Serving Renton
Free support for women-owned businesses in Renton
Renton is where Boeing builds the 737, and its supplier network, health care employers and a revitalized downtown give small businesses plenty of room to grow. As a women’s business center for Renton, WCWB helps women start and grow businesses with free one-on-one advising, practical classes and a community of women owners.
King County
109,800
Free, by phone or video
Lacey, Washington
Aerospace roots, a growing downtown
Renton has been an aviation hub for more than 75 years: Boeing assembles the 737 here, PACCAR runs parts and engineering operations for heavy-duty trucks, and about one fifth of local jobs are in manufacturing. Professional services is the city’s largest employment sector (22,270 jobs), and health care makes up more than 22% of local jobs, with Valley Medical Center as an anchor. The Seattle Seahawks headquarters, The Landing, Topgolf and downtown events draw visitors, and the city is investing in downtown, where a new public market for small vendors is close to opening.
Aerospace and advanced manufacturing
Boeing assembles the 737 in Renton, supported by a supplier network in tooling, composites, precision machining, electronics, maintenance and logistics; PACCAR maintains parts and engineering operations for heavy-duty trucks, and about one fifth of local jobs are in manufacturing.
Professional services
The city’s largest employment sector, with 22,270 jobs in fields such as finance, legal, engineering, IT, marketing, real estate and corporate support.
Health care
More than 22% of local jobs are in health care, anchored by Valley Medical Center (a Level 3 trauma center) along with Providence, Swedish, Kaiser Permanente Washington and Seattle Children’s.
Sports, entertainment and visitors
What the city calls its experiential sector includes downtown events, The Landing, waterfront parks, Topgolf and community leagues, with regional draw from the Seattle Seahawks headquarters at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Your women’s business center for Renton
Whether you supply manufacturers, run a practice or open a downtown shop, 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.
Supply the aerospace chain
Advisors can help you plan business-to-business sales and learn how government contracting works, with help from the APEX Accelerator.
Test your idea
Intro to Business is a free self-paced online course on 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 Renton
- Downtown Renton (City Center). Part of the city’s Central District: a walkable downtown and riverfront with restaurants, shops, cultural venues and mixed-use buildings.
- The Landing and Southport. Regional shopping, dining and lakefront destinations in the Central District; nearby businesses the city lists include the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, Topgolf, Boeing and PACCAR.
- South District (Talbot, Valley, Benson). A health care, retail, logistics and light industrial hub with fast access to I-405, SR-167 and Sea-Tac, including Valley Medical Center, IKEA and high-traffic retail and services along the Benson and Cascade corridors.
- North District (Kennydale, Highlands, East Plateau). Established neighborhoods with small shopping clusters and local food spots serving everyday needs, near Renton Technical College and the Seahawks facilities.
Good to know in Renton
- Renton issues its own city business license through FileLocal, not the state’s Business Licensing Service, after you get a UBI number from the state.
- Renton has its own B&O tax, owed only when annual taxable revenue is above $500,000, but every licensed business still files a return.
- Downtown’s new Renton Market is planned as a low-barrier place for artisans and start-ups to sell, with kiosk stalls and a classroom kitchen.
- Renton sets its own minimum wage for employers with 15 or more employees.
Not sure what applies to you? An advisor can walk you through it.
More help in Renton
Alongside WCWB, these Renton organizations support local businesses. Each link opens their own website.
City of Renton Economic Development: Business Resources and Small Business Liaison
The city’s Small Business Liaison ([email protected], 425-430-6591) helps with finding a location, permits and connections to programs, and the city offers free 15-minute virtual permit meetings.
Renton Chamber of Commerce
Membership, networking events, legislative advocacy and member resources, plus the Visit Renton tourism program.
Renton Downtown Partnership
Downtown’s Main Street program, uniting businesses, neighbors and the city through events, a business directory and business resources.
Startup425
A joint initiative of Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Redmond and Renton offering coworking days, workshops, panels and networking for founders and small business owners.
King County Library System: Business & Nonprofit resources
Free with a KCLS card (the Renton Library is a KCLS branch): research tools such as Gale Business: Entrepreneurship, the Business Plans Handbook and Data Axle Reference Solutions.
Community Business Connector (Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce)
Run by King County’s designated Associate Development Organization, a free platform that connects small businesses in all 39 King County jurisdictions with advisors, events and city contacts, including language help.
Questions from Renton business owners
I want to sell at the new Renton Market downtown. Can WCWB help me get ready?
Yes. An advisor can help you price your products, plan inventory and set up the business basics before you apply for a stall.
I’m an engineer or consultant starting my own firm. Is WCWB for me?
Yes. We work with professional services firms too. An advisor can help with pricing, contracts, cash flow and finding your first clients.
Does WCWB have an office in Renton?
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 Renton business, backed by WCWB
Free advising, practical classes and a community of women owners across Washington.