Helpful Information For New Businesses

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Starting a New Business

Are you thinking about starting a business in the State of Washington? Not only can we create a web presence for your new business, we would like to offer some information that might help you get started. Please keep in mind that we are providing this information only to assist you and not providing any kind of legal, financial or business advice.

Here are a few of the websites pertaining to Washington business that might help you:

Washington Secretary of State (http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/). This is the website where you register your business, such as a Corporation, an LLC, etc. It includes all of the forms necessary to register your business with the State of Washington. You can do this online or download and print the forms and mail them in. The cost as of January 2008 was $195 to apply online. When they complete your registration, they will issue a UBI number to you. This is also the website you want to use to make sure your business name is available for use.
Washington State Department of Licensing (http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/). This website provides the online application process to apply for your Master Business license. The cost as of January 2008 was $50 for the Master License. The cost for the City license varies. (See additional notes below.)
Internal Revenue Service resource guide: "What New Business Owners Need to Know About Federal Taxes". (http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99336,00.html
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (http://www.lni.wa.gov/). This website provides you with information you need as an employer. It also provides you with contact information to order the employee forms and posters you are required to have located in your workplace. All of the forms and posters can be obtained from them at no charge. You do not need to buy them through the commercial offers you might see or get through the mail. Just give them a call and they will mail them to you.

Notes:

Before you go online to apply for your Master business license, you may want to wait until you get your business registration information and UBI from the Secretary of State so you do not wind up with two different UBI numbers. When applying for the Master License, if they do not have a record of a UBI, they will issue one.

When you apply online for your business license, the website also refers to license requirements for certain cities located in Washington. Although it allows you to apply for the city license at the same time as you do the master license, you may want to contact the city to see if they have additional requirements to meet before your city license is issued. The Master License might not be issued until the city approves your city license if one is required.

Since we live in Snohomish County, Washington, we were required to file a listing with the county showing personal property used in the business for property tax purposes. You may want to check the county you are conducting business in to see if they have property tax or other business requirements.

Existing Businesses

Here are some links that might assist you.

Washington Department of Financial Institutions. "Small Business Assistance". (http://www.dfi.wa.gov/sd/smallbusiness.htm)
Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/ ). Provides a wealth of information, such as outline information on how to prepare a business plan, obtaining financial assistance, and directions to local resources in the area where you live in Washington.

Useful info for your Washington State business

Washington Small Business Development Center (http://www.wsbdc.org/). Provides a number of resources for small business owners.
Access Washington (http://wa.gov/business/start.aspx). Provides more resources on starting up a new business.
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (http://www.lni.wa.gov/). Provides you with contact information to order employee forms and posters required in the workplace, free of charge.
Washington State Department of Revenue Tax Rate Calculator(http://dor.wa.gov/Content/FindTaxesandRates/SalesAndUseTaxRates/LookUpATaxRate/). Provides you with the Tax Rate Lookup Tool, for Sales and Use Tax rates which went into effect July 1, 2008.

The information provided on this website is not intended to be legal advice and is not to be relied upon as any kind of financial, investment or professional advice. You should always contact your attorney or accountant for legal, business, and financial advice.