Business resources
Businesses of all sizes are key to making our City thrive. Find resources to help your business grow or invest in our region.
Starting, growing, or relocating a business
Thinking of relocating? Our local government is business friendly while also having the personal touch of a small city. Whether you’re an interested business or developer, our City offers significant benefits at lower costs than most of the Puget Sound region.
For help with starting or relocating your business, contact Aleksandr Yeremeyev, Economic Development Strategist:
Real estate
To find properties available in the area, use the Soundside Alliance Find Real Estate Tool.
New development
We’re committed to redevelopment throughout our City, with a special focus on the three light rail station areas. We’re also actively working with several private property owners, the Port of Seattle, and Sound Transit to develop dozens of parcels that are perfect for new economic activity.
Taxes and fees
- Business and Occupation (B&O) tax: None
- Local utility tax: None
- Property tax: $2.89 per $1,000 of assessed value (includes a levy for fire services)
- Sales tax: 10.2%
- Business license fee: See our fee schedule(PDF, 910KB)
Business licensing
To do business here, you’ll need a City business license. Learn how to apply on our business licensing page.
Permitting
Visit our permitting portal for all your permitting needs.
Utilities
We have multiple utility providers across our City. Visit our utilities page to learn more.
Workforce development
Higher education: Highline College
In today’s highly competitive marketplace, businesses need a highly trained and flexible workforce. With access to many local, regional, private, community, and technical colleges, South King County students are well-prepared to succeed in global, high-performance workplaces.
South King County is home to Highline College in Des Moines, which also hosts a Central Washington University branch campus. Learn more about Highline’s academic and career development programs:
Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL)
- Helps create connections among education, business, industry, community partners and workforce intermediaries
- Advocates for Washington both nationally and internationally in international trade, transportation, and logistics
Center for Extended Learning
- Offers a variety of job skills programs, courses, and certificates
- Provides companies and their employees with excellent training for broad new skill sets
- Has qualified staff to help organizations interested in relocating to the area and accessing employee programs
Airport Jobs
Located in the main terminal of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Airport Jobs is the main recruiting tool for airport and airport-related employers.
Airport Jobs helps job seekers:
- Understand airport-related jobs
- Complete job applications
- Create resumes and cover letters
- Learn job search and interviewing skills
- Get referrals to community resources
For employers, Airport Jobs:
- Offers a central location to list job openings, start up, or expand
- Allows use of their offices for interviewing
- Reduces costs to advertise to job applicants
Business assistance
Small Business Development Center
The Highline Small Business Development Center offers free, one-on-one, confidential counseling, research, resources and technical assistance for small- and medium-sized business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs.
Chamber of Commerce
The Seattle Southside Chamber supports businesses and communities in Burien, SeaTac, and Tukwila. It focuses on:
- Advancing businesses in the region
- Helping build and maintain a strong economic environment
- Improving trust and cooperation between businesses and communities
The Chamber also provides a useful directory of businesses that are dedicated to advancing southwest King County.
Ventures
Ventures supports entrepreneurs with limited resources to improve their lives through small business ownership. It offers:
- Business courses
- Microloans and matched savings accounts
- Financial literacy workshops
- One-on-one coaching and mentoring
- Retail incubation through the Ventures Marketplace
- Food incubation through workshops and affordable kitchen rentals
- Ongoing support
Ventures is a certified Community Development Financial Institution and a Small Business Administration Microloan Program Intermediary lender.
Business Impact Northwest
Business Impact Northwest serves underbanked entrepreneurs with startups as well as existing businesses. It promotes long-term economic change for low- and moderate-income business owners—particularly women, minorities, and veterans.
It offers:
- Access to capital
- Technical assistance
- Financial services
- Business advice and training
Business Impact Northwest is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution.
Small business liasons
Check out our list of small business liasons(PDF, 326KB) in Washington.
Other organizations offering business assistance
Associations
Tourism promotion
International benefits of our region
International airport
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport is the largest airport in Washington. It hosts about 30 airlines, including many foreign flag carriers.
Seaports
Puget Sound is a body of water east of Admiralty Inlet, with ocean waters reaching about 50 miles inland. It provides all-weather ports for ships at Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia.
The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma make up the third-largest container complex in the United States. More than $50 billion worth of goods travel through these ports every year.
Trade
SeaTac businesses do a lot of international trade, including in:
- Software and legal services
- Architectural and engineering design and consulting
- Product importing
- Food and beverage exporting
Strategic location
We’re located midway between Asia and Europe. Closer to Asia than any other U.S. seaport, the Pacific Northwest’s ports are excellent for products coming to and from North America.
Organizations supporting international trade and relations
For more organizations that promote international trade in our area, visit the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle website.