What is the minimum wage in Seattle now?

$21.30 an hour in 2026, the same for all employers, and it rises each 1 January.

Can tips count toward the minimum wage in Washington?

No. Washington employers must pay all tips and service charges to employees, and cannot count them toward the hourly minimum wage.

How much paid sick time do Seattle workers earn?

At an employer with 1 to 49 full-time equivalents, 1 hour for every 40 hours worked, with a carryover cap of 40 hours.

Does the stamp card cost anything?

The KANJIN stamp card is free, with no time limit. Customers join with their phone number, and there is no app to download.

Seattle, Washington

Paying Seattle wages? Make your regulars come back more often.

Free. No sign-up.

Example

Stamp card

Example Cafe

0 / 10

10 more for 1 free latte.

Example for a made-up shop. This is the card your customer sees on their phone.

The free fix, from KANJIN (kanjin.app), a digital stamp card and back office for small shops: Free digital stamp card.

Start your own stamp card in a few minutes

Add your shop name and your reward. Customers join with their phone number at the register. Free, with no time limit. No app. No paper cards.

Start my free stamp card How it works

Free plan, no time limit. No card needed.

Short answer

How can a small Seattle cafe get regulars to come back without an app?

Give each customer a stamp card tied to their phone number, so they never carry a paper card or install anything. Each visit adds a stamp, and a full card earns a free drink.

KANJIN stamp card on a customer's phone, 6 of 10 stamps — Illustration: A stamp card on the customer’s phone. Sample shop.

The KANJIN counter keypad, with a phone number typed and the check mark ready to press — Real screen: The counter keypad, where a customer types their number.

Why a regular is worth more in Seattle

Seattle's minimum wage is $21.30 an hour for every employer. One barista on an 8-hour shift costs $170.40 before rent.

A new customer takes work to win. A regular who comes in one more time a month costs you nothing extra.

Tips are not your sales

In Washington, tips must go to your staff. You cannot count them toward the hourly minimum wage.

Keep tips out of the number you compare with your costs.

How a stamp card works at the register

Ask for the phone number when you ring up the order. That is the card.

At the last stamp, the reward shows on your screen. Hand over the drink. Nobody carries anything.

Time off for staff also costs you hours

In Seattle, a team under 50 full-time equivalents earns 1 hour of paid sick and safe time for every 40 hours worked.

A steady flow of regulars helps you cover those hours without a panic.

The local numbers, with sources

Seattle minimum wage: $21.30 an hour in 2026, the same for all employers; Source: City of Seattle, Office of Labor Standards, Minimum wage, checked 2026-11-06.
Washington tips and the minimum wage: Employers must pay all tips and service charges to employees and cannot count them toward the hourly minimum wage; Source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Minimum wage, checked 2026-11-06.
Seattle paid sick and safe time: 1 hour for every 40 hours worked at employers with 1 to 49 FTEs, carryover cap 40 hours; Source: City of Seattle, Office of Labor Standards, Paid sick and safe time, checked 2026-11-06.

Common questions

What is the minimum wage in Seattle now?: $21.30 an hour in 2026, the same for all employers, and it rises each 1 January.
Can tips count toward the minimum wage in Washington?: No. Washington employers must pay all tips and service charges to employees, and cannot count them toward the hourly minimum wage.
How much paid sick time do Seattle workers earn?: At an employer with 1 to 49 full-time equivalents, 1 hour for every 40 hours worked, with a carryover cap of 40 hours.
Does the stamp card cost anything?: The KANJIN stamp card is free, with no time limit. Customers join with their phone number, and there is no app to download.

Free printable stamp card

A print-ready paper card with your shop name, to hand out while the digital card gets going.