Lynnwood is one of the busiest places to do business in south Snohomish County. Retailers and restaurants fill the Alderwood area and Highway 99, service firms work out of offices near the new light rail station, and plenty of owners run their companies from home. Each of those businesses needs sound paperwork behind it.
Martin helps Lynnwood business owners form companies, draft and review contracts, negotiate commercial leases, and buy or sell businesses. He works from his office in Shoreline, a short drive down I-5, and meets with Lynnwood clients in person, by phone or by video.
Doing business in Lynnwood
A few local rules apply in addition to the state requirements every Washington business faces.
- City business license. The City of Lynnwood requires a general business license for businesses located in the city or doing business there. Applications go through Washington’s Business Licensing Service, so you can add the Lynnwood endorsement to your state business license through the Department of Revenue.
- Separate from your state registration. The Lynnwood license is in addition to your state UBI number and business license, not a substitute for them.
- Fees depend on headcount. The city’s fee schedule combines a base fee with a per-employee charge, and home businesses pay a lower flat fee. Check the current schedule before you apply, since the city updated its fees in 2026.
- Out-of-town businesses. A business located outside Lynnwood with $5,000 or less in annual Lynnwood gross income can apply for a no-fee license.
- Home-based businesses. Lynnwood offers a separate home occupation license with its own requirements under the city code.
- No city B&O tax. According to the city, Lynnwood does not levy a local business and occupation tax. State B&O and sales tax still apply.
Licensing, planning and permits are handled by the city’s Development & Business Services department. Before you sign a lease, the city suggests confirming with Planning that your type of business is allowed at that address. For networking and local events, the Lynnwood Chamber of Commerce is based on 196th Street SW.
How Martin helps Lynnwood businesses
- Forming an LLC or corporation, including home-based businesses that are ready to separate personal and business assets.
- Commercial lease review and negotiation for retail, restaurant and service tenants near Alderwood and along Highway 99, where leases often include shared operating costs and personal guaranties.
- Business contracts such as vendor agreements, customer terms and independent contractor agreements.
- LLC operating agreements that spell out ownership, voting and what happens when a member leaves.
- Buy-sell agreements for co-owners who want a plan for death, disability or a falling out.
- Buying or selling a business, including assigning the lease when a storefront or restaurant changes hands.
- Protecting trade secrets like customer lists and pricing when employees come and go.
- Closing an LLC properly, including state filings and winding up obligations.
About Lynnwood
Lynnwood incorporated in 1959 and grew up around Highway 99, 196th Street SW and later Alderwood Mall, which opened in 1979. The city sits where I-5 meets I-405, and the area between the mall and the transit center is now its planned downtown. In June 2025 the City Council adopted the City Center + Alderwood Subarea Plan, which covers about 1.2 square miles and guides growth around light rail. Sound Transit opened Lynnwood City Center Station on August 30, 2024, linking Lynnwood by train to Shoreline and Seattle. Highway 99 remains a major commercial corridor with its own mixed-use zoning.
Parks and places to know
- Lynndale Park: the city’s largest park, with about 22 acres of native forest, sports fields, a skate park and a wooded amphitheater.
- Scriber Lake Park: a 22-acre nature park near the city center with a floating boardwalk and trails around the lake.
- Heritage Park: home to the restored 1919 Wickers Building and Interurban Car 55, a reminder of the old Seattle-Everett interurban line.
- Interurban Trail: a walking and biking trail that follows the former interurban rail line through Lynnwood.
- Lynnwood Event Center: the former Lynnwood Convention Center on 196th Street SW, opened in 2005 and renamed in 2022.
- Lynnwood Recreation Center: the city’s indoor pool and fitness center on 44th Avenue West.
Getting to Martin’s Shoreline office
Martin’s office at 17713 15th Ave NE in Shoreline is roughly 15 to 20 minutes from central Lynnwood via I-5, depending on traffic. If you ride light rail, Shoreline North/185th Station is about a mile from the office. Phone and video consultations are also available if a trip south does not fit your schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a city business license to operate in Lynnwood?
Generally yes. Lynnwood requires a general business license for businesses located in the city or doing business there, and you apply through Washington’s Business Licensing Service. Businesses located outside Lynnwood with $5,000 or less in annual Lynnwood gross income can apply for a no-fee license. The city license is separate from your state UBI number and state business license.
Does Lynnwood have its own B&O tax?
According to the City of Lynnwood, the city does not levy a local business and occupation tax. You still owe Washington’s state B&O tax and must collect and remit sales tax where it applies. Martin can help you set up your entity and contracts, and your accountant can confirm your tax filings.
Can I run a business from my home in Lynnwood?
Many people do. Lynnwood has a separate home occupation license with its own fee and requirements under the city code. Forming an LLC can also help separate business and personal assets. Martin can help you form the entity and draft the contracts you use with customers.
Can Martin help with a commercial lease near Alderwood or on Highway 99?
Yes. Martin reviews and negotiates commercial leases for retail, restaurant and office tenants. He looks at rent increases, shared operating costs, repairs, personal guaranties and exit rights. It also helps to confirm with the city’s Planning staff that your use is allowed at the address before you sign.
Do I have to meet Martin in person?
No. Martin’s office is in Shoreline, a short drive from Lynnwood via I-5, and you are welcome to meet there. Phone and video consultations are also available, and many documents can be reviewed and signed electronically, so a busy owner near Alderwood or City Center does not need to leave the shop to get a contract or lease reviewed.
Talk with Martin about your Lynnwood business
Whether you are opening a storefront near the new light rail station or formalizing a home-based business, Martin can help you get the legal pieces in order.
Direct line: 206-929-0609
Office: 17713 15th Ave NE, Suite 101, Shoreline, WA 98155
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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.