If you are an organization located in East King County and are looking for practical advice as you start or develop your business, we are here to help!

We offer no-cost, one-on-one advising with OneEastside’s Small Business Advisor.

Thank you to our Small Business Program Partners:

City of Bothell – Workshops coming up in 2026!
City of Kirkland – Drop-in Office Hours the 2nd Wednesday of the month, from 10a-2pm at Kirkland City Hall
City of Redmond – Drop-in office hours the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10:30am to 2pm and Redmond City Hall
City of Woodinville – Drop-in Office Hours the 2nd Thursday of the Month, from 10am to 2pm at Woodinville City Hall

Stay in the know with the quarterly newsletter for small business owners. Sign up here.

Business Advising

Are you an East King County small business owner with questions about your operations, long-term goals, profitability, or navigating unforeseen challenges?

Our OneEastside Business Advisor can help you with:

  •  1:1 support in updating business plans to qualify for financial assistance
  • 1:1 guidance on competitive and market analysis to maximize relocation opportunities
  • Access to business resources, state networks, and funding resources to assist with leases, customer and employee retention, and business continuity

Contact: Schedule an appointment with Shawn Palmer, OneEastside business advisor by calling 425-885-4014, option #3, or emailing ShawnP@OneEastside.org.

 

 

Small Business Mentoring with SCORE

Easily request a SCORE mentor to help you start, grow, or transition your business. Just enter your zip code, and your local SCORE chapter will pair you with the right mentor to help your small business thrive.

Mentors can:

  • Provide expertise & practical “know-how”
  • Help you optimize your business plans
  • Troubleshoot new strategies & ideas
  • Offer you proven business tools
  • Become your trusted small business advisor
    And more!

SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals. Since 1964, we have provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs.

SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Thanks to this generous support from the SBA and because of the contributions of our more than 10,000 dedicated volunteers, we are able to deliver most of our offerings at no cost.

Find a Mentor
Learn More

Tax Updates

 

Washington State Legislature made some significant changes in 2025.

Lily Tran, EA, author and founder of TaxUSign®, led an informative session unpacking Washington’s newly expanded sales tax rules—now affecting a wide range of service-based businesses.

Attendees learned what’s now taxable under ESSB 5814, how to determine the correct tax rate, and key compliance practices to avoid future penalties.

Five key takeaways from the session:

  • Know what’s taxable: Live presentations, advertising, IT services, website development, investigation/security, temporary staffing, and software customization are now subject to sales tax.
  • Review contracts: Agreements signed or altered after October 1, 2025, may be newly taxable.
  • Track locations: Tax rates are destination-based—record where services are received, not performed.
  • Stay compliant: Maintain accurate records, separate sales tax on invoices, and file on time via the MyDOR portal.
  • Use available tools: Visit dor.wa.gov/5814 for webinars, tax rate tools, and reporting guidance.

photo credits this page: Mayuri Foods, Redmond (Audrey Fan); Splash Hanger (City of Kenmore); L’Experience Paris (Mercer Island)