Small Business Guide for Washington state

Plan Your Business Start Your Business Payroll Your Business

Open Your Business Run Your Business Grow Your Business

Close Your Business Loan Programs For Your Business Download the Guide (Six languages)

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.

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Start your business

On the path to getting your business started, there are number of issues to consider, for example:

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Payroll your business

“Payroll” means payments to employees, where those payments are required to be reported to state and federal agencies, such as the IRS, Social Security Administration, Washington Employment Security Department, and Washington Department of Labor & Industries.

Do I need a payroll?

What do I need to have in place before issuing pay checks?

Can I handle payroll myself, or do I need a professional?

What else do I need to know about paying employees?

What payroll reporting and tax responsibilities do employers have?

How can I estimate payroll costs?

What payroll records do I need to create and keep?

What other responsibilities do I have as an employer?

What payroll records do I need to create to give my employees?

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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.

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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

Federal business income taxes

State employment taxes

State business taxes

Annual Report, License and Permit Renewals

Local business taxes

Regulatory Compliance

Federal employment taxes

Prepare for the unexpected

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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.

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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.

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Business Loan Programs

Need money to grow your business? Maybe a federal, state, or local loan is the answer.

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Download 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 in English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese (Traditional) , NEW Japanese, NEW Samoan, NEW Somali, NEW Tagalog, and as two volumes in Braille Ready Format NEW Braille - Volume 1 and NEW Braille - Volume 2.