How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Tacoma, WA?
Population: 219,346 | Cost of living: 118.5% | Sales tax: 10.2% | Min wage: $16.28
Startup Costs by Industry in Tacoma
| Industry | Estimated Startup Cost | National Average | Local Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Firm | $19,000 - $77,000 | $15,000 - $60,000 | +28% |
| Acupuncture Practice | $9,000 - $55,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | -9% |
| Affiliate Marketing Business | $3,000 - $16,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +245% |
| After-School Program | $21,000 - $124,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +21% |
| AI Consulting Business | $8,000 - $56,000 | $2,000 - $50,000 | +23% |
| Airbnb Rental Business | $11,000 - $58,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +15% |
| Amazon FBA Business | $8,000 - $72,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +45% |
| App Development | $19,000 - $120,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +21% |
| Aquaponics Farm | $19,000 - $147,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -2% |
| Arcade & Gaming Center | $93,000 - $552,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +8% |
| ATM Business | $5,000 - $54,000 | $3,000 - $30,000 | +79% |
| Auto Detailing | $9,000 - $67,000 | $5,000 - $75,000 | -5% |
| Auto Repair Shop | $58,000 - $308,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +5% |
| Axe Throwing Venue | $45,000 - $237,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +13% |
| Bakery | $58,000 - $251,000 | $60,000 - $250,000 | Avg |
| Bar | $90,000 - $368,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | -8% |
| Barbershop | $43,000 - $160,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | +2% |
| Beauty Supply Store | $25,000 - $122,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -18% |
| Bed & Breakfast | $119,000 - $590,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +18% |
| Beekeeping Business | $13,000 - $59,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +20% |
| Bike Shop | $25,000 - $160,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | -20% |
| Auto Body Shop | $41,000 - $236,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -21% |
| Bookkeeping Service | $3,000 - $18,000 | $2,000 - $10,000 | +75% |
| Bookstore | $45,000 - $191,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | -2% |
| Boutique | $48,000 - $240,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -4% |
| Bowling Alley | $439,000 - $2,788,000 | $500,000 - $3,000,000 | -8% |
| Brewery | $224,000 - $1,258,000 | $250,000 - $1,500,000 | -15% |
| Campground | $114,000 - $1,118,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +12% |
| Candy Shop | $22,000 - $109,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +9% |
| Car Rental Business | $54,000 - $500,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +1% |
| Car Wash | $84,000 - $519,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | +5% |
| Carpentry Business | $20,000 - $104,000 | $15,000 - $75,000 | +38% |
| Carpet Cleaning Business | $5,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +9% |
| Catering Business | $27,000 - $137,000 | $20,000 - $125,000 | +13% |
| Chiropractic | $90,000 - $325,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -8% |
| Christmas Tree Farm | $27,000 - $162,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +58% |
| Cleaning Service | $8,000 - $50,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +5% |
| Clothing Store | $21,000 - $122,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | -18% |
| Coding Bootcamp | $9,000 - $85,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -15% |
| Coffee Roastery | $23,000 - $279,000 | $20,000 - $300,000 | -6% |
| Coffee Shop | $65,000 - $254,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | -16% |
| Computer Repair Business | $5,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +9% |
| Concrete Business | $31,000 - $164,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +8% |
| Construction Company | $63,000 - $533,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +8% |
| Consulting Business | $11,000 - $71,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +49% |
| Convenience Store | $49,000 - $314,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | -9% |
| Courier & Delivery Service | $8,000 - $59,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +22% |
| Coworking Space | $81,000 - $387,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | -22% |
| Cybersecurity Firm | $9,000 - $85,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | -15% |
| Dance Studio | $31,000 - $145,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -2% |
| Daycare | $48,000 - $201,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -29% |
| Demolition Company | $64,000 - $294,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +19% |
| Dental Practice | $320,000 - $797,000 | $350,000 - $750,000 | +2% |
| Digital Marketing | $11,000 - $65,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +38% |
| Distillery | $93,000 - $848,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | -14% |
| Dog Daycare | $39,000 - $286,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | -17% |
| Dog Grooming Business | $12,000 - $66,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +30% |
| Dog Training Business | $5,000 - $30,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | +59% |
| Dog Walking Business | $3,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +191% |
| Donut Shop | $49,000 - $232,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -6% |
| Driving School | $26,000 - $112,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +10% |
| Drone Business | $6,000 - $43,000 | $3,000 - $50,000 | -8% |
| Dropshipping Business | $3,000 - $21,000 | $500 - $10,000 | +129% |
| Electrical | $19,000 - $99,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +3% |
| Embroidery & Custom Apparel | $9,000 - $48,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -5% |
| Escape Room | $52,000 - $338,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +11% |
| Etsy Shop | $3,000 - $14,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +209% |
| Event Planning Business | $9,000 - $42,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +46% |
| Excavation Business | $90,000 - $401,000 | $80,000 - $350,000 | +14% |
| Farm | $47,000 - $559,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +10% |
| Fast Food Franchise | $143,000 - $2,261,000 | $100,000 - $2,500,000 | -8% |
| Fencing Business | $9,000 - $48,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -5% |
| Financial Advisory Practice | $9,000 - $48,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -5% |
| Fitness Studio | $41,000 - $236,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -21% |
| Flooring Business | $14,000 - $79,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +33% |
| Flower Shop | $33,000 - $172,000 | $30,000 - $175,000 | Avg |
| Food Delivery Service | $17,000 - $93,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +29% |
| Food Truck | $62,000 - $228,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +16% |
| Franchise Business | $37,000 - $1,189,000 | $20,000 - $1,000,000 | +20% |
| Garage Door Business | $9,000 - $48,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -5% |
| Gas Station | $201,000 - $1,524,000 | $250,000 - $2,000,000 | -23% |
| General Contractor | $35,000 - $210,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +7% |
| Ghost Kitchen | $22,000 - $109,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +9% |
| Gift Shop | $33,000 - $156,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +5% |
| Glamping Business | $17,000 - $160,000 | $20,000 - $200,000 | -20% |
| Graphic Design Business | $7,000 - $31,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +65% |
| Greenhouse Business | $27,000 - $213,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +4% |
| Grocery Store | $110,000 - $1,424,000 | $80,000 - $2,000,000 | -26% |
| Gym | $89,000 - $437,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -4% |
| Hair Salon | $60,000 - $218,000 | $60,000 - $200,000 | +7% |
| Handyman | $10,000 - $52,000 | $5,000 - $40,000 | +38% |
| Home Health Care Agency | $52,000 - $359,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +5% |
| Home Inspection Business | $7,000 - $34,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +37% |
| Hostel | $41,000 - $236,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -21% |
| Hotel | $573,000 - $5,442,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +9% |
| HVAC | $28,000 - $140,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -1% |
| Ice Cream Shop | $54,000 - $285,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -3% |
| Insurance Agency | $23,000 - $95,000 | $20,000 - $80,000 | +18% |
| Interior Design Business | $5,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +9% |
| IT Services | $18,000 - $105,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +7% |
| Jewelry Store | $41,000 - $198,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -20% |
| Juice Bar | $41,000 - $195,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | -2% |
| Junk Removal Business | $5,000 - $48,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -4% |
| Landscaping | $15,000 - $85,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +11% |
| Language School | $9,000 - $66,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | -12% |
| Laundromat | $149,000 - $823,000 | $200,000 - $1,000,000 | -19% |
| Lavender Farm | $17,000 - $85,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | -15% |
| Law Firm | $45,000 - $211,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +2% |
| Liquor Store | $93,000 - $355,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | -10% |
| Locksmith Business | $5,000 - $33,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +9% |
| Managed IT Services | $9,000 - $66,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | -12% |
| Manufacturing Business | $65,000 - $1,092,000 | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | +10% |
| Marketing Agency | $18,000 - $103,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +42% |
| Martial Arts Studio | $30,000 - $146,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -2% |
| Masonry Business | $20,000 - $102,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +28% |
| Massage Therapy Practice | $5,000 - $48,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -4% |
| Meal Prep Business | $18,000 - $89,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -7% |
| Med Spa | $209,000 - $603,000 | $250,000 - $600,000 | -4% |
| Medical Practice | $103,000 - $588,000 | $70,000 - $500,000 | +21% |
| Microgreens Farm | $3,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +41% |
| Mini Golf Course | $92,000 - $521,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +2% |
| Mobile Mechanic | $8,000 - $56,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +16% |
| Moving Company | $28,000 - $140,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | -1% |
| Mushroom Farm | $12,000 - $85,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +8% |
| Music School | $28,000 - $134,000 | $25,000 - $120,000 | +12% |
| Nail Salon | $38,000 - $150,000 | $40,000 - $150,000 | -1% |
| Notary Business | $2,000 - $14,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 | +167% |
| Plant Nursery | $29,000 - $174,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +16% |
| Oil Change Shop | $46,000 - $250,000 | $40,000 - $250,000 | +2% |
| Online Coaching Business | $4,000 - $27,000 | $1,000 - $10,000 | +182% |
| Online Store | $4,000 - $48,000 | $2,000 - $30,000 | +63% |
| Painting | $11,000 - $58,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +25% |
| Pawn Shop | $41,000 - $160,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -20% |
| Personal Training | $14,000 - $98,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +2% |
| Pest Control | $17,000 - $85,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +20% |
| Pet Boarding Facility | $51,000 - $450,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | -9% |
| Pet Sitting Business | $3,000 - $12,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +173% |
| Pet Store | $56,000 - $288,000 | $60,000 - $300,000 | -4% |
| Pharmacy | $288,000 - $1,492,000 | $250,000 - $1,700,000 | -9% |
| Phone Repair Shop | $9,000 - $48,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | -5% |
| Photography Business | $13,000 - $80,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +55% |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | $41,000 - $236,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -21% |
| Pilates Studio | $25,000 - $122,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -18% |
| Pizza Shop | $71,000 - $273,000 | $75,000 - $300,000 | -8% |
| Plumbing | $18,000 - $96,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -1% |
| Podcast Studio | $18,000 - $91,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +15% |
| Pool Construction Business | $41,000 - $236,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -21% |
| Pool Cleaning & Service | $5,000 - $30,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +17% |
| Preschool | $76,000 - $296,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | -2% |
| Pressure Washing Business | $3,000 - $24,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +17% |
| Print-on-Demand Business | $3,000 - $18,000 | $500 - $8,000 | +147% |
| Printing Business | $50,000 - $246,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -1% |
| Property Management Company | $7,000 - $39,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | -16% |
| Real Estate Agency | $30,000 - $128,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +26% |
| Real Estate Investment Business | $29,000 - $532,000 | $20,000 - $500,000 | +8% |
| Recording Studio | $45,000 - $213,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +3% |
| Restaurant | $88,000 - $344,000 | $75,000 - $250,000 | +33% |
| Retail Store | $42,000 - $237,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -7% |
| Roofing | $28,000 - $149,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +4% |
| SaaS Company | $27,000 - $213,000 | $25,000 - $200,000 | +7% |
| Security Company | $17,000 - $112,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +17% |
| Self-Storage Facility | $399,000 - $4,727,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | -7% |
| Senior Care Facility | $116,000 - $1,145,000 | $100,000 - $1,500,000 | -21% |
| SEO Agency | $11,000 - $66,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +40% |
| Sign Shop | $17,000 - $85,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | -15% |
| Smoke Shop | $25,000 - $122,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -18% |
| Solar Installation Business | $41,000 - $236,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -21% |
| Spa | $89,000 - $340,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | -5% |
| Staffing Agency | $39,000 - $171,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +17% |
| Subscription Box Business | $8,000 - $62,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +27% |
| Swim School | $41,000 - $236,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -21% |
| Tanning Salon | $41,000 - $198,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | -20% |
| Tattoo Shop | $25,000 - $122,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | -18% |
| Tax Preparation Business | $11,000 - $54,000 | $8,000 - $40,000 | +35% |
| Tech Startup | $23,000 - $175,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +16% |
| Thrift Store | $22,000 - $119,000 | $20,000 - $120,000 | +1% |
| Tire Shop | $57,000 - $274,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +10% |
| Tour Company | $14,000 - $92,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +18% |
| Towing Company | $56,000 - $290,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | -1% |
| Trampoline Park | $373,000 - $1,719,000 | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | -16% |
| Travel Agency | $8,000 - $46,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +54% |
| Tree Service | $13,000 - $85,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | -15% |
| Trucking Company | $22,000 - $298,000 | $15,000 - $400,000 | -23% |
| Tutoring Business | $5,000 - $23,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +65% |
| Used Car Dealer | $50,000 - $339,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | -3% |
| Vape Shop | $30,000 - $144,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | -1% |
| Vending Machine Business | $8,000 - $73,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +47% |
| Veterinary Clinic | $298,000 - $1,816,000 | $300,000 - $2,000,000 | -8% |
| Videography Business | $15,000 - $70,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +21% |
| Virtual Assistant Business | $2,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $3,000 | +329% |
| Waste Management Business | $37,000 - $442,000 | $30,000 - $500,000 | -10% |
| Web Design Business | $5,000 - $34,000 | $3,000 - $25,000 | +39% |
| Wedding Planning Business | $9,000 - $41,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +43% |
| Welding Business | $21,000 - $121,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +23% |
| Window Cleaning Business | $3,000 - $21,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +41% |
| Winery | $82,000 - $985,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | -3% |
| Yoga Studio | $48,000 - $190,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | -5% |
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Local Market Factors in Tacoma
118.5%
Cost of Living Index
$16-$38
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)
1.1x
Labor Rate Index
10.2%
Sales Tax Rate
Local Permit Fees in Tacoma
| Permit | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Business License | $75 - $300 |
| Food Service Permit | $300 - $700 |
| Liquor License | $1,500 - $7,000 |
| General Contractor License | $150 - $400 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $50 - $125 |
About Starting a Business in Tacoma
Tacoma is emerging as a more affordable alternative to Seattle, with a revitalized waterfront, growing arts district, and no state income tax. The city's port operations, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and expanding tech spillover from Seattle create diverse business opportunities at significantly lower rents.
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