Serving Newcastle
Start a business close to home in Newcastle
Most Newcastle residents commute to Bellevue, Renton or Seattle, and many of the businesses that stay are home-based firms, neighborhood services and shops along Coal Creek Parkway. As a women’s business center for Newcastle, WCWB helps women start and grow businesses with free one-on-one advising, practical classes and a community of women owners.
King County
13,940
Free, by phone or video
Lacey, Washington
A small city with a neighborhood economy
Newcastle is mainly a residential city: 64% of its land is single-family neighborhoods, and its own comprehensive plan counts about half a job per household. The Puget Sound Regional Council counted 2,706 jobs in the city in 2023, led by accommodation and food services (14%), health care and social assistance (13%), professional, scientific and technical services (13%) and education (10%). Most working residents commute out (5,644 work elsewhere, against about 92 who both live and work in Newcastle, per 2021 Census data), with I-405 giving access to jobs in Bellevue and Renton. Business activity is concentrated in a small downtown along Coal Creek Parkway and the newer Newcastle Commons mixed-use center, and the city budget relies mostly on residential property taxes.
Restaurants, food service and recreation
Accommodation and food services is Newcastle’s largest employment sector (about 366 of 2,706 jobs in 2023), and arts, entertainment and recreation adds about 195 more. The city’s plan singles out The Golf Club at Newcastle, a 36-hole course, as a feature that sets the city apart in the region.
Retail and personal services
The commercial core has grocery stores, coffee shops, fitness studios, salons and spa services and a garden center. Retail is one of the most common industries for people who work in Newcastle, and ‘other services’ such as nail salons, laundry and personal care grew after 2015.
Health care
Health care and social assistance makes up about 13% of local jobs (343 in 2023). The commercial core includes dental, optical, medical and veterinary offices.
Professional, scientific and technical services
About 13% of local jobs (340 in 2023), in fields such as legal services, accounting and research. Professional and information-sector work is also common among Newcastle’s residents, and the city’s plan notes a shift toward working from home since the pandemic.
Your women’s business center for Newcastle
Whether you work from home, open a studio downtown or serve your neighbors, here’s where WCWB fits in.
Free one-on-one advising
Shape your plan, check your numbers or prepare for a loan with an advisor, by phone or video, at no cost.
Run a business from home
Advisors can help you set up the basics, from your state and city license to pricing, bookkeeping and finding your first clients.
Learn the fundamentals
Intro to Business is a free self-paced online course on business planning, legal requirements and funding.
Meet other women owners
INSPIRE, our women’s business conference each May, brings owners from across the region together for keynotes, sessions and networking.
Where business happens
Business districts in Newcastle
- Downtown / Community Business Center (Coal Creek Parkway near Lake Boren). Newcastle’s small, mostly auto-oriented commercial district runs along Coal Creek Parkway near Lake Boren Park, with groceries, restaurants, coffee shops, fitness studios, salons, a garden center and medical, dental, optical and veterinary offices. City plans aim to turn it into a walkable mixed-use downtown.
- Newcastle Commons. The city’s first fully planned mixed-use center. Its addition grew Newcastle’s commercial area by about 40% since the previous comprehensive plan, and it is part of the city’s Downtown land-use designation.
Good to know in Newcastle
- A Newcastle business license is a city endorsement on your state business license, added through the state’s Business Licensing Service. Businesses based outside the city may need one too if they sell in Newcastle.
- Newcastle has no city B&O tax. It does charge an admissions tax, so businesses that charge entry, cover or membership fees for recreation or entertainment register with the city and collect it.
- Food trucks and carts need a city Mobile Food Vendor Permit, Public Health approval and the property owner’s permission, on top of a business license.
- The city’s Community Development Department offers virtual appointments with staff for permit and planning questions.
Not sure what applies to you? An advisor can walk you through it.
More help in Newcastle
Alongside WCWB, these Newcastle organizations support local businesses. Each link opens their own website.
City of Newcastle: Business Resources
The city’s hub for licensing, business tax, bid and procurement, and mobile food vendor information; business questions go to city staff (City Hall 425-649-4444).
City of Newcastle Community Development (Permit Center)
Handles building and land-use permits and offers virtual appointments with staff for permit and planning questions.
Greater Newcastle Chamber of Commerce
A chamber with an all-volunteer board and 150+ members, including home-based businesses, with monthly networking luncheons, quarterly educational breakfasts, After Hours events, a member directory and job listings.
King County Library System: Newcastle Library
At 12901 Newcastle Way, with a meeting room, study room, Wi-Fi, computers, printers, a scanner and a fax machine, plus free KCLS business databases with a library card.
Community Business Connector (Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce)
A free network run by King County’s designated Associate Development Organization that connects small businesses in all 39 King County jurisdictions with advisors, events and city contacts, including language help.
Questions from Newcastle business owners
I run my business from home in Newcastle. Can WCWB help?
Yes. Many of the owners we work with are home-based. An advisor can help you with your license, pricing, bookkeeping and a plan to grow, whether that means more clients or your first storefront.
I want to open a studio or shop near Coal Creek Parkway. Where do I start?
Start with free advising. We can help you work out startup costs and a lease budget and build a business plan, and the city’s Community Development staff can answer permit and zoning questions.
Does WCWB have an office in Newcastle?
No. We meet by phone and video, so we can work with you anywhere in Washington State. Our office is at 4220 6th Ave SE in Lacey.
Who can work with WCWB?
Anyone who is starting a business or growing a small to medium-sized one. We focus on women-identified business owners in Washington State, and our services are open to everyone.
Grow your Newcastle business from right here
Free advising by phone or video, practical classes and a community of women owners across Washington.