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Selling a Business in Kent, Washington

The Kent Valley is one of the largest industrial areas in the Northwest. Companies here are often bought by competitors who want space, equipment and trained people.

Seattle Business Brokers Desk introduces Kent owners to a broker who sells industrial and distribution companies.

Prefer the phone? (206) 555-0171

Warehouse supervisor with a tablet checking pallets at a loading dock in the Kent Valley, trucks backed to the doors, overcast sky

Confidential · No cost

See what buyers would pay for your company

Step 1 of 3

We refer sellers to a brokerage partner, which may pay us a fee. You pay nothing. How it works

Kent at a glance

Where
South King County, in the Green River valley between Seattle and Tacoma
Big names nearby
Blue Origin headquarters, aerospace suppliers and one of the largest warehouse districts on the West Coast
Companies that sell well
Distribution, light manufacturing, trucking, trade contractors, equipment service
Real estate
Many owners also own their building, which changes the deal
Who buys
Industrial competitors, logistics groups, private equity platforms and individual buyers with SBA loans

Industrial Buyers Know the Valley

Buyers for Kent companies are often other operators who already know the area, the rents and the labor market. They will move fast if the numbers work and the facility fits.

Have equipment lists, customer concentration figures and a clear summary of your facility ready.

If You Own the Building

Many valley owners hold their building in a separate company. You can sell it with the business, keep it and lease it to the buyer, or sell it separately.

How you sell it matters. Selling the company that owns the real estate can trigger real estate excise tax on the full property value. Our guide to REET on a controlling interest sale explains when.

Freight and Distribution

Kent is close to the ports of Seattle and Tacoma and to SeaTac airport. Companies that handle freight, storage or distribution for those flows are attractive to logistics buyers.

Our page on freight forwarders covers what buyers check in that field.

Labor and Safety

Valley companies depend on warehouse workers, drivers and machine operators. Buyers will look at turnover, wages and your workers' comp claim history, since it affects their premiums.

Our guide to L&I and ESD accounts explains what a buyer inherits.

Preparing for Buyers

  • Revenue and gross margin by customer for three years
  • A facility summary: square footage, dock doors, power, lease terms
  • Equipment list with ages and maintenance records
  • Safety program and claims history

Timing a Valley Sale

Industrial rents and vacancy in the valley change with the economy. A long lease signed at a good rate is an asset a buyer will pay for; a lease about to reset to market is a cost they will subtract.

If your lease is near its end, talk to a broker before you renew, since the terms can affect the sale.

Equipment and Sales Tax

Forklifts, racking, trucks and machines are tangible assets. In an asset sale, Washington retail sales tax generally applies to them, so the allocation of the price matters.

To get a sense of value, use the price check form or call (206) 555-0171. More background is on Seattle Business Brokers Desk.

Call (206) 555-0171