Seattle, Washington — Startup Costs
Retail Store Startup Costs in Seattle
Opening a retail store in Seattle typically costs $90,000 – $280,000. Here is the full breakdown — lease deposits, build-out, fixtures, inventory, POS, and licenses — with real dollar ranges based on Seattle market data.
Startup cost breakdown
| Cost item | Low | High | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease deposit + first months' rent | $10,000 | $28,000 | 1,200 sqft at $22–42/sqft |
| Build-out & fixtures | $35,000 | $110,000 | — |
| Initial inventory | $25,000 | $80,000 | 45–75% of projected revenue |
| POS, security & signage | $6,000 | $15,000 | — |
| Licenses & insurance | $3,000 | $9,000 | WA business license + Seattle license |
| Total estimated range | $79,000 | $242,000 | 3–6 months from lease signing to opening |
Timeline to launch
3–6 months from lease signing to opening
How Seattle compares
Seattle retail startup costs are at the higher end, driven by the nation's highest major-city minimum wage ($20.76) and Washington's B&O gross-receipts tax on revenue. For comparison, see our national retail gross margin benchmarks and the gross margin calculator.
Plan your Seattle store
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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