Seattle, Washington — Startup Costs
Restaurant Startup Costs in Seattle
Opening a restaurant in Seattle typically costs $220,000–$550,000 (prime neighborhood), $160,000–$350,000 (secondary location). Here is the full breakdown — lease deposits, equipment, build-out, permits, inventory, and pre-opening costs — with real dollar ranges based on Seattle market data.
Startup cost breakdown
| Cost item | Low | High | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease deposit + first 3 months rent | $15,000 | $35,000 | 1,500 sqft at $30–42/sqft/year |
| Kitchen equipment | $50,000 | $90,000 | — |
| Build-out / tenant improvements | $80,000 | $180,000 | — |
| WA LCB liquor license | $1,200 | $2,500 | — |
| Initial inventory | $10,000 | $18,000 | — |
| Permits (city + county health + fire) | $1,200 | $2,500 | — |
| Pre-opening labor (at $20.76/hr) | $15,000 | $30,000 | Higher due to Seattle's minimum wage |
| Marketing & grand opening | $8,000 | $20,000 | — |
| Total estimated range | $180,400 | $378,000 | 4–7 months from lease signing. Seattle DCI building permit: 4–8 weeks. LCB liquor license: 60–90 days. King County health: 3–4 weeks. Avoid winter construction (Nov–Feb) when rain delays are frequent. |
Timeline to launch
4–7 months from lease signing. Seattle DCI building permit: 4–8 weeks. LCB liquor license: 60–90 days. King County health: 3–4 weeks. Avoid winter construction (Nov–Feb) when rain delays are frequent.
How Seattle compares
Seattle restaurant startup costs are in the middle range, with the primary differentiator being local commercial rent and wage levels. For comparison, see our national restaurant profit margin benchmarks and restaurant profit calculator.
Plan your Seattle restaurant
Use our break-even calculator to model your startup costs and find out how long it takes to recover your investment.
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