Plan your business

Are you considering starting a business? Starting a business is a big decision.If you’ve never owned a business before, you may be unaware of all the things you need to do to get your business going. Careful planning and research will improve your chances of success.

  • Business training

    You don’t need a degree in business to start one, but knowledge is power. Taking classes and attending workshops are excellent ways to gain the knowledge you will need to be successful.

  • Business planning

    Writing a comprehensive business plan is the first step in starting a business. Your business plan will guide you as you make your business a reality, and it will help you avoid costly mistakes.

Open your out-of-state business in Washington state

Is your out-of-state business planning to operate in Washington state? Your out-of-state businesses will need to comply with Washington state laws and regulations if you

  • Purchase a Washington business
  • Operate in or open a physical location in Washington
  • Perform on long-term or short-term contracts in Washington
  • Hire employees who work from their homes in Washington
  • Have a taxable presence (i.e. nexus) in Washington

Run your business

When your business is up and running, there are certain things you need to do to meet regulatory and tax requirements. These activities vary based on your business activity, the business size, and whether or not you have employees.

Grow your business

Do you want to expand your business? Expanding a business can require many different things, including money, employees, new locations, and new markets.

Close your business

People close their businesses for many reasons. Sometimes it’s because the business hasn’t gone in a direction they had hoped and they’re not happy with the result, sometimes it’s because the owner is ready for something new, sometimes it’s due to time or money considerations, and sometimes it’s due to death. Regardless of the reasons, choosing to close a business is a significant decision.

Resources Loans / Programs

Logo for the Small Business Guide of Washington State

The Small
Business Guide

The Small Business Guides provides helpful information, links to valuable resources, and outlines the steps for starting and operating a business in Washington state. The Small Business Guide is available inEnglish,Spanish,Russian,Korean,Vietnamese,Chinese (Traditional),Japanese,Samoan,Somali,Tagalog, NEWUkrainian, and as two volumes in Braille Ready FormatBraille - Volume 1 andBraille - Volume 2.

The Business Guide includes sections that will help you plan, run, grow, or close a business in Washington State.