Seattle Businesses Rate the City's Climate 39 Out of 100
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Businesses in the Seattle region gave the city's business climate an average score of 39 out of 100 in a new survey. The Seattle Metro Chamber and the Downtown Seattle Association ran the 2026 Business Climate Survey together.
The City of Seattle's responsiveness to business needs scored 26 out of 100. When asked how likely they would be to recommend Seattle as a place to start, operate or grow a business, respondents averaged 32 out of 100.
Top challenges
Public safety and taxes and fees tied as the most frequently selected challenges, at 64% each. Homelessness and behavioral health conditions followed at 61%. Labor costs were named as a major challenge by 59%.
Some respondents had considered moving operations, jobs or investment out of Seattle. Among them, 59% cited public safety concerns and 59% cited taxes or fees as primary reasons.
What would help
Asked what would make them more likely to invest, expand or stay, 70% pointed to improved public safety. Another 56% named stronger downtown recovery, 43% greater predictability on taxes and fees, and 40% more support for small businesses.
"These findings should be a wake-up call, but they should also be a roadmap," said Joe Nguyễn, president and CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber. He said businesses want safer neighborhoods and commercial districts, more predictability on taxes and fees, and a city that treats a strong business environment as fundamental to jobs and investment.
Jon Scholes, president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, said businesses want to invest in Seattle but need conditions that give them confidence. In his words, that means safe and welcoming streets, a vibrant downtown, a competitive business environment and lasting cooperation between the public and private sectors.
The survey gathered responses from 247 Seattle businesses and organizations. The number of respondents varied by question.