Opening Your New Business Location
Learn how to complete a renovation or construction project and how to open a brick-and-mortar business in Seattle. This guide breaks down the steps to open a new business location or remodel a business.
Tips to Save Time and Money
1. Get experts on your team.
Even if you have construction experience, there might be requirements you don’t know about for opening a business. Many business owners who do their own projects run into problems that an expert could have helped them avoid. Experts you might need include a real estate broker, lawyer, architect, and general contractor.
2. Sign up for free permit coaching and get your construction permit faster.
Ready to choose a space for your small business? Find out if you’re eligible for free Commercial Permit Coaching. We can help you…
- Research the permit history for the location you are interested in
- Learn what repairs or updates might be required to use a space for your business
- Speed up your building permit
3. Find the right space for your business and your budget.
It will be less expensive and easier if you find a location that is already built for the same type of business you are opening. For example, if you want to open a restaurant, using a location that already has permits to be a restaurant could save you over a year of work.
If you need to remodel a space, find out what permits it has so that you can understand what you will be required to do. To find out what permits a location has, you can research its permit history online:
Planning Your Project
Timelines and costs depend on your project. The list below is a suggested timeline, but your project could take more or less time.
At Least One Year Before Opening: Find the Right Location
Research locations
- Find a broker to help you find a desired location
- Talk to the neighborhood business group in your desired location
- Get money for your project
- Get free research help from City of Seattle staff to learn about what a location can be used for based on its current permits and location
Negotiate your lease
- Talk to the landlord about a letter of intent
- Get a lawyer to help negotiate your lease
- Hire an architect to make an estimate of how much renovations will cost
- Have a lawyer review your lease before signing
At Least 9 Months Before Opening: Get Permits
Design and plan
- Finish plans with your architect
- Get an updated budget, including furniture, fixtures, and equipment costs
- Talk with a licensed contractor and create a project schedule and cost estimate
Apply for permits
- Sign up for Permit Coaching to find out what permits you will need
- If your business will be in a historic district or landmark building, you will need to get a Historic Preservation Certificate of Approval
- If you are doing any construction or renovations, have your architect apply for construction permits
- If you are opening a food business, get your food service plan reviewed by Public Health – Seattle & King County’s (PHSKC) Food & Facilities program
- You also might need permits through the King County Plumbing & Gas program
- Apply for other permits depending on what you need for your business, like a liquor license or sign permit
6 Months Before Opening: Construction
- Make sure you and your contractor have all permits before starting construction
- Review the construction schedule with your contractor
- Know which inspections you will schedule and which ones your contractor will schedule
3 Months Before Opening: Inspections
Schedule inspections
- Get inspections for construction work from the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) and from the Seattle Fire Department
- Get any other permits you might need from the Seattle Fire Department, such as an assembly permit for restaurants with 100+ people
- If needed, get inspections from King County Public Health for food service and plumbing and gas inspections
- After all inspections, get a final inspection to receive your Certificate of Occupancy
Promote your business
- Meet other business owners in your neighborhood
- Publicize your opening in neighborhood groups and on social media
- Get free help from marketing consultants
Average Timelines and Permit Costs
These averages are from recent small business projects in Seattle. The permit fee amounts are adjusted for 2026 fee rates.
Restaurants
1 year time from permit application to final inspection
$5,600 average construction permit fees
Beauty Salons
11 mo. time from permit application to final inspection
$1,800 average construction permit fees
Retail Stores
8 mo. time from permit application to final inspection
$4,700 average construction permit fees
Example Projects
Before
This location in downtown Seattle had a permit to be a restaurant, so it didn’t need many changes for a new restaurant to open.
After
Paju, a Korean restaurant, moved into this location after remodeling. Photo credit: Atelier Drome
Before
This location was in a new building, so a business needed to build most things themselves before opening.
After
Communion Restaurant & Bar got a permit to build their restaurant and kitchen. Getting all the permits can take months, so plan ahead. Photo credit: Atelier Drome
Dive Deeper: Steps to Open Your Business
Sign Up for Permit Coaching
See if you qualify for Commercial Space Permit Coaching for free help with location research, understanding what repairs or updates might be required to use a location for your business, and help with your building permits.