Doing business in the Seattle District

Business requirements

SBA’s Business Guide lists the requirements needed to start, grow, and expand your business. Since laws and taxes vary by state, here’s what you need to do before starting your business in our area. If you need small business information for the state of Idaho, visit the Doing business in the Boise District page.

Business name and registration

Register your business name with the county clerk where your business is located. If you are a corporation, you will also need to register with the Secretary of State.

Business licensing and zoning

Licenses are typically administered by a variety of state and local departments. It is important to consider zoning regulations when choosing a site for your business. Contact the local business license office where you plan to locate your business.

Taxes

Washington Taxpayer Assistance Centers
915 Second Ave.
Seattle, WA 98174
Phone: 206-946-3400

Department of Revenue Washington State
2101 Fourth Ave., Suite 1400
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-727-5300

Health and safety

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
7273 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501
Phone: 360-902-5800

Washington OSHA
300 Fifth Ave., Suite 1260
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-757-6677

Exporting

The Washington Export Outreach Team (WEOT) is a collaborative team of local, state, regional, and federal export assistance agencies providing exporters with the resources they need to sell internationally. 


 

State small business profiles

Need information on the local business landscape? SBA's Office of Advocacy has the latest demographic and statistics on local small business economic activity.

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Local assistance

Need help? Get free business counseling in your area.

SBA lending in our area

  • Loan programs

    Loan programs icon
    Learn more about SBA's 7(a) loans, 504 loans, and microloans that you can use for your business.
  • Local lenders

    Local lenders icon
    Download a list of participating lenders in our area.
  • Lender Match

    Lender Match icon
    Describe your business needs and get matched with an SBA-backed lender in your area.
  • Lending activity reports

    Lending activity reports icon
    View 7(a) and 504 lending activity reports from our district.

Additional local resources

Download our guide to SBA resources

Learn about the opportunities available for small businesses nationwide.

Last updated April 22, 2024