Plan your business!

Before starting your business, be prepared to answer the following questions:

• What type of business would you like to open?

• What types of activities will you be performing?

• When do you plan to start your business?

• Where will your business be located?

• What business structure type will you have?

  For more information, see Types of business structures.

• What do you plan to call your business?

  Make sure that the name you have chosen isn’t already taken. Search in the following locations:

  1. Search business licenses. If your search result is “No matches were found for your search,” try spelling the name differently or leave out abbreviations or punctuation such as Inc, LLC, etc.

     • You can also search this database by mail. The cost is $4 to search up to 3 names.To request a search by mail, send a letter with your return address, a list of the names you want to research, and a check or money order to pay the fee to:

       State of Washington
       Business Licensing Service
       PO Box 9034
       Olympia, WA 98507-9034

  2. Department of Revenue — All trade names may not be included.

  3. Secretary of State Corporations Registration Data Search — Corporation and limited liability company names.

  4. U.S. Patent and Trademark Commission — Search for federally registered names.

Additional resources for planning a business

• Small Business Administration

  • Local resources: Business planning, funding sources, and training events in Washington State.

  • Write a business plan: Tips for writing a business plan.

• Access Washington

  • Help for your business: Where to get financing assistance, business counseling, and more.

  • Grow your business: Funding sources including grants, loans, and microloans.

  • Business training: Workshops and training opportunities for businesses.

• Business.gov: 10 steps to starting your business: Tips to help you plan and manage your business.

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Starting a business: Federal tax information to help you create a business plan.

• Small Business Development Centers: Advice, training, and research for new and existing businesses.

• Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE): Information about training, financing, and certification.

• Personal Property Tax: See your local county assessor. For additional information:

  • Watch a Personal Property Tax video

  • Read the Personal Property Tax Guide

  • Find out how business property is valued

    See also:

     

    • • Get licensing contact info and forms
      • File a Business License Application
      • What are my next steps?

     

    Washington State Business Resource Guide

     

    •  Plan for and pay your taxes: A new businesses’ introduction to Washington State taxes (Department of Revenue video)