WA State Licensing: Plan your business

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.
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: