Shoreline is home base for Martin’s practice. His office sits in the North City business district on 15th Avenue NE, and much of his work is for owners who run companies a few miles away: restaurants and shops along Aurora Avenue, contractors and consultants working from home, and professional firms near the new light rail stations.
Martin helps Shoreline business owners form LLCs and corporations, draft and review contracts, negotiate commercial leases, and buy or sell businesses. The aim is practical: clear documents that fit Washington law and the way your business actually operates, so you can spend your time running it.
Doing business in Shoreline
Shoreline has its own licensing and tax rules in addition to the state’s. A few points worth knowing before you open or expand:
- City business license: the City says anyone generating more than $4,000 a year in Shoreline-based revenue must hold a City of Shoreline business license. Shoreline issues it through the FileLocal portal (or by mail or in person at City Hall), not through the state’s Business Licensing Service, and you need your Washington UBI number first.
- Separate from your state registration: the city license does not replace your Washington state business license and UBI, and forming an LLC with the Secretary of State does not license you in Shoreline either.
- Annual renewal: Shoreline business licenses expire December 31, with renewal due by January 31.
- Local B&O tax: Shoreline levies its own business and occupation tax. According to the City, businesses with more than $500,000 a year in Shoreline-based gross receipts are subject to it (501(c)(3) nonprofits excepted), and licensed businesses file a city tax form.
- Permits and zoning: building permits, land use and zoning questions go to the City’s Planning & Community Development department. Check your intended use before you sign a lease.
- Chamber of commerce: the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce runs networking events and business programs for local owners.
Shoreline’s commercial activity is concentrated in a few areas. Aurora Avenue North (State Route 99) is the main retail corridor, and the Shoreline Place area, formerly Aurora Square, is a City-designated Community Renewal Area where the former Sears site is being redeveloped with housing and retail. On the east side, North City’s neighborhood business district runs along 15th Avenue NE. The Shoreline South/148th and Shoreline North/185th light rail stations opened in August 2024, and the City is updating its station subarea plans to guide denser, mixed-use growth around them.
How Martin helps Shoreline businesses
- Forming an LLC or corporation, and lining up the state registration and city license so you start clean.
- Reviewing and negotiating commercial leases for storefronts on Aurora, space at Shoreline Place, or ground-floor units in the new buildings near the light rail stations.
- Drafting and reviewing contracts, including customer agreements for contractors and home-based service businesses.
- Writing operating agreements for family businesses and partners who start a company together.
- Buy-sell agreements that plan for an owner leaving, retiring or passing away.
- Buying or selling a business, such as a neighborhood restaurant, salon or service company changing hands.
- Protecting trade secrets and confidential customer information when employees move on.
- Closing an LLC properly, including state and city account wrap-up.
About Shoreline
Shoreline incorporated in 1995 and had 58,608 residents in the 2020 census. It sits between Seattle and Snohomish County, with Puget Sound on the west and Interstate 5 and Aurora Avenue running north and south through the middle. There is no single downtown; instead, the City Hall campus on Midvale Avenue North, the Aurora corridor, and neighborhood centers such as North City and Richmond Beach each draw their own mix of businesses. North City’s business district along 15th Avenue NE got its name in 1947 from local merchants.
Parks and places to know
- Richmond Beach Saltwater Park: a 32-acre park on Puget Sound with a beach and views west across the water.
- Hamlin Park: described as Shoreline’s oldest and largest park, with forested trails through second-growth cedar and fir.
- Shoreview Park: a wooded park that adjoins the Shoreline Community College campus and Boeing Creek.
- Kruckeberg Botanic Garden: a 4-acre garden in Richmond Beach started in 1958 by University of Washington botanist Arthur Kruckeberg and his wife Mareen.
- Interurban Trail: a walking and biking path that runs about 3 miles through Shoreline along State Route 99, following the old Seattle to Everett interurban rail line.
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Visiting Martin’s office
Martin’s office is at 17713 15th Ave NE, Suite 101, in North City. King County Metro local buses connect North City with the Shoreline North/185th light rail station. If a trip to the office is not convenient, phone and video consultations are available.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a City of Shoreline business license?
If your business generates more than $4,000 a year in Shoreline-based revenue, the City says you need a Shoreline business license. You apply through the FileLocal portal, by mail or at City Hall, and you need your Washington UBI number first. The license expires each December 31 and must be renewed by January 31.
Does Shoreline have its own B&O tax?
Yes. Shoreline levies a local business and occupation tax separate from the state B&O tax. According to the City, businesses with more than $500,000 a year in Shoreline-based gross receipts are subject to it, with an exception for 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Confirm current rates and filing rules with the City before you file.
Can Martin help with a lease on Aurora Avenue or at Shoreline Place?
Yes. Martin reviews and negotiates commercial leases for tenants and landlords, including retail and restaurant space along the Aurora corridor. He looks at rent escalations, operating costs, repairs, personal guaranties and assignment rights, and flags zoning or permit questions to raise with the City before you commit.
I run a home-based business in Shoreline. Do I still need an LLC?
An LLC is not required, but many home-based owners form one to separate business debts from personal assets and to sign contracts in the company’s name. Martin can explain the tradeoffs, form the entity, and help you sort out the state registration and any Shoreline license your revenue requires.
Do I have to meet Martin in person?
No. Martin’s office is in North City, so in-person meetings are easy for many Shoreline owners, but phone and video consultations are available. Documents can be reviewed and signed electronically in most matters, which suits owners who cannot step away from the shop during business hours.
Talk with Martin about your Shoreline business
Whether you are opening on Aurora, signing a lease in North City, or selling a business you have run for years, Martin can help you get the documents right.
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.