Kenmore sits at the north end of Lake Washington, and its business community is a mix of waterfront and marine businesses, restaurants and shops along Bothell Way, professional offices downtown, and a large number of owners who run a company from home. Whatever the size, the legal groundwork looks similar: a sound entity, clear contracts, and a lease you understand before you sign it.
Martin Kreshon is a business attorney who works with Kenmore owners from his office in nearby Shoreline. He helps with forming LLCs and corporations, drafting and reviewing contracts, negotiating commercial leases, and buying or selling a business. The aim is practical: documents that fit how your Kenmore business actually runs.
Doing business in Kenmore
Kenmore requires every business located in or doing business within city limits to hold a city business license, which the city calls business registration. You do not apply at City Hall: the Kenmore city endorsement is added to your state business license through the Washington Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service (BLS).
- Fee threshold: according to the City of Kenmore and DOR, businesses with $12,000 or less in gross annual income from Kenmore can register at no city fee. Above that, the city fee is $10, plus the state’s own BLS handling fees.
- Out-of-town businesses: contractors and service providers based elsewhere also need the endorsement if they work in Kenmore, and the threshold looks at income earned within the city.
- Exemptions: Kenmore Municipal Code chapter 5.105 lists entities that are exempt. Check it before assuming you qualify.
- State and city are separate: the Kenmore endorsement is in addition to your state UBI number and Washington business license. Forming an LLC with the Secretary of State does not register you with the city.
- Home-based businesses: the city applies home occupation standards in its municipal code, so confirm your setup (customer visits, signage, employees) fits before you open.
- Permits: Kenmore’s Planning & Development Services handles building, land use and tenant improvement permits.
For networking and local events, Kenmore businesses are served by the Bothell Kenmore Chamber of Commerce, which covers both cities.
How Martin helps Kenmore businesses
- Business formation: choosing between an LLC and a corporation, filing with the Secretary of State, and lining up your BLS registration and Kenmore endorsement.
- Commercial leases: reviewing and negotiating leases for storefronts in downtown Kenmore’s mixed-use buildings or retail space along Bothell Way (SR 522).
- Business contracts: customer agreements, vendor terms and independent contractor agreements, including for the many home-based service businesses in Kenmore.
- Operating agreements: setting out ownership, voting and money for multi-owner LLCs.
- Buy-sell agreements: planning for an owner’s exit, disability or death before it happens.
- Buying or selling a business: purchase agreements, due diligence and lease assignments for a restaurant, shop or service company changing hands.
- Trade secret protection: confidentiality agreements and practical steps to protect customer lists and processes.
- Dissolving an LLC: winding down properly with the state and closing out your city registration.
About Kenmore
Kenmore incorporated in 1998 and had about 23,900 residents at the 2020 census. Downtown Kenmore is centered on 68th Avenue NE near NE 181st Street, where the city redeveloped roughly 9.6 acres around City Hall and the library. The result is Kenmore Village: apartments with ground-floor commercial space, The Hangar (a public living room with a fireplace) and an adjoining Town Square that hosts community events. Bothell Way (SR 522) is the main commercial corridor, and Sound Transit’s Stride S3 bus rapid transit line, now under construction, will add stations along SR 522 at 61st Avenue NE, 68th Avenue NE and the Kenmore Park-and-Ride.
Parks and places to know
- Saint Edward State Park: a 326-acre state park on Lake Washington whose 1931 seminary building reopened in 2021 as the Lodge at St. Edward.
- Log Boom Park: a 3.9-acre waterfront park with a public dock, a beach and direct access to the Burke-Gilman Trail.
- Kenmore Air Harbor: the seaplane base at the north end of Lake Washington that serves as Kenmore Air’s home terminal, with flights to the San Juan Islands.
- Rhododendron Park: a city park with a large playground, open lawn and picnic shelter, next to the Kenmore Boat Launch.
- Burke-Gilman and Sammamish River trails: the Burke-Gilman runs through Kenmore on its way from Seattle to Bothell, where it continues as the Sammamish River Trail.
Getting to Martin’s Shoreline office
Martin’s office is at 17713 15th Ave NE in Shoreline, a short drive west of Kenmore through Lake Forest Park. Depending on traffic, the trip from downtown Kenmore usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Phone and video consultations are available if that is easier, and you can reach Martin at 206-929-0609.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a city business license to operate in Kenmore?
Yes. Kenmore requires businesses located in or doing business within city limits to register, and you do it by adding a Kenmore endorsement to your state business license through the Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service. Businesses with $12,000 or less in annual Kenmore income pay no city fee; above that the city fee is $10, plus state handling fees.
I run my business from home in Kenmore. Is there anything extra to know?
You still need the Kenmore endorsement through the Business Licensing Service, and your home business should fit the city’s home occupation standards in the municipal code. Martin can help you set up the right entity and customer contracts, and point out questions to confirm with the city before you start seeing clients at home.
Can Martin help with a commercial lease in downtown Kenmore?
Yes. Martin reviews and negotiates commercial leases for tenants and landlords, including ground-floor retail and office space in downtown Kenmore’s mixed-use buildings and along Bothell Way. He focuses on rent increases, shared operating costs, repairs, personal guaranties and your options to renew, assign or leave early.
Is the Kenmore business license the same as forming an LLC?
No. Forming an LLC is a filing with the Washington Secretary of State that creates the company. The Kenmore endorsement is a separate city registration handled through the Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service. Most Kenmore businesses need both, along with any state registrations that apply to their industry.
Do I have to meet Martin in person?
No. Martin’s office is in Shoreline, a short drive from Kenmore, and in-person meetings are welcome. Phone and video consultations are also available, and many document reviews can be handled by email. Call 206-929-0609 to talk about what your Kenmore business needs.
Talk with Martin about your Kenmore business
Whether you are opening a shop near Kenmore Village or formalizing a home-based business, Martin can help you get the legal pieces in place.
Direct line: 206-929-0609
Office: 17713 15th Ave NE, Suite 101, Shoreline, WA 98155
You can also read client reviews on Avvo.
See the full list of services Martin Kreshon provides for Washington businesses.
Attorney advertising. This page provides general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Responsible attorney: Martin J. Kreshon III.