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Restaurants & Hospitality · Owner's guide

Restaurants in Spokane, WA: a founder's guide to running & growing your business

ITEX brings your restaurant new customers from a local trade network and lets you cover real expenses without spending cash — growth in the busy months, a cushion in the slow ones. This guide covers running and growing a restaurant in Spokane, WA; ITEX is one option woven inside it.

Local market

The Spokane, WA market for restaurants

Spokane is the commercial hub of the Inland Northwest. The Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro held about 605,000 residents in 2024 (604,962 on the 2024 American Community Survey) 1, and metro output reached roughly $39.7 billion in 2023 on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis series carried by FRED 2. Health care anchors the economy: Greater Spokane Incorporated reports that four of Spokane County's twelve largest employers are health-care institutions — Providence Inland Northwest Washington, MultiCare Health System, the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, and CHAS Health 3. Tourism is a second engine, with Spokane County drawing a record 10.2 million visitors and about $1.55 billion in visitor spending in 2025 4. Growth concentrates in named districts — the redeveloped Kendall Yards, roughly 78 acres on the north bank of the Spokane River 5, and the University District east of downtown, home to WSU Spokane and its Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine across the river from Gonzaga University 6. Confirm any program terms with Greater Spokane Incorporated before relying on them.

Resources

How big is the Spokane, WA market?
The Spokane-Spokane Valley metro held about 605,000 residents in 2024 and produced roughly $39.7 billion in gross domestic product in 2023. It is the commercial, medical, and retail hub of the Inland Northwest, functioning alongside Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, as part of a shared regional economy and media market.
What industries anchor the Spokane economy?
Health care leads, with Providence Inland Northwest Washington and MultiCare Health System among Spokane County's largest employers, and WSU Spokane's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine anchoring the University District. Tourism is a major second pillar — Spokane County saw a record 10.2 million visitors in 2025 — alongside higher education, aerospace and advanced manufacturing, and logistics.

Ask Boone about the Spokane, WA market

Taxes

Taxes for a restaurant in Spokane, WA

General information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and depend on your situation — verify current requirements with the linked authorities and a licensed professional.

A Spokane business owner deals with state and local business taxes and licensing, and Washington's structure is distinctive. The Washington Department of Revenue administers the business and occupation (B&O) tax, a gross-receipts tax measured on the value of products or the gross income of the business, with no deduction for labor, materials, or other costs 7. The same department administers Washington's retail sales tax and the complementary use tax, which are collected on a destination basis — the rate depends on where the customer receives the goods or service 8. Washington has no state personal or corporate income tax, so there is no state income-tax withholding for employers. Most businesses register and report through a single state Business License Application processed by the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service 9, which also carries city endorsements 10. In Spokane, the city's business registration is obtained as a City of Spokane endorsement on that state application rather than as a standalone city license 11. Because rates, fees, thresholds, and filing dates change and depend on your operation, confirm your current obligations directly with each authority below.

Official resources

What business taxes does a Spokane, WA business owner face?
The Washington Department of Revenue administers the business and occupation (B&O) gross-receipts tax and the state retail sales and use tax, both reported to the department. Washington has no state income tax, so there is no state income-tax withholding. City obligations are handled as a City of Spokane endorsement on the state Business License Application. Confirm current rates, fees, and filing dates with the Department of Revenue.
How does the City of Spokane business license work?
Washington uses a single state Business License Application through the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service, and the City of Spokane's registration is added as a city endorsement on that same application rather than as a separate city license. Apply online through the Department of Revenue, and confirm your specific city endorsement requirements with the city.

Getting started

How to start a restaurant in Spokane, WA

General information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and depend on your situation — verify current requirements with the linked authorities and a licensed professional.

Starting a business in Spokane runs through state and local offices. Form your legal entity with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division, which accepts LLC and corporation filings through its online Corporations and Charities Filing System 12. Register the business and open state tax accounts through the single Business License Application handled by the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service 9. If you will prepare or serve food, the Spokane Regional Health District's Environmental Health program permits and inspects food establishments in Spokane County and reviews plans for new or remodeled establishments before you build 13. Tenant improvements and new construction are permitted by the City of Spokane's Development Services Center 14. Once you hire, Washington employers register for workers' compensation with the Department of Labor & Industries and for unemployment insurance and Paid Family and Medical Leave with the Employment Security Department 15. For free, confidential help at any step, the Washington Small Business Development Center — hosted statewide by Washington State University from Spokane Valley — advises owners at no cost 16. Confirm current forms, fees, and requirements with each office.

Official resources

Which offices do I contact to start a business in Spokane, WA?
Form your entity with the Washington Secretary of State, register and open tax accounts through the Department of Revenue's Business License Application, and if you handle food, get permits and plan review from the Spokane Regional Health District. City building permits come from the City of Spokane's Development Services Center. The Washington Small Business Development Center offers free advising through each step.
Who handles food permits in Spokane, WA?
The Spokane Regional Health District's Environmental Health program permits and inspects food establishments across Spokane County and reviews plans for new and remodeled establishments — in Washington this is the regional health district, not a state agency or the city. Contact the district before you build or remodel, and confirm current application requirements and fees directly with them.

Marketing

Marketing a restaurant in Spokane, WA

For a Spokane restaurant, start with the fundamentals. Claim your free Google Business Profile so diners find you on Google Search and Maps, and keep hours, menu, and photos current 17. The U.S. Small Business Administration recommends a simple marketing plan that names your channels and sets measurable goals 18. Reviews carry much of the rest: BrightLocal's survey found 97% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses and 83% use Google 19. Then work the local hooks. Spokane's dining is dense across downtown Spokane, Kendall Yards, the South Perry District, and the Garland District, so visibility matters. Pitch openings, new chefs, and menu news to The Spokesman-Review's Dining section 20 and to the Inlander's food coverage, the alt-weekly that tracks the Inland Northwest scene 21. The Spokane Journal of Business covers the trade side — ownership changes, expansions, and restaurant-and-retail moves across the metro 22. Round it out by keeping your listing current on Visit Spokane, the regional tourism site.

Resources

What is the single most important free marketing step for a new Spokane restaurant?
Claim and complete your Google Business Profile. It is free and makes your restaurant appear on Google Search and Maps with hours, menu, photos, and reviews when nearby diners and Inland Northwest visitors search. Keep it current, since online reviews drive most local dining decisions.
How can a Spokane restaurant earn local media coverage?
Pitch openings, new chefs, and events to The Spokesman-Review's Dining section and the Inlander's food coverage, both of which track the Spokane scene, and to the Spokane Journal of Business for the trade side. Tie announcements to named districts like Kendall Yards, the South Perry District, or the Garland District so the story has a local anchor.

Ask Boone about marketing a restaurant in Spokane, WA

Customer service

Customer service & reputation for restaurants in Spokane, WA

For a Spokane restaurant — whether you are in downtown Spokane, along the South Perry District, or out in Kendall Yards — your reputation lives on Google, Yelp, Tripadvisor, and OpenTable, and each platform sets its own rules. A federal rule effective October 21, 2024 prohibits fake reviews, undisclosed insider reviews, and incentives conditioned on a particular sentiment, so never buy or trade for reviews 23. To reply on Google you must first verify your Business Profile; respond promptly and professionally, keep a guest's private details out of public replies, and never offer payment, discounts, or free items in exchange for reviews 24. Yelp discourages soliciting reviews from anyone, including customers, friends, and family 25. On OpenTable, only verified diners who booked and dined can review you 26. Tripadvisor's management-response guidelines bar threats, promotional content, and revealing a reviewer's identity 27. Food-safety standing matters too: the Spokane Regional Health District permits and inspects every food establishment in Spokane County and takes related consumer complaints.

Resources

Can my Spokane restaurant offer a free appetizer for a 5-star review?
No. Google prohibits incentivizing reviews with payment, discounts, or free items, and a federal rule bans incentives conditioned on a particular sentiment. Incentivized or solicited reviews can be removed and may hurt your standing. Focus on memorable service and earned feedback instead.
Where do food-safety complaints about a Spokane restaurant go?
The Spokane Regional Health District permits and inspects every food establishment in Spokane County and takes consumer complaints and illness reports. Keeping a clean inspection record and responding professionally to online feedback both protect your reputation. Confirm current requirements directly with the district.

Ask Boone about customer service & reputation

Financing & cash flow

Financing & cash flow for a restaurant in Spokane, WA

A Spokane owner can pursue capital through several channels. The U.S. Small Business Administration's Seattle District Office serves Washington and ten northern Idaho counties, backing 7(a), 504, and microloan programs through partner lenders 28. The Washington Small Business Development Center, hosted by Washington State University, provides no-cost advising from its Spokane Valley network headquarters 16, and SCORE Spokane (Chapter 180, founded in 1973) offers free mentoring — in the past year it helped 34 businesses get started and create more than 140 jobs 29. Washington's Department of Commerce received $163.4 million from the U.S. Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative to fund capital-access programs statewide 30. Locally, the Northwest Business Development Association, a Spokane Valley certified development company established in 1982, funded more than 180 SBA 504 loans over two years, creating or retaining more than 1,800 jobs 31. The state's Small Business Flex Fund offers loans up to $150,000 through a network of community lenders including Craft3 32. Two Spokane-based credit unions also lend to small businesses — STCU, through its downtown commercial banking office 33, and Numerica Credit Union, a top SBA lender in the Seattle District offering 7(a) and 504 loans 34.

Resources

Where can a Spokane small business find capital and free help?
Start with the SBA Seattle District Office, which backs 7(a), 504, and microloan programs through partner lenders, and the Washington Small Business Development Center and SCORE Spokane for free advising. Local options include the Northwest Business Development Association for SBA 504 real estate and equipment loans, the state's Small Business Flex Fund, and Spokane-based credit unions such as STCU and Numerica.
Are there Washington state programs that help Spokane businesses borrow?
Yes. The Washington State Department of Commerce received $163.4 million from the U.S. Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative to fund capital-access programs, and the public-private Small Business Flex Fund offers loans through community lenders including Craft3. Terms and eligibility change, so confirm current details with each program directly.

Ask Boone about cash flow for a restaurant

Hiring & staff

Finding & keeping restaurant staff in Spokane, WA

General information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and depend on your situation — verify current requirements with the linked authorities and a licensed professional.

Workers in the Spokane-Spokane Valley metro earned a mean wage of $31.92 an hour in May 2024, just below the $32.66 national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 35. The largest occupational groups were office and administrative support at 12.1% of employment, sales and related occupations at 9.1%, and transportation and material moving at 8.9% 35. Wage-and-hour standards and other worker protections are set by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries, whose worker-rights and employment-standards program is the authority to consult before you set pay and scheduling practices 36. For recruiting, the Employment Security Department operates the statewide WorkSource system of job centers 37. Locally, the Spokane Workforce Council and the Community Colleges of Spokane run workforce-training and hiring pipelines that connect employers with trained workers 38. Confirm current wage, hour, and hiring rules directly with each agency — this page links out rather than restating them.

Official resources

What do workers earn in the Spokane, WA area?
Workers in the Spokane-Spokane Valley metro earned a mean wage of $31.92 an hour in May 2024, slightly below the national average of $32.66, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The largest occupational groups are office and administrative support, sales, and transportation and material moving. Pay varies widely by occupation and experience.
Where does a Spokane employer get help hiring and staying compliant?
For recruiting, use the Employment Security Department's WorkSource job centers and local pipelines through the Spokane Workforce Council and the Community Colleges of Spokane. For pay, overtime, and scheduling rules, the Washington Department of Labor & Industries is the authority. Confirm current wage-and-hour and hiring requirements with each agency directly.

Giving back

Giving back in Spokane, WA

Spokane's small-business community supports a dense network of local nonprofits. Second Harvest Inland Northwest has led regional hunger relief since 1971, moving food through a network of more than 250 partner food banks and meal centers across eastern Washington and north Idaho 39. The Spokane-based Innovia Foundation, the region's community foundation since 1974, serves a 20-county area and six Native American Tribes and has awarded more than $105 million in grants and scholarships 40. Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP), founded in 1966, is the area's anti-poverty agency, delivering energy assistance, rental and homeless services, and homebuyer education 41. The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, founded in 1987, provides 24-hour emergency refuge for young children and support for families in crisis 42. Businesses that donate surplus food are shielded from civil and criminal liability for good-faith donations under the federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act 43. Confirm current donation and volunteer needs with each organization directly.

Resources

Which Spokane nonprofits can a small business support?
Second Harvest Inland Northwest anchors regional hunger relief and works with more than 250 partner food banks and meal centers. Other established Spokane organizations include the Innovia Foundation (the region's community foundation), Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP) for anti-poverty and housing services, and the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery for young children and families in crisis.
Is a Spokane restaurant protected if it donates leftover food?
Yes. The federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects businesses, nonprofits, and individuals from civil and criminal liability when they donate apparently wholesome food in good faith, limiting liability to gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Local food banks such as Second Harvest can advise on safe handling and accepted items.

Ask Boone about giving back in Spokane, WA

Slow times

When things are slow: a cushion for your restaurant in Spokane, WA

Spokane restaurant demand follows the region's seasons. Summer — roughly June through September — is the busiest, most crowded stretch, drawing visitors for Hoopfest and the lakes of the Inland Northwest, while winter quiets Spokane down considerably as cold and wet weather thins outdoor foot traffic 44. That summer peak is substantial: visitors to Spokane County spent $416 million on food and beverages in 2025, the second-largest visitor spending category after lodging 45 — demand that fills tables in high season and softens after the holidays. ITEX is built as a year-round demand generator that also cushions the winter lull. Instead of discounting empty tables, route incremental demand from the local member network into slow weekday and off-peak shifts at your normal menu pricing, earn trade dollars, and spend them on real costs — marketing, printing, maintenance, professional services. It is a demand engine and a cash buffer, not a downturn-only tool. Talk to the ITEX Spokane North office 46 at (509) 768-7977 to set it up.

Resources

Does ITEX only help when my Spokane restaurant is slow?
No. ITEX is a year-round demand generator that brings incremental customers from the local member network in any season, and it also cushions soft stretches like the quiet winter months after the holidays. Owners use it selectively all year, not only during downturns.
How does trade actually help during a Spokane winter lull?
You offer off-peak capacity — quiet weekday shifts, private-function slots — to the member network at your normal menu pricing, so there is no public discounting. That fills tables that would otherwise sit empty and earns trade dollars you can spend on marketing, printing, maintenance, or professional services. The ITEX Spokane North office sets the terms with you.

Ask Boone about slow periods

Scale & grow

Resources to scale & grow your restaurant in Spokane, WA

Try ITEX!

List your restaurant in Spokane, WA with ITEX — reach new customers through the local trade network and cover real expenses without spending cash. It can even fund the ideas below.

Join ITEX now

Grow a Spokane restaurant across proven channels, cheapest and highest-intent first. Start by listing with the ITEX Spokane North office to reach the local trade network and fill off-peak seats with trade dollars 47. Build a mobile-friendly website; claim your free Google Business Profile and connect reservations through Reserve with Google 48, then add Apple Business Connect for Apple Maps 49 and Bing Places for Business 50. Keep Yelp, Tripadvisor, and OpenTable current and ask guests for reviews. Run organic social and paid search geotargeted to Spokane and Spokane County, and pursue earned coverage in The Spokesman-Review and the Inlander. Join Greater Spokane Incorporated, the region's chamber and economic-development organization, for referrals and networking 51, and the Washington Hospitality Association, the state trade group representing more than 6,000 hospitality members, for training and advocacy 52. Then work local events: sign up for Inlander Restaurant Week, the flagship winter promotion presented by the Inlander with Visit Spokane 53, and turn out for summer crowds at events like Hoopfest. Prioritize the free channels before spending on ads.

…and 10 other good ideas

What is the first growth move for a new Spokane restaurant?
Start with the free, high-intent channels: list with the ITEX Spokane North office to tap the local trade network and fill slow shifts with trade dollars, then claim your free Google Business Profile and connect Reserve with Google so diners can find and book you on Google Search and Maps, and add Apple Business Connect and Bing Places.
Which local organizations and events help a Spokane restaurant grow?
Join Greater Spokane Incorporated for regional networking and referrals, and the Washington Hospitality Association for statewide advocacy and training. Sign up for Inlander Restaurant Week, the flagship winter dining promotion, and turn out for summer crowds at events like Hoopfest for foot-traffic exposure.

Ask Boone about scaling & growing a restaurant

ITEX in Spokane, WA

Restaurants & Hospitality in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA area work with the local Spokane North ITEX office — a local broker who knows the market and handles your account directly.

(509) 768-7977· Local office page

About ITEX

ITEX is one of the longest-running barter communities in North America, with over 30 locations and thousands of member businesses across North America.

Trade dollars are the unit of exchange in the ITEX network: you earn them by selling your excess capacity to other members and spend them on real business expenses — at normal pricing, not a discount.

Join ITEX now

See if barter fits your restaurant. Get a quick, no-obligation assessment of your restaurant's unused capacity and potential trade value.

Join ITEX now Call (509) 768-7977 Ask Boone

Prefer to talk to someone? Spokane North

Ask Boone

Ask Boone, our AI assistant, for quick answers tailored to your business.

This AI provides general educational guidance. A trade broker will confirm all details.

Common questions about barter for restaurants in Spokane

What can a restaurant realistically pay for with trade dollars?
Restaurants most often use ITEX trade dollars for marketing and advertising, printed menus and signage, cleaning and equipment maintenance, accounting and other professional services, and staff incentives — the recurring cash expenses that don't disappear on a slow night. You earn the trade dollars by taking barter business during off-peak hours, then spend them on those costs.
Won't giving away off-peak tables just cannibalize full-price customers?
Not when it's structured. Barter fills capacity during genuinely slow periods — weekday lunches, early or late hours — that would otherwise sit empty, and everything is priced at your normal menu pricing. You set the timing and availability, so paid peak demand is protected.
Will bartering cheapen my brand?
No. With ITEX you sell into the network at your normal pricing — barter is not a discount. You control what you offer, when, and how much, so your published rates and brand positioning stay intact while you monetize capacity that would otherwise go unused.
Do I have to accept things I don't want in trade?
No. You decide how to spend the ITEX trade dollars you earn. The network spans thousands of member businesses across many categories — marketing, printing, maintenance, professional services and more — so you direct your trade dollars toward the real expenses you actually need to cover.
Is barter only for struggling businesses?
No. Healthy, established businesses use ITEX selectively to fill predictable slow periods and conserve cash on routine expenses. It is an efficiency tool for capacity you already have, not a last resort.
Will my regular customers know I barter?
No. ITEX barter transactions are business-to-business and typically invisible to the public. Your retail customers and your cash pricing are unaffected; trade happens within the member network.
How is barter taxed?
For tax purposes a barter sale is treated the same as a cash sale. ITEX provides the transaction records you need, and a trade broker will confirm the specifics for your business — Boone does not give tax advice.

References & sources

Citations for the local facts on this page. Regulated topics link to the official source of record.

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  2. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED), U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data. “Total Gross Domestic Product for Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA (MSA) (DISCONTINUED) (NGMP44060)”. 2023. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP44060. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  3. Greater Spokane Incorporated. “The Heart of Spokane's Economy”. accessed 2026-08-08. https://greaterspokane.org/economic-development/the-heart-of-spokanes-economy/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  4. The Spokesman-Review (Visit Spokane data). “Visit Spokane announces $1.55 billion impact from local tourism”. 2025. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/may/28/visit-spokane-announces-155-billion-impact-from-lo/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
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  30. Washington State Department of Commerce. “Washington state receives $163.4 million to fund innovative small business loan programs”. 2022. https://www.commerce.wa.gov/washington-state-receives-163-4-million-to-fund-innovative-small-business-loan-programs/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  31. Northwest Business Development Association. “Home - Northwest Business Development Association”. accessed 2026-08-08. https://www.nwbusiness.org/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
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  33. STCU. “Business | STCU”. accessed 2026-08-08. https://stcu.org/business. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  34. Numerica Credit Union. “Numerica Credit Union | SBA Loans”. accessed 2026-08-08. https://www.numericacu.com/business/sba-loans. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  35. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages in Spokane-Spokane Valley — May 2024”. May 2024. https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/2024/occupationalemploymentandwages_spokane_20240725.htm. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  36. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. “Workers' Rights”. 2026. https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  37. Washington Employment Security Department. “Home | Employment Security Department”. 2026. https://esd.wa.gov/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  38. Community Colleges of Spokane. “Workforce Training - Spokane Colleges”. 2026. https://ccs.spokane.edu/Workforce-Training-Continuing-Education/Workforce-Training. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  39. Second Harvest Inland Northwest. “Second Harvest — Local Food, Lasting Hope for the Northwest”. accessed 2026-08-08. https://2-harvest.org/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  40. Innovia Foundation. “Spokane County - Innovia Foundation”. accessed 2026-08-08. https://innovia.org/spokane/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  41. Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP). “About Us - SNAP”. accessed 2026-08-08. https://www.snapwa.org/about-us-2/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  42. Vanessa Behan. “Vanessa's Story — How and why the Nursery was founded”. accessed 2026-08-08. https://www.vanessabehan.org/news/vanessas-story/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  43. U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Good Samaritan Act Provides Liability Protection For Food Donations | USDA”. accessed 2026-08-08. https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/good-samaritan-act-provides-liability-protection-food-donations. Accessed 2026-08-08.
  44. Champion Traveler. “Best Time to Visit Spokane, WA, US”. accessed 2026-08. https://championtraveler.com/dates/best-time-to-visit-spokane-wa-us/. Accessed 2026-08-08.
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