Serving Olympia
Start and grow your business in Olympia
Olympia’s independent downtown, year-round Farmers Market and capital-city customers make it a good place to build something of your own. As a women’s business center for Olympia, WCWB gives women free one-on-one advising, practical classes and a community of business owners, all from just up the road in Lacey.
Thurston County
58,630
Free, by phone or video
Lacey, Washington
What powers Olympia’s economy
Olympia is Washington’s state capital, and government is by far the biggest employer in Thurston County: state government alone accounts for about 23% of all county jobs. Health care is the next-largest sector, anchored by Providence St. Peter Hospital and Kaiser Permanente in Olympia. The Port of Olympia’s deep-water marine terminal and Swantown Marina give the city a working waterfront. A compact downtown of more than 450 independently owned businesses, a state-certified Creative District and the year-round Olympia Farmers Market support a strong local retail, food and arts economy.
State government
Olympia is the state capital. In 2025, government made up 43,847 of Thurston County’s 129,717 covered jobs, and state government alone is about 23% of all jobs in the county.
Health care
Health care and social assistance is Thurston County’s largest private sector (17,142 jobs in 2025). Providence St. Peter Hospital and Kaiser Permanente are major employers in Olympia, and Providence Health & Services is the county’s largest private employer, with about 2,000 workers (2026 estimate).
Port, marine terminal and maritime trades
The Port of Olympia runs a 66-acre marine terminal with two deep-water berths, on-dock rail and a 76,000-square-foot warehouse, handling bulk, breakbulk and project cargo. It also runs Swantown Marina (more than 650 permanent and 70 guest slips) and Swantown Boatworks, a haul-out, maintenance and storage yard.
Retail, food and the creative economy
Downtown has more than 450 independently owned businesses. Its state-certified Creative District counts about 150 creative enterprises, including 38 food businesses and 25 makers and fabricators.
Your women’s business center for Olympia
Whether you sell at the Farmers Market, run a downtown storefront or want to work with the state, these are good places to start.
Free one-on-one advising
Talk through your plan, pricing, funding or a downtown lease with an advisor, by phone or video, at no cost.
Take your shop online
Quick Startup: E-Commerce Accelerator gives selected women-owned businesses in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater training, mentorship and a $2,500 scholarship.
Sell at the Pop-Up Market
Test new products with shoppers at the INSPIRE Pop-Up Market, a low-cost market for women-owned businesses at Capital Mall in Olympia.
Work with the state
With the Capitol in town, public contracts can be a real market. Advisors can explain how government contracting works and connect you with the APEX Accelerator for contracting help.
Where business happens
Business districts in Olympia
- Downtown Olympia. A half-square-mile core with more than 450 independently owned shops, restaurants and services near the State Capitol Campus, the Farmers Market and five theaters. It has its own Parking & Business Improvement Area (PBIA), funded by downtown business ratepayers.
- Downtown Creative District. A 30-block area certified by the Washington State Arts Commission, home to galleries, theaters, breweries, makers and designers, including 42 historic buildings.
- Port Peninsula and East Bay waterfront. Port of Olympia waterfront land with restaurants, Swantown Marina, the Olympia Farmers Market and sites the Port offers for commercial, office and retail development.
Good to know in Olympia
- An Olympia business license is a city endorsement on your state business license, added through the state’s Business Licensing Service. Home-based businesses have extra city requirements.
- Olympia has its own B&O tax. Starting with 2026 tax periods, no Olympia B&O tax is due on less than $500,000 a year in Olympia gross receipts, but every business still files at least an annual return.
- The Olympia Downtown Alliance offers LoveOly Microgrants of up to $500 for physical-space or event projects, plus a monthly networking meetup for downtown businesses.
- The Olympia Farmers Market takes vendors who grow, craft or produce their products in Thurston, Mason, Lewis or Grays Harbor County.
Not sure what applies to you? An advisor can walk you through it.
More help in Olympia
Alongside WCWB, these Olympia organizations support local businesses. Each link opens their own website.
City of Olympia Economic Development
City office focused on strengthening small businesses, with links to licensing, downtown data and the Olympia Strong economic plan.
Olympia Downtown Alliance (LoveOly)
Downtown Main Street organization that offers welcome packets, vacant-space listings, microgrants, monthly networking and downtown marketing.
Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
Chamber serving Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater since 1874, with networking groups, advocacy and a Small Business Incubator in downtown Olympia.
Washington SBDC – Lacey/Olympia (South Puget Sound Community College)
Free, confidential one-on-one advising for people starting, growing or buying or selling a business, plus low-cost workshops and market research.
Timberland Regional Library – Small Business
Free computers and printing, business and legal databases (for example GrantSelect and Gale Legal Forms) and staff referrals to WorkSource and other local business support.
Olympia Farmers Market – Become a Vendor
Application and rules for selling at Olympia’s year-round public market, a low-cost way to test products with local customers.
Questions from Olympia business owners
I sell at the Olympia Farmers Market. Can WCWB help me grow?
Yes. Many owners start at a market and grow from there. An advisor can help you with pricing, a product line that sells all year and a plan for your next step, whether that’s a website, wholesale accounts or a downtown storefront.
Can WCWB help me open a storefront downtown?
Yes. An advisor can help you build a budget, understand a lease and plan your opening. The Olympia Downtown Alliance also shares vacant-space listings and welcome packets for new downtown businesses.
Does WCWB have an office in Olympia?
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.
Your Olympia business starts with one conversation
Tell us where you are and what you need. Advising is free, and there’s no up-front commitment.