Who Owns Costco Business Center?
Costco Business Center is owned and operated by Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST), headquartered in Issaquah, Washington. The format opened in 1996 in Lynnwood, Washington, and now runs about 27 locations in the United States and 11 in Canada, stocking merchandise aimed at small businesses, restaurants, and offices.
Parent Company
Founded
1996
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Costco Business Center Timeline
Who Owns Costco Business Center?
- Parent Company: Costco Wholesale Corporation
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: COST
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Costco Business Center | Costco Wholesale Corporation | Brand division |
History of Costco Business Center
- Founded: 1996
- Founders: Costco Wholesale Corporation (internal development)
The first Costco Business Center opened in October 1996 in Lynnwood, Washington. The building was a converted Costco warehouse that had been replaced by a new conventional Costco in nearby Everett. Rather than close the site, Costco recast it as a business-focused format carrying commercial quantities and categories that regular warehouses did not stock.
The concept grew slowly. For its first two decades, Costco added Business Centers only occasionally, mostly in large U.S. metro areas such as Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, Denver, Chicago, and North Jersey. California came to hold the largest share of locations, a pattern that continues today.
Canada received its first Business Centre in 2017 as a pilot in Scarborough, Ontario. Strong performance there led to expansion into Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. The pace accelerated in late 2025 and early 2026, and on March 27, 2026, Costco opened its eleventh Canadian Business Centre in Winnipeg, its first in Manitoba.
By early 2026, the format counted roughly 27 U.S. locations, with California holding about 40% of them. Costco's fiscal 2026 plan calls for 28 new warehouse openings company-wide and more than 30 annually over the next decade, and company reporting and trade coverage indicate Business Centers account for a deliberate share of that pipeline as Costco targets the small business member segment.
About Costco Wholesale Corporation
What does Costco own?
Costco Wholesale Corporation owns and operates 923 membership warehouse locations worldwide and owns the Kirkland Signature private label brand. The company also operates Costco Pharmacy, Costco Optical, Costco Travel, Costco Auto Program, and Costco Gasoline as service businesses within its warehouses. Costco's e-commerce platform extends its product offering beyond what is available in warehouses. Kirkland Signature generates approximately $50 billion in estimated annual sales.
Is Costco publicly traded?
Yes, Costco Wholesale Corporation is listed on NASDAQ under ticker COST. The company has been publicly traded since December 1985. Costco has no single controlling shareholder, with major institutional holders including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. The company has a single class of common stock with equal voting rights per share. Co-founder James Sinegal reduced his stake significantly after retiring as CEO in 2012.
Who founded Costco?
Costco was founded in 1983 by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman in Seattle, Washington. Sinegal had previously worked at Price Club, the pioneer of the membership warehouse club concept founded by Sol Price in San Diego in 1976. The first Costco warehouse opened in Seattle in September 1983. Costco merged with Price Club in 1993 to form PriceCostco, which was later renamed Costco Wholesale Corporation.
Where is Costco headquartered?
Costco Wholesale Corporation is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, USA, a suburb of Seattle. The company was originally headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, which is the origin of the Kirkland Signature brand name. Costco operates 939 warehouse locations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Spain, France, China, and other countries as of September 2026.
How many warehouses does Costco operate?
As of September 2026, Costco operates 939 warehouse locations worldwide, including 647 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 115 in Canada, 43 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 20 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, 7 in China, 5 in Spain, 3 in France, 2 in Sweden, and one each in Iceland and New Zealand. Costco typically opens 25 to 30 new warehouses per year as part of its ongoing expansion program.
Who is the CEO of Costco?
Ron Vachris serves as President and CEO of Costco Wholesale Corporation, having succeeded Craig Jelinek in January 2024. Vachris joined Costco in 1986 and spent his entire career at the company. He served as President from 2011 until becoming CEO. Jelinek had led the company since 2012, succeeding co-founder James Sinegal.
What is Costco's annual revenue?
Costco reported net sales of approximately $254.0 billion for fiscal year 2025 (ended September 1, 2025), up approximately 8% from FY2024. Q1 FY2026 (ended November 24, 2025) net sales were $65.98 billion, up 8.2% year-over-year. Membership fees account for approximately 7% of total revenue but a much larger share of operating income, as the merchandise business operates on very thin margins.
- Founded: 1983
- Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NASDAQ: COST
- Revenue: $254.0B (FY2025)
- Employees: ~316,000
Where Is Costco Business Center Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Canada
Costco Business Center Categories & Tags
Brands Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
AutomotiveCostco Gasoline
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco Gasoline is Costco Wholesale's member fuel business, operating 747 stations worldwide and generating roughly $27 billion in annual fuel sales.
gasolinefuel-retailgas-stations
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsCostco Optical
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco Optical is Costco Wholesale's in-warehouse vision care business, with more than 600 U.S. departments offering eye exams, prescription eyewear, and contact lenses.
opticaleyewearvision-care
Food BeverageKirkland Coffee
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco's private label coffee brand offering whole bean, ground, K-Cup, and cold brew products exclusively to Costco members under the Kirkland Signature label.
coffeeprivate-labelcostco
SportsKirkland Golf
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco's private label golf equipment line under Kirkland Signature, offering golf balls, putters, gloves, and accessories exclusively to Costco members.
golfgolf-ballsputters
AutomotiveKirkland Signature Motor Oil
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco's private label motor oil under Kirkland Signature, manufactured by Warren Distribution and sold exclusively to Costco members in full synthetic and conventional formulations.
motor-oilprivate-labelsynthetic-oil
Food BeverageKirkland Signature
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco's private label brand spanning hundreds of product categories, from food and beverages to household goods, health products, and automotive supplies. Sold exclusively to Costco members.
private-labelcostcoconsumer-goods
Costco Business Center Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Same Costco membership works at both formats, adding member value at no extra cost
- +Roughly 70% unique merchandise reduces cannibalization of standard warehouses
- +Earlier opening hours and lighter traffic suit commercial buyers
- +Pallet and truckload delivery serves accounts beyond walk-in traffic
- +Backed by Costco's $254 billion scale and supplier leverage
Considerations
- -Only about 38 locations total, limiting access for most members
- -No consumer categories such as clothing, electronics, pharmacy, or tires at most sites
- -Most locations close Sundays and drop the standard warehouse food court
- -Expansion pace is slower than the standard warehouse pipeline
- -Business-focused assortment means smaller pack counts for household shoppers
Frequently Asked Questions About Costco Business Center
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Costco Business Center
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | USA | 1983 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Costco | USA | 1995 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Retail EcommerceSam's Club
Owned by Walmart Inc.
American membership warehouse club chain founded by Sam Walton in 1983 and owned by Walmart Inc. Operates more than 600 U.S. clubs and competes directly with Costco.
warehouse-clubmembershipretail
Food BeverageKirkland Signature
Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco's private label brand spanning hundreds of product categories, from food and beverages to household goods, health products, and automotive supplies. Sold exclusively to Costco members.
private-labelcostcoconsumer-goods
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Costco Business Center competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Independent Alternatives to Costco Business Center
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Retail EcommerceAldi
Owned by ALDI SÜD
German discount supermarket chain operating in 20+ countries under two separate privately held entities, ALDI SÜD and ALDI NORD, both owned by the Albrecht family.
supermarketdiscount-retailgrocery
Privately Owned
Aldi is privately owned, unlike Costco Business Center which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceAsda
Owned by EG Group
British supermarket chain offering groceries, clothing, and general merchandise, owned by TDR Capital and the Issa brothers since 2021.
supermarketgroceryretail
Privately Owned
Asda is privately owned, unlike Costco Business Center which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceBig Lots
Owned by Variety Wholesalers, Inc.
American discount retail chain offering furniture, home décor, seasonal items, and general merchandise.
discount-retailfurniturehome-decor
Privately Owned
Big Lots is privately owned, unlike Costco Business Center which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceFamily Dollar
Owned by Family Dollar
American discount variety store chain offering affordable household items, merchandise, and general goods. Founded in 1959, Family Dollar operates approximately 7,100 stores across the United States. Sold by Dollar Tree in July 2025 to Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management.
discount-retailvariety-storemerchandise
Privately Owned
Family Dollar is privately owned, unlike Costco Business Center which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceJoann
Owned by Joann Inc.
American fabric and craft supplies retailer offering sewing, quilting, and DIY materials and supplies.
fabriccraftssewing
Privately Owned
Joann is privately owned, unlike Costco Business Center which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail Ecommercenoon
Owned by Noon AD Holdings One Person Company LLC
Middle Eastern e-commerce and delivery brand operated by Noon AD Holdings and jointly backed by PIF and private regional investors.
ecommercemarketplacemiddle-east
Privately Owned
noon is privately owned, unlike Costco Business Center which is under a publicly traded parent company.
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