Resources for Washington State Business

Starting a New Business

Starting a new business in the State of Washington? If so, here is information that might help you get started. Please keep in mind that we are providing this only to assist you and are not providing any kind of legal, financial or business advice.

Here are a few links that pertain to operating a business in Washington which might help you:

• Washington Secretary of State (http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/). This is the website where you find out how to register your Washington State 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 2011 was $180 to apply online. To expedite this process online, you will need to pay an additional $20.00. To apply online and then appear in person to expedite the process, you will need to pay an additional $50.00. When they complete your registration, they will issue a UBI number to you. This is also the website you want to use to see if your intended 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 non-refundable processing fee to apply, not including the Master Application fee based on your business, as of January 2011 was $15. The cost for the City license varies. (See additional notes below.)
• License Fee Sheet (PDF), Washington State. This will provide you with the information you need as far as any business fees you will need to pay when you first register and subsequently renew your business license. It also provides information on Tax Registration, Unemployment Insurance, Trade Name Registration, and Industrial Insurance.
• 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.

For Existing Washington Businesses

Here are some information links that may help 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.
• 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 Employee 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. Please keep in mind that these rates change regularly so keep checking to stay up to date.