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
13 |
| General Rental Centers |
11 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
29 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
134 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
17 |
| Glass Container Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
8 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
76 |
| Graphic Design Services |
174 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
6 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
33 |
| Hardware Stores |
26 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
12 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
6 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
50 |
| Home Centers |
9 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
59 |
| Home Health Care Services |
35 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
99 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
25 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
27 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
7 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
7 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
3 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
7 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
5 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
393 |
| Interior Design Services |
96 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
37 |
| Internet Service Providers |
37 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
21 |
| Investment Advice |
73 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
186 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
12 |
| Jewelry Stores |
95 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
10 |
| Land Subdivision |
37 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
52 |
| Landscaping Services |
254 |
| Language Schools |
22 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
20 |
| Libraries and Archives |
8 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
790 |
| Limousine Service |
13 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
28 |
| Locksmiths |
20 |
| Logging |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
8 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
47 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
35 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Marinas |
20 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
13 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
115 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
46 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
6 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
4 |
| Meat Markets |
21 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
9 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
5 |
| Media Representatives |
13 |
| Medical Laboratories |
31 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's and Boys' Neckwear Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
29 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
4 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
47 |
| Mobile Food Services |
19 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
87 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
83 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
26 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
16 |
| Museums |
26 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
34 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
29 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
4 |
| Nail Salons |
68 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
3 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
11 |
| New Car Dealers |
45 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
41 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
6 |
| News Syndicates |
6 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
32 |
| Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
93 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
37 |
| Office Administrative Services |
92 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
41 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
35 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
256 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
173 |
| Offices of Dentists |
554 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
1,122 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
59 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
45 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
27 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
55 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
44 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
5 |
| Packing and Crating |
5 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
10 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
22 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
187 |
| Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
258 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
44 |
| Payroll Services |
20 |
| Periodical Publishers |
55 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
17 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
38 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
41 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
6 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
116 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
60 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Political Organizations |
25 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
104 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
5 |
| Prepress Services |
9 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
26 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
7 |
| Professional Organizations |
46 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
81 |
| Quick Printing |
35 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
40 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
92 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
12 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
6 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
3 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
11 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
12 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
3 |
| Repossession Services |
7 |
| Residential Property Managers |
226 |
| Residential Remodelers |
436 |
| Retail Bakeries |
40 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
24 |
| Roofing Contractors |
54 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
41 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
22 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
100 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
9 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
31 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
7 |
| Seafood Canning |
7 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
4 |
| Securities Brokerage |
153 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
35 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
17 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
41 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
22 |
| Shoe Stores |
66 |
| Siding Contractors |
19 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
31 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
40 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
373 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
4 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
104 |
| Software Reproducing |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
12 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
20 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
7 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
92 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
46 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
6 |
| Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply |
3 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
4 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
4 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
48 |
| Taxi Service |
10 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
10 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
12 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
7 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
13 |
| Temporary Help Services |
121 |
| Temporary Shelters |
27 |
| Testing Laboratories |
33 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
5 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
37 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
33 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
3 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
35 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
7 |
| Tobacco Stores |
31 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tour Operators |
37 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
9 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
25 |
| Travel Agencies |
104 |
| Used Car Dealers |
49 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
31 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
117 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
9 |
| Veterinary Services |
75 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
69 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
51 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
38 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
9 |
| Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
6 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
247 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
11 |
| Wineries |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
101 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
110 |
| Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
3 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
6 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
3 |
Whether your goal is to attract Seattle customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your business achieving its goals.
We have some great resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. PR Versus Advertising is a good read to get your marketing ideas flowing. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Seattle or are selling to customers throughout Washington, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Seattle, Washington, you should check out some of the learning programs at local Washington educational institutions. You should also check if there are any Seattle networking organizations.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Seattle. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Seattle and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Seattleentrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Seattle.
