Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service

Please Note

We are a service company that can help you file with the Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service. We are not associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to help you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly with this agency without using our service.

Contact Information

Mailing address:
State of Washington Business Licensing Service
PO Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507

Phone: (360) 705-6741
Fax: (360) 705-6699

Web: Home Name search
Email: bls@dor.wa.gov

Licenses

We track the following licenses with the Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service in order to provide compliance services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other Compliance Core™ data in License Manager in-line with your licenses.

A laptop placed on a desk with our License Manager software on display

Bainbridge Island Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Notes:

Businesses with $3,000 or less in reported gross annual income are not required to obtain a license.

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$71

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$71

Due:

Annually

City of Bothell General Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

Depends on the number of employees:

 

  • $83 for businesses with 1-2 employees
  • $356 for businesses with 3-10 employees
  • $986 for businesses with 11-25 employees
  • $2,081 for businesses with 26-50 employees
  • $3,450 for businesses with 51-75 employees
  • $4,818 for businesses with 76-100 employees
  • $4,818 + $55 for each additional employee beyond 100 for businesses with more than 100 employees

Businesses with reported gross annual income of $12,000 or less do not have a license fee.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Depends on the number of employees:

 

  • $83 for businesses with 1-2 employees
  • $356 for businesses with 3-10 employees
  • $986 for businesses with 11-25 employees
  • $2,081 for businesses with 26-50 employees
  • $3,450 for businesses with 51-75 employees
  • $4,818 for businesses with 76-100 employees
  • $4,818 + $55 for each additional employee beyond 100 for businesses with more than 100 employees

Businesses with reported gross annual income of $12,000 or less do not have a license fee.

Due:

Annually

City of Burlington Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

Depends on reported gross annual income:

  • $50 for less than $20,000 in gross annual income
  • $75 for at least $20,000 and less than $100,000 in gross annual income
  • $100 for $100,000 or more in gross annual income

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Depends on reported gross annual income:

  • $50 for less than $20,000 in gross annual income
  • $75 for at least $20,000 and less than $100,000 in gross annual income
  • $100 for $100,000 or more in gross annual income
Due:

Annually

City of Issaquah Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$60; Non-resident businesses with gross annual income earned within the city's limit of $3,000 or less do not pay a fee.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50; Non-resident businesses with gross annual income earned within the city's limit of $3,000 or less do not pay a fee.

Due:

Annually

City of Sammamish Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Notes:

Businesses located outside of Sammamish are exempt from licensure if their gross annual income earned within the city's limit is $2,000 or less.

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City and County Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$15

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$15

Due:

Annually

Clyde Hill Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$25 for most entities. Non-resident businesses with $2,000 or less in reported gross annual income are exempt from paying a fee.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$25 for most entities. Non-resident businesses with $2,000 or less in reported gross annual income are exempt from paying a fee.

Due:

Annually

Covington Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application 

Filing Method:

Mail or online. 

Agency Fee:

$90

Turnaround:

Mail: 2 to 3 weeks. 

Online: 10 business days.

If you have city or state endorsements, it may take an additional 2-3 weeks to receive your business license due to approval time.

Law:

(Ord. 07-18 § 2 (Exh. A))

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Mail or online. 

Agency Fee:

$60 City of Convington endorsement + $10 processing fee.

Due:

Annually by business anniversary.

You will receive a renewal notice in the mail approximately six weeks before your endorsements expire.

Law:

(Ord. 07-18 § 2 (Exh. A))

Federal Way Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City and County Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the number of employees

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the number of employees

Due:

Annually by the date of issuance.

Notes:

Renewal notices will be mailed a month before the expiration of the license

Kirkland General Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

For domestic entities:

  • $100 + $105 per employee. There is no fee if your reported gross annual income is less than $12,000.

For non-resident entities:

  • $0 if reported gross income is $2,000 or less
  • $50 if reported gross income is between $2,001 and $12,000
  • $100 + $105 per employee if reported gross income is above $12,000

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

For domestic entities:

  • $100 + $105 per employee. There is no fee if your reported gross annual income is less than $12,000.

For non-resident entities:

  • $0 if reported gross income is $2,000 or less
  • $50 if reported gross income is between $2,001 and $12,000
  • $100 + $105 per employee if reported gross income is above $12,000
Due:

Annually

Richland Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

Varies by business type

Resident Businesses:

  • $40 license fee + $12 per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee (there is no fee for the first two employees) + $2 per unit fee if renting properties in Richland

Non-resident Businesses:

  • $40 license fee + $12 per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee (no license is required for businesses with $2,000 or less in gross annual income earned within Richland limits).

 

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Varies by business type

Resident Businesses:

  • $40 license fee + $12 per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee (there is no fee for the first two employees) + $2 per unit fee if renting properties in Richland

Non-resident Businesses:

  • $40 license fee + $12 per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee (no license is required for businesses with $2,000 or less in gross annual income earned within Richland limits).
Due:

Annually

Vancouver Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and City Addendum

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

Depends on gross annual income:

  • $0 for businesses with $12,000 or less in gross annual income
  • $200 + $90 per full-time employee for businesses with more than $12,000 in gross annual income

 

Non-resident businesses should only include gross annual income earned within Vancouver and employees working in Vancouver when calculating fees.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Depends on gross annual income:

  • $0 for businesses with $12,000 or less in gross annual income
  • $200 + $90 per full-time employee for businesses with more than $12,000 in gross annual income

 

Non-resident businesses should only include gross annual income earned within Vancouver and employees working in Vancouver when calculating fees.

Due:

Annually

Washington Business License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Law:

RCW § 19.02.070.

Ownership Requirements:

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
Notes:

You need a license if you meet 1 or more of the following criteria:

  • Your business grosses $12,000 or more per year.
  • You’re doing business using a name other than your full legal name.
  • You plan to hire employees within the next 90 days.
  • You sell a product or provide a service that is taxable.
  • Your business has specialty licenses available through the Business Licensing Service.

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application

Filing Method:

Mail or online. 

Agency Fee:

Fees vary. There is a $50 fee for opening a new business and a $5 for registering a trade name, adding additional endorsements to an existing location, or making similar changes to an existing license. See the full fee schedule for more information. Online payments incur a $1.79 processing fee. 

Renewal Not Required

Not required



General business licenses do not need to be renewed.

Washington Collection Agency Branch Endorsement

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Bond Requirements:

$5,000 surety bond for each location.

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and Collection Agency Addendum

Agency Fee:

$19 business license fee + $550 endorsement fee.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$550

Due:

Annually by the date of initial issuance.

Washington Collection Agency Endorsement

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Bond Requirements:

$5,000 surety bond.

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and Collection Agency Addendum

Agency Fee:

$19 business license fee + $850 endorsement fee.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$850

Due:

Annually by the date of initial issuance.

Washington Employment Agency License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service

Initial Registration

This section applies to firms that are applying for a license in Washington for the first time.

Form:

Online

Agency Fee:

$19

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Washington Out-of-State Collection Agency Branch Endorsement

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Bond Requirements:

$5,000 surety bond for each location.

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and Collection Agency Addendum

Agency Fee:

$19 business license fee + $275 endorsement fee.

Notes:

The endorsement fee for an out-of-state license is waived if the state where the collection agency (main or branch office) is located requires a license or registration but does not require a fee for similar out-of-state collection agencies.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$275

Due:

Annually by the date of initial issuance.

Notes:

The endorsement fee for an out-of-state license is waived if the state where the collection agency (main or branch office) is located requires a license or registration but does not require a fee for similar out-of-state collection agencies.

Washington Out-of-State Collection Agency Endorsement

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Bond Requirements:

$5,000 surety bond.

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application and Collection Agency Addendum

Agency Fee:

$19 business license fee + $425 endorsement fee.

Notes:

The endorsement fee for an out-of-state license is waived if the state where the collection agency (main or branch office) is located requires a license or registration but does not require a fee for similar out-of-state collection agencies.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$425

Due:

Annually by the date of initial issuance.

Notes:

The endorsement fee for an out-of-state license is waived if the state where the collection agency (main or branch office) is located requires a license or registration but does not require a fee for similar out-of-state collection agencies.

Washington Shopkeeper License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service

Initial Registration

Form:

Business License Application

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$55 per location.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$55 per location.

Due:

Annually

Washington Talent Agency License

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Notes:

Washington does not have a separate talent agency license, but an employment agency license may be required.

Initial Registration

Form:

http://bls.dor.wa.gov/empagency.aspx

Agency Fee:

$19

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Washington Trade Name Registration

Is registration mandatory?

Filing a trade name registration is required for any person or entity intending to conduct business under an assumed name.

County Level Filing:

Filing is not required at the county level.

Does registration prevent others from using the name I choose?

Registration of a trade name does not offer name protection. The right to use belongs to the first to use the name in connection with their business.

Agency:Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
Law:

WA Code § 19.80.010

Initial Registration
Trade Name

Form:

Business License Application

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:
  • New Businesses: $5 trade name fee + $50 initial business license fee + $1.79 processing fee
  • Adding/Updating a trade name for a business that currently holds a license: $10 filing fee +$5 trade name fee + $1.79 processing fee
Is registration mandatory?:

Filing a trade name registration is required for any person or entity intending to conduct business under an assumed name.

County Level Filing:

Filing is not required at the county level.

Does registration prevent others from using the name I choose?:

Registration of a trade name does not offer name protection. The right to use belongs to the first to use the name in connection with their business.

Notes:
  • Publication of registration is not required in Washington.
  • New businesses will file a trade name during the Washington initial business licensing application. 

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Registrations do not currently expire.

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