Dr. Paul Borosky, DBA, MBA
Business Plan Writer & Consultant
Washington Business Plan Writer for Seattle and Spokane
Across the Puget Sound region and the Eastside, Amazon, Microsoft and T-Mobile paychecks push up rents and wages for every cafe, cleaner and contractor nearby. In the Inland Northwest, Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane’s hospitals set a slower pace. Dr. Paul’s plan prices your rent and payroll for your side of the Cascades, so a lender sees costs that match where you work.
East or west of the Cascades? Call or text (321) 948-9588. Dr. Paul answers personally.
Last Updated: 10/31/2026 · Written by Dr. Paul Borosky, DBA, MBA
City Spotlight
Cruise Ships, Hoop Courts, Containers and Office Towers
Each Washington city below wants different proof from a plan, so each one carries different numbers.
| City | What Drives Demand | The Plan Question |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | Alaska cruise passengers, Pike Place Market shoppers, Amazon’s South Lake Union staff | How many counter hires, and when? |
| Spokane | Hoopfest players and fans, Bloomsday runners, Fairchild and Spokane hospital paychecks | Can two big weekends carry a new restaurant? |
| Tacoma | Port of Tacoma container terminals, Tideflats warehouses, I-5 distribution traffic | Enough container moves to cover the truck payment? |
| Bellevue | Amazon’s downtown towers, BelRed and Spring District offices, Bellevue Square shoppers, Crossroads families | Who buys lunch besides Amazon staff? |
Alaska cruise ships sail from Pier 66 and Pier 91 from about April to October, packing Pike Place Market on sailing days.
“How should a Pike Place Market vendor plan around cruise season?”
The Plan FixSign on extra counter help in March, before the first ships leave Pier 66 and Pier 91. Schedule that crew by ship day, then trim the roster in October to what Capitol Hill and Ballard locals keep buying.
Hoopfest takes over Downtown Spokane streets each June, and Bloomsday sends runners past Riverfront Park every May.
“Can a Downtown Spokane restaurant count on Hoopfest and Bloomsday?”
The Plan FixBook supplier drops for the day before Hoopfest and Bloomsday, because Downtown Spokane streets around Riverfront Park close to delivery trucks. Then price a sidewalk takeout window for the crowds walking past your door.
Container terminals on the Tideflats, run through The Northwest Seaport Alliance, feed drayage and warehouse work along I-5 and Pacific Avenue.
“What does a Tideflats drayage startup need in its plan?”
The Plan FixPrice each container move on Port of Tacoma terminal turn times, and add warehouse transload runs as a second line. When cargo runs thin, fill the calendar with short hauls across the Narrows Bridge on SR 16 to Gig Harbor.
Amazon’s downtown Bellevue towers and the offices in BelRed and the Spring District fill lunch lines on weekdays. Bellevue Square and Crossroads draw the shoppers and families.
“Who besides Amazon staff will buy from a new Bellevue lunch spot?”
The Plan FixSort the downtown and Spring District office crowd, Bellevue Square weekend shoppers and Crossroads families into separate customer groups. Then test each group with a Washington SBDC advisor before you sign a lease.
Expanding next door? The plan math shifts by state, so compare the pages for Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Ways to Plan Next to Washington’s Biggest Paychecks
Big employers set the rent and wage bar in much of the state. The four options below meet that bar with numbers from your own street.
Business Consulting
Losing good people to bigger paychecks, or watching rent eat the margin? A consulting call with Dr. Paul sorts out which fight to pick first and what winning it takes.
See consulting options →Business Plan Writing
FeaturedSeattle wage rules, Eastside lease quotes and the shift schedules of Spokane hospital staff each change the math. Dr. Paul fits the full plan and projections to the ones that apply to you.
Start your plan →Business Plan Templates
Cleaning offices on the Eastside and homes around the Sound? The cleaning company template keeps commercial contracts and residential visits on separate lines.
Browse templates →Small Business Education
Hiring, pricing and picking a customer are the skills that keep a small shop alive next to a big employer. The lessons and books on this page teach each one in plain language.
Start learning →How Dr. Paul Helps
How Dr. Paul Helps Washington Owners Compete With Big-Employer Paychecks
Amazon, Microsoft and T-Mobile set the going rate for rent and labor across the Puget Sound region. Your plan has to show you can pay that rate and still keep a margin.
- Credit initiative requests, packaged. The Washington State Department of Commerce runs the Washington Small Business Credit Initiative through partners such as Heritage Bank and Calvert Impact. Dr. Paul writes the request those partners review.
- Payroll on your city’s rate. Seattle, SeaTac, Renton and Everett are among the Washington cities with a local minimum wage higher than the state rate from Labor & Industries. Your projections start from the rate where you actually hire.
- Rent priced for the block you sign. A lease near the big tech offices costs more than one a few miles out. The plan prices the exact space you are signing for, then shows the sales needed to carry it.
- Prices tested before launch. Dr. Paul’s pricing guide shows how to build a price that covers King County rent and wages, so you can test it before the first customer does.
- The right SBA office. Eastern Washington files go to the SBA Spokane District Office. Most western Washington files go to Seattle, while Clark County and its southwest Washington neighbors work with the SBA Portland District Office.
Too many Washington plans borrow their costs from a state average and their customers from a tech giant’s headcount. Dr. Paul flips both. A Bellevue lunch counter pays Bellevue rent and the market wages Eastside employers have set, and the honest forecast counts only the office workers who will actually walk through the door.
Real work in Washington: Dr. Paul wrote an SBA-ready business plan for a freight brokerage in Washington in 2022.
Funding and Licensing Snapshot
Who Reads a Plan on Each Side of the Cascades
Washington splits its SBA work across two offices and runs its state credit programs through private partners. Find your desk before you write.
SBA Seattle and Spokane District Offices
Seattle covers most of western Washington, and Spokane covers eastern Washington and north Idaho. Clark County and the rest of southwest Washington fall under the SBA Portland District Office.
Washington Small Business Credit Initiative
The Department of Commerce puts federal State Small Business Credit Initiative money to work through partners like Heritage Bank and Calvert Impact. Those partners underwrite the loan, so the plan has to satisfy them first.
Seattle Office of Economic Development
The office offers small business advising, help finding capital and support for neighborhood business districts. Bring a draft plan and one specific question, such as where to look for capital, so the conversation starts from your numbers.
Washington SBDC
Hosted by Washington State University, with certified advisors in offices around the state, from Puget Sound to the Inland Northwest. Advising is no cost.
Secretary of State
LLCs and corporations form through the Corporations Division. Get that done before you apply for the state business license.
Business Licensing Service
Most Washington businesses need a state business license, and the same service handles many city license endorsements. Add both to your opening timeline.
From Dr. Paul’s Fabled Forest
A Leadership Book for Washington Owners Hiring Next to Giants
Dr. Paul’s Fabled Forest Business School · Book 1
Management and Leadership for Small Businesses
What keeps a good hire from leaving for a bigger paycheck? Management and Leadership for Small Businesses answers with clear roles, delegation and the everyday habits that make people want to stay. Washington owners who can’t match the largest employers on wages need those habits more than most, because the reason to stay has to come from somewhere besides the paycheck.
When the largest tree in the grove pays well, every worker notices. Ask what keeps yours here besides the wage, and build that into the plan.
Doctor Owl, Dr. Paul’s Fabled Forest Business SchoolWatch
A Seattle Forecast Lesson and a Spokane Tip
Dr. Paul recorded both with Washington owners in mind. Start with the sales forecast, then watch the Spokane tip.
Sales and Inventory Forecast in ExcelDr. Paul’s Seattle tip on forecasting sales and the stock behind them, built step by step in Excel.
Business Plan Tip for Spokane OwnersA quick plan tip from Dr. Paul for owners in and around Spokane.
Learn It Yourself
Washington Lessons on Pricing, Staffing and Picking a Customer
The owners who hold their own next to big employers know their numbers cold. Start with whichever lesson fits the call you face next.
FAQ
Washington Owners’ Plan Questions, East and West
What will Heritage Bank or Calvert Impact ask for under the Washington Small Business Credit Initiative?
Will a South Lake Union landlord ask a new café owner for a personal guarantee?
How should a Leavenworth shop plan cash around Oktoberfest and the Christmas lighting weekends?
Dr. Paul Borosky, DBA, MBA
Business Plan Writer, Consultant & Author | 14+ Years | 1,000+ Clients Served
Dr. Paul Borosky, DBA, MBA is the founder of Quality Business Plan. He writes business plans and financial projections for owners across the United States and Canada, works remotely with clients in every state, and has written plans behind more than $100M in funded projects. He is the author of the Dr. Paul’s Fabled Forest Business School series and has published over 1,000 business videos on YouTube. He has taught as an adjunct college instructor and teaches in Florida public schools.
This page is for general educational purposes only. It is not legal, lending, or financial advice. Program rules, loan sizes and local requirements change, so confirm them with the program or agency before you apply. The Fabled Forest and its characters are fictional.