Governmental Resources
Washington State Department of Commerce: Access a range of small business services, from education and training to business loans, export assistance and crisis planning.
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I): Administrators of the state’s workers’ compensation system; regulate health and safety requirements in workplaces. If you hire employees you will need to set up a workers’ compensation account as well as file and pay quarterly reports.
- Find out which L&I requirements apply to your business: www.lni.wa.gov/agency/small-business/business-requirements
- Worker’s Rights: https://lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/
- Website: www.lni.wa.gov/
Seattle Office of Labor Standards: If your business is located in Seattle or operates in Seattle. Make sure you are in compliance with the following labor laws specific to the City of Seattle:
- Minimum Wage
- Paid Sick and Safe Time
- Commuter Benefits (20+ employees
- Domestic Workers Bill of Rights
- Fair Chance Employment Ordinance
- Secure Scheduling (500+ employees)
- More information here: www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/ordinances
- Website: www.seattle.gov/laborstandards
Washington Connection: Apply for public benefits in Washington State.
City of Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED)
- www.growseattle.com/
- (206) 684-8090
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): General information resource for small businesses, small business loans and government grants.
- sba.gov/
- Seattle District Office: 4th & Battery Building: 2401 4th Avenue, Suite 450, Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 553-7310
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): No-cost consulting and low-cost business training programs offered nationwide.
State of Washington Business Hub: Information resource for small businesses in Washington at the state level, state tax and license information
Business USA: General information resource for small businesses, tax information, online training
Claim Your Cash: Resource to check for any unclaimed property in Washington State
Tax & Licensing Information
Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Federal tax information for business owners, help making basic business decisions
- irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Starting-a-Business
- Seattle Office: 915 Second Ave. Seattle, WA 98174; (206) 220-6015
Department of Revenue – Washington State (DOR): State of Washington tax information
- dor.wa.gov
- Seattle Office: 2101 4th Ave Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98121-2300
- (206) 727-5300
State of Washington Business Licensing Service: Washington State Business License Application
- bls.dor.wa.gov/
- 1-800-451-7985
Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL): Types of business & professional licenses, renewing & applying for licenses
City of Seattle: Download City of Seattle Business License Application, city taxes, permits
- City of Seattle Business License: www.seattle.gov/licenses/get-a-business-license
- General website: dol.wa.gov/business
- Customer Service Line: (206) 684-2489; Taxes & Licensing: 1-206-684-8484
Financial Resources
Financial Empowerment Network of Seattle/King County: Free or low-cost banking and financial education in Seattle and King County
Bank On Washington State: Free or low-cost banking and financial education in Washington State
Annual Credit Report.com: Free credit reports from three major credit bureaus
Washington Information Network 211: Health & human service information and referral line.
- Dial 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone
- win211.org
American Financial Solutions: Nonprofit credit & financial counseling
- www.myfinancialgoals.org/
- 1-888-282-5844
ClearPoint: Nonprofit credit & financial counseling
- www.clearpoint.org
- 1-800-750-2227
Apprisen: Nonprofit credit & financial counselling
- www.apprisen.com
- 1-800-355-2227
United Way Tax Preparation Sites: Resource to file federal income taxes for free (income limit applies)