Starting a new business in Washington is easier than most people realize. However, there are several steps you’ll need to complete before you can begin legally operating your business. One of the most important of those steps is obtaining all necessary business licenses and permits.
Since the business licenses and permits that a Washington business is required to have can vary from one business to another, figuring out which ones you need can sometimes be a challenge. To help you out, we’ll go over everything you need to know about getting small business licenses and permits in Washington, including how to determine which ones you need and how to apply for them.
Have you ever wondered why business licenses and permits are required in the first place? The primary purpose that business licenses and permits serve is that they allow government agencies to regulate business operations in their jurisdictions. When applying for a renewing a license/permit, you have to provide a lot of information about your business, and this information is used to confirm your business’s compliance with various laws and regulations.
Business licenses are generally used to grant businesses permission to operate in a specific area. Permits, meanwhile, are generally used to regulate specific activities. Many businesses in Washington will require a combination of both, so it’s important to do your research ahead of time and see which ones apply to your business.
Just to further explain the difference between business licenses and business permits, here’s a quick breakdown of each one and how they are used:
For example, a pet grooming business located in Seattle will need a general business license from the state, but it may also require building permits and zoning permits from the city before it can build its location.
There are numerous different types of business licenses and permits that a Washington business might be required to obtain, and they can be issued from all levels of government. Figuring out which licenses and permits your business needs is a critical part of forming a new company, so it’s helpful to understand which ones exist and which ones might be applicable to you. With that in mind, here are the different types of licenses and permits you might need for your Washington business:
We’ve already mentioned a few of the specialized permits that a Washington business might need in addition to a general business license, but here are some additional business permits that are issued at the state and local level:
If your business operates in an industry that’s federally regulated, you may need federal permits as well. These include permits such as:
For more information about federal licensing requirements, check out the Small Business Administration (SBA) federal licenses and permits page.
Before we get started explaining the process for obtaining business licenses and permits in Washington, it’s first important to mention that what the process looks like exactly will depend on the specific licenses and permits that you need. Each agency that issues licenses and permits to Washington businesses has its own application process and fees, so you’ll need to research the requirements for each one. However, here is what the general process looks like when obtaining business licenses and permits in Washington:
Pinpointing the specific licenses and permits that your business needs is one of the most important parts of the process. As we’ve already discussed, Washington businesses may be required to obtain a combination of licenses and permits from agencies at the local, state, and federal levels:
Once you have determined which licenses and permits your business needs, here are the general steps you can take to apply for them:
After you submit the application form and pay the fee, you can track the status of your application by contacting the issuing agency. Many agencies will also provide an online portal where you can track your application status online, especially state and federal agencies.
As for how long it typically takes applications to be approved, this can vary quite a bit from one agency to another. State and local licenses are typically processed within 10-15 business days, while federal licenses may take several weeks or longer.
Most business licenses and permits will need to be renewed periodically. How often renewal is required will vary from license to license, however, annual renewal is the most common frequency. Be sure to check the renewal deadlines on all of your licenses and permits and create a system for keeping track of them so that you can be sure to always renew them on time.
Obtaining all necessary licenses and permits is an essential task when forming a new business in Washington. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can determine which licenses and permits your business needs and easily apply for them to get your business.
You should always make sure that you have obtained all required business licenses and permits before you begin business operations. Operating your business without a license or permit that you’re required to have can lead to some stiff consequences, including fines and business closure.
Yes, the same licensing requirements that apply to LLCs and corporations in Washington apply to sole proprietors as well. Just like any other business, the licenses and permits you need as a sole proprietor will depend on where you are located and the nature of your business activities.
Most business licenses and permits will need to be renewed, and this applies to those issued at the local, state, and federal levels. Check the renewal deadline on your license/permit to see when renewal is due.
This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and none of the information on this website constitutes or is intended to convey legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness. It also does not indicate any affiliation between Tailor Brands and any other brands, services or logos.
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