Daily Journal of Commerce

What Daily Journal of Commerce does

The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce (DJC) is a privately held regional business and construction news publication headquartered at 83 Columbia Street, Suite 200, Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1903, it covers construction, real estate, architecture, engineering, business, and environmental news across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Western Montana, and holds court-approved designation as the newspaper of record for King County. It serves general contractors, subcontractors, real estate developers, brokers, architects, engineers, government agencies, and legal professionals, operating a B2B subscription model with both digital and print delivery.

DJC monetizes through five discrete revenue streams: tiered digital subscriptions (DJC Basic $199/year, Consultant Package $230/year, Construction Package $375/year, All Access Package $450/year), print newspaper delivery ($85–$225 per term), advertising (display, legal notice, sub-bid, classified), one-time reprint licensing, and the PlanCenter.com plans-and-specifications service at $350/year plus $50/month. Add-ons include print edition access ($75) and additional user seats ($100 each). The underlying technology is a web content management and subscription platform integrated with proprietary databases of building permits (multi-state daily aggregation), 500,000+ Washington business licenses, foreclosure listings across King/Pierce/Snohomish/Kitsap Counties, contract acceptances, sub-bid solicitations, and legal notices.

Go-to-market is a hybrid sales-led and direct-to-consumer model with self-serve website subscription purchasing, account representatives for enterprise accounts, and phone-based customer service. Marketing spans the DJC.com website, a free weekly email newsletter, RSS feeds, Twitter (@SeattleDJC) and Facebook channels, and recurring special publications tied to industry events. The organization operates with approximately 20 staff across editorial, legal notice advertising, display advertising, construction, circulation, classifieds, and graphics/web teams.

Name

Daily Journal of Commerce

Legal name

Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce

Website

https://djc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce is a privately held, 1903-founded Pacific Northwest business and construction news publication serving construction, real estate, A&E, and legal professionals across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Western Montana via tiered digital subscriptions, print newspaper delivery, advertising, and proprietary building-permit and business-license databases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business & Construction News Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (513110), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Newsstand & Aggregation Platforms (Magazine/News Apps, Bundles) (MPAJAKAE), Digital Content & Media Subscriptions (CRAFAIAA)

Keywords

• Construction news publishing
• Building permit databases
• Public notice advertising
• Construction bid listings
• Business license records

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Digital Subscriptions: Multiple subscription tiers providing online access to stories, public notices, and industry-specific project databases. Tiers range from basic $199/year to comprehensive $450/year packages.
2. Print Newspaper: Physical newspaper delivery service with three-month, six-month, and annual subscription options.
3. Advertising Revenue: Digital advertising (banner ads, sponsorships), print display advertising, legal notice advertising, sub-bid advertising, and classified marketplace listings.
4. Story Reprints: PDF reprints, web unlock access, online posting licenses, and physical print copies of published stories for a fee.
5. PlanCenter.com: Online plans and specifications subscription service for Pacific Northwest construction projects, $350/year plus $50/month.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Daily Journal of Commerce is a Pacific Northwest business and construction news publication that sells tiered digital subscriptions, print newspaper delivery, advertising space, and access to specialized industry databases. Its core offerings include DJC Basic through All Access subscription packages ($199-$450/year), a print newspaper (delivered five days a week), the PlanCenter.com plans and specifications platform, and aggregated data services covering building permits, business licenses, foreclosures, contract acceptances, and public notices.

Product overview

Daily Journal of Commerce operates as a Pacific Northwest regional business and construction news publication, offering a tiered digital subscription model with add-on services. The core products include DJC Basic, Consultant Package, Construction Package, and All Access Package at price points from $199 to $450 annually, each providing progressively expanded access to news stories, public notices, and specialized industry databases. Add-on services include newspaper print delivery ($225/year), PlanCenter.com for plans/specs access ($350/year + $50/month), and additional user seats ($100 each). The platform functions primarily as a content publication and industry database, aggregating business news, construction projects, real estate transactions, building permits, business licenses, public notices, and legal advertising for the Pacific Northwest construction and commercial real estate sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PlanCenter.com: Online plans and spec books for Pacific Northwest construction projects.

Products and services

• DJC Basic Entry-level digital subscription providing online access to all stories and Public Notices published in the newspaper, priced at $199/year. Designed for general readers, businesses, and professionals seeking basic business news and public notice access in the Pacific Northwest.
• Consultant Package Mid-tier subscription including DJC Basic content plus architectural, engineering, and other professional services projects, RFPs, proposals opened, and awards, priced at $230/year. Targeted at A&E consultants and design firms.
• Construction Package Subscription tier covering DJC Basic content plus all construction contracting projects, RFPs, bids opened, and awards, priced at $375/year. Designed for construction contractors seeking bidding opportunities and contracting project data.
• All Access Package Complete subscription combining Consultant, Construction, and Real Estate Packages plus statewide business licensing data, priced at $450/year. Targeted at professionals needing the full suite of DJC news, data, and project information.
• Newspaper Delivery Print edition delivery service for the Daily Journal of Commerce newspaper, available in three-month ($85), six-month ($135), or annual ($225) terms. Distributed to subscribers across the Puget Sound region five days a week.
• PlanCenter.com Online plans and specifications database for Pacific Northwest construction projects, priced at $350/year plus $50/month. A separate subscription service providing access to plans and spec books for projects across the Pacific Northwest.
• Building Permit Database Daily collection of building permits from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Western Montana public agencies covering new construction, additions, and remodels for commercial, multi-family, and residential projects. Aggregated data from major agencies including Seattle, Portland, Boise, Spokane, and surrounding counties.
• Business License Records Washington State Department of Revenue business license database containing over 500,000 businesses registered to operate in Washington state, with monthly new listings. Provides searchable business license records for compliance and market research.
• Foreclosure Listings Trustee sales and foreclosure database updated daily for King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap Counties. Provides real estate and legal professionals with daily foreclosure and trustee sale information.
• Contract Acceptances Public record database of contract acceptances for construction and government projects across the Pacific Northwest. Used by contractors, A&E firms, and government agencies to track awarded contracts.
• Sub-Bids Requested Advertising service for general contractors to solicit competitive sub-bids from qualified subcontractors and suppliers. Available as part of DJC's advertising offerings for construction professionals.
• Legal Notices Public notice advertising including foreclosures, hearings, bids, and government filings. DJC is recognized as the leading publisher and court-approved newspaper of record in King County for legal notices.
• Firm Directory Searchable directory of contractors and consultants in the Pacific Northwest, with categories including general contractors, specialty trades, architects, engineers, and professional services. Used for vendor discovery and competitive intelligence.
• Story Reprints PDF reprints, web unlock access, online posting licenses, and physical print copies of published stories available for a fee. Used by businesses and PR professionals to republish DJC journalism.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CoStar Group: Dominant commercial real estate data and analytics platform with property listings, market analytics, and news. Adjacent competitor for the real estate and project data segments DJC serves.
• Puget Sound Business Journal: ACBJ-owned regional business newspaper serving the Seattle market with general business news, executive moves, and industry coverage. Comparable in regional B2B subscription model though broader in vertical focus than DJC's construction/real estate specialty.

Direct peers

• The Real Deal: National commercial and residential real estate news publication with regional editions covering deals, development, and market intelligence. Comparable in B2B subscription model targeting real estate professionals.
• Bisnow: National commercial real estate news and events platform serving brokers, developers, and investors with regional newsletters and event monetization. Comparable to DJC's Real Estate coverage and professional audience model.
• GlobeSt.com (Globe Street): Commercial real estate news and data platform covering deals, property transactions, and industry trends. Direct overlap with DJC's Real Estate/Credit section in audience and content.
• Portland Daily Journal of Commerce: Portland-based sister publication covering Oregon construction, real estate, and A&E news with the same business model of B2B subscriptions and legal notice publishing. Direct functional peer and historical mirror of the Seattle operation.
• Dodge Construction Network: National construction project data and analytics provider serving the same construction professionals with bid notifications, project leads, and market intelligence. Direct competitor for the Construction Package and PlanCenter offerings.
• Engineering News-Record (ENR): Long-running construction industry trade publication providing project news, bid data, and rankings for the A&E and construction community. Closely comparable in editorial focus and subscription B2B model.

Emerging players

• BuildingConnected (Autodesk): Digital bidding and preconstruction platform connecting general contractors with subcontractors. Emerging competitor to DJC's sub-bid and bid result services in the Pacific Northwest construction market.
• Construction Dive: Free digital construction industry publication delivering news, project coverage, and analysis to construction professionals. Competes for the same professional audience on digital channels without paywall, putting pressure on DJC's subscription value proposition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SeattleDJC
• Facebookfacebook.com/SeattleDailyJournalofCommerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Daily Journal of Commerce