Bellevue at a glance
- Where
- Eastside of Lake Washington, King County, across the I 90 and SR 520 bridges from Seattle
- Big names nearby
- Paccar and T Mobile headquarters, plus a large technology workforce
- Companies that sell well
- Professional services, healthcare practices, IT services, home services serving Eastside neighborhoods
- Local accounts to close
- Bellevue has its own business license and B&O tax, so ask your CPA about the final city return
- Who buys
- Former technology managers buying their first company, private equity platforms, Seattle competitors expanding east
Eastside Buyers Have Done Their Homework
Many buyers on the Eastside come from large technology and corporate employers. They often have capital, an SBA lender lined up, and a spreadsheet ready.
That is good for sellers with clean books. It is hard on sellers whose numbers need explaining. Prepare monthly financials and a clear list of add backs before you meet them.
Service Businesses Sell Well Here
Eastside households and companies spend on professional services, healthcare, home services and IT support. Companies with recurring clients in these fields draw steady interest.
See our pages on optometry practices and engineering firms for what buyers check in those fields.
A Second City Tax Account
Like Seattle, Bellevue charges its own business and occupation tax and requires a city business license. If your company has offices in both cities, you may have two city accounts to close, plus the state accounts.
Seattle's process is explained in our guide to the Seattle final return. Ask your CPA to confirm Bellevue's steps for your company.
Who Tends to Buy on the Eastside
Three groups show up most often. First time owners leaving corporate jobs, who usually finance with an SBA loan and want a company with a manager in place.
Competitors from Seattle and Redmond who want Eastside clients without opening a new office from scratch. And private equity backed platforms adding a local company to a regional group.
Each one pays for something different. A first time owner pays for stability, a competitor for customers and staff, a platform for growth it can add to its own.
Preparing Before Buyers Call
- Close each month's books within a few weeks, and keep them closed
- Reconcile your city and state gross receipts to your federal returns
- Put key staff agreements and client contracts in one folder
- List any services you run personally that a buyer would need to replace
Leases and Location
Office and retail rents in downtown Bellevue are high, and buyers check that a lease can carry the business after the sale. A long lease with reasonable increases helps. A lease ending soon can slow financing.
When you're ready, use the price check form or call (206) 555-0171.