Applying for a business license

Registration requirements

Register with the Department of Revenue and get a business license if you meet any of the following conditions:

• Your business requires city and state endorsements.
• You are doing business using a name other than your full name legal name.
• You plan to hire employees within the next 90 days.
• You sell a product or provide a service that requires the collection of sales tax.
• Your gross income is $12,000 per year or more.
• Your business is required to pay taxes or fees to the Department of Revenue.
• You are a buyer or processor of specialty wood products.
• Your business meets Nexus threshold reporting requirements.

Apply for a business license

If your business structure will be one of the following, you must file with the Washington Secretary of State before filing the Business License Application:

• Washington (Domestic) Corporation
• Washington (Domestic) Partnership
• Washington (Domestic) Liability Company
• Washington (Domestic) Limited Liability Partnership

If you’re ready to start your business, you need to apply for your business license. Complete the Business Licensing Wizard to receive a list of agencies to contact, additional endorsements and helpful tips about your business license. When you receive your business license, you’ll be assigned a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number. This number is unique to your business, and you’ll need it whenever you file your taxes or make changes to your business.