Essential Business Paperwork: Taxes and Licenses

IRS Taxpayer Identification Number

A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is an identification number used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the administration of tax laws.

Apply for Universal Business Identifier (UBI) State of Washington

Any business operating in Washington must have a UBI number. Apply here.

State of Washington Industrial Insurance

Before you employ anyone, make sure you have activated your industrial insurance account.

Washington State Employment Security Department

If you employ people, become familiar with the laws and regulations through the Washington State’s Employment Security office.

City of Seattle Business License

Required license if your business operates within the City of Seattle.

City of Everett Business License

Required license if your business operates within the City of Everett.

Washington State List of Professions Requiring Additional Licensing

Before you open for business, make sure you check for any professional licensing requirements in Washington State.

Business Assistance:

Amazon AWS for Startups

Amazon Web Services provides startups with the low cost, easy to use infrastructure needed to scale and grow any size business. AWS Activate is designed to provide your startup with the resources it needs.

APEL

Eastern Washington technology business startup center with engineering and manufacturing scale space, as well as wet labs, bio labs, and electronic laboratories.

Boeing Ventures

Boeing Ventures builds teams of Boeing entrepreneurs who create new businesses that protect and connect people everywhere. Internally developed technologies are tested as prospective ventures in intensive validation sprints, and the greatest successes are spun off into their own businesses.

Cambia Grove

Community space for the Pacific Northwest’s emerging health care economic cluster.

Due Diligence Checklist for Investing in a Business

This guide explains the process by which an investor might evaluate your company to see if it’s a good candidate for investment.

Founders LIVE

Created by Nick Hughes, Founders Live is a place for entrepreneurs and go-getters to connect, display their talent, share experiences and learn something new each day.

Google Accelerator

A 12-week program designed to help businesses start marketing online gives you all the tools and training to advertise on the web. The program is customized to start meeting your business’s unique goals and making the most of the web.

Innovate Washington

As the only accelerator in the Eastern Washington region, Ignite Northwest serves a wide range of technology related enterprises, with an emphasis on the agricultural technologies, advanced material, information and communication, bioscience technologies, energy innovation and aerospace fields.

Legal for Local

Combining the convenience of an online service with the local knowledge of a traditional law firm—and cutting the inefficiencies of both—Legal for Local is an ideal alternative for independent business owners seeking a smarter way to set up shop in Washington State. We help Washington businesses start off stronger.

Microsoft Startups

We are committing $500M over the next two years to offer joint sales engagements with startups, along with access to our technology, and new community spaces that promote collaboration across local and global ecosystems. We’re excited to announce Microsoft for Startups, a new program that delivers access to technology, go-to-market and community benefits that helps startups grow their customer and revenue base.

NW Culinary Kitchen Incubator

Help for small food businesses looking for a commercial kitchen to cook their product. Culinary Incubators drive new start-up businesses without a health department licensed commercial kitchen.

Peerspace

Peerspace is an online marketplace that connects professionals and businesses to great spaces.

Rivet Consulting

Rivet Consulting provides talent for marketing, sales, finance, project management and leadership positions to Pacific Northwest firms.

SCORE

Nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. Sponsored by the Small Business Administration.

Seattle Co-Working Spaces

Rent a desk or an office. Hang out with cool people who can relate to what you’re doing.

Seattle Startups List

A list of links to many Seattle-based early-stage companies.

Seattle University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center

SU’s startup center is connecting students with business leaders, community supporters, and alumni advisors and mentors by sponsoring internships, networking events, business plan competitions, and guest lecturing.

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration is a great resource for starting a small business anywhere in the U.S.

Startup Seattle

Resource list for Seattle based startups.

Tri-Cities Research District

An “innovation eco-system” enabling research and technology companies to develop, commercialize and market products worldwide.

UW Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship

The Buerk Center promotes entrepreneurship to students across the University of Washington campus and beyond.

UW Co-Motion

CoMotion delivers tools and connections to accelerate the impact of UW innovations. It’s the collaborative hub for developing and connecting with the global innovation ecosystems.

WSU Medical Technology Incubator

The Technology Incubator brings together patients, students, providers, educators, businesses and technologists to identify, understand, and provide solutions to key issues in the local healthcare space.

WSU Research and Technology Park

The WSU Research & Technology Park offers modern, convenient office space for small, start-up companies Special rates and services are provided to companies.