HR, payroll and Zoho support for Olympia employers
Olympia small businesses hire in the same market as state government — and state jobs come with structured pay, written policies and generous leave. For a ten-person nonprofit, a downtown restaurant or a firm that contracts with state agencies, that's the bar job candidates compare you to.
We give Olympia employers that same structure without a full-time HR hire: clear offer letters and handbooks, payroll that handles Washington's leave and insurance programs correctly, and a Zoho system that keeps hiring, scheduling and client records in one place.
What's different about running a business in Olympia
The local rules and situations we see most with Olympia employers.
Olympia has its own city B&O tax
Unlike most Thurston County towns, Olympia levies a city business & occupation tax on top of the state's. The city exempts businesses with less than $500,000 a year in Olympia gross receipts (Olympia Municipal Code 5.04.060, amended in 2025). The city return is separate from your state excise return, so the revenue in your books needs to show what was earned inside city limits.
City license endorsement
Every business operating in Olympia needs an Olympia endorsement on its state business license. It is free up to $4,000 in Olympia income and $30 above that, and it renews through the state Business Licensing Service along with your other endorsements.
Competing with state employers
Small Olympia employers often lose candidates over unclear leave, schedules or advancement. A written paid sick leave notice, a simple pay structure and a handbook go a long way — and Washington already requires you to tell employees about their sick leave rights.
Washington basics for 2026: the minimum wage is $17.13 an hour, Paid Family & Medical Leave premiums are 1.13% of wages (employers with fewer than 50 employees owe only the employee share), and L&I workers’ comp is reported quarterly by hours worked.
How we help Olympia businesses
Payroll Administration
On-time payroll through Cascade Payroll or Gusto, with L&I, ESD, Paid Leave and WA Cares reporting handled.
Fractional HR
Offer letters, handbooks, leave policies and employee questions — HR expertise without a full-time hire.
Zoho One Consulting
Zoho CRM, Books, People and Flow set up around how your business actually runs.
Looking for a bookkeeper in Olympia?
Our Washington bookkeeping service has its own home. See bookkeeping in Olympia on WashingtonBookkeeper.com.
Payroll services in Olympia, WA
We run payroll for Olympia small businesses through Cascade Payroll or Gusto: every pay run, direct deposit, federal and Washington payroll tax filings, and W-2s and 1099s at year-end. We also handle L&I workers’ comp (reported by hours worked), ESD unemployment, Paid Family & Medical Leave and WA Cares, so nothing slips between pay periods.
Payroll is part of our HR & Payroll plan, from $250 a month for your first 2 employees. We can meet at your Olympia business, at our Rochester office, or by video.
See our payroll servicesQuestions from Olympia business owners
Does my Olympia business owe the city B&O tax?
Can you meet with us in Olympia?
Where do I get bookkeeping in Olympia?
Local rules checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the agency before acting. We don't prepare tax returns.
Also serving Washington
Talk to us about your Olympia business
Free consultation — at your place, ours in Rochester, or by video.