How to Get a Business License in Washington (2026)
You get a Washington business license by filing the Business License Application through the Washington Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service, for a $50 processing fee when opening the first location of a new business. The application issues your UBI (Unified Business Identifier) number, registers you for business and occupation (B&O) tax, and lets you add state agency and participating city endorsements in one filing. A trade name (DBA) costs $5, and the annual renewal is $5 plus endorsement fees.
Quick Answer
- Where
- Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service
- Form
- Washington Business License Application
- New business fee
- $50 (first location of a new business/UBI)
- Other filings
- $10 (add endorsements, trade name, etc.)
- Trade name (DBA)
- $5 per name
- Renewal
- $5 per year + endorsement fees
What a Washington Business License Is
In Washington, the state-level business license is created by filing the Business License Application with the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service (BLS). This single application does several things at once: it registers your business with the state, issues your UBI number, sets up your B&O tax account, and lets you add endorsements from many state agencies and participating cities. It is separate from forming your LLC with the Secretary of State - formation creates the entity, while the Business License Application registers it to operate and collect tax. For the national concept, see the business license overview.
Washington has no single "general business license" that every business displays on the wall. Instead, the state license is really a registration plus a bundle of endorsements. The base registration gives you a UBI and a tax account; the endorsements are the specific authorizations your activity needs, whether that is a specialty tax classification, a city general business license for a partner city, or a regulated-activity endorsement. This design lets a business that operates in several jurisdictions handle much of its licensing through one application and one renewal, rather than filing separately with each agency. It also means the exact set of endorsements - and therefore your total cost - depends heavily on what you do and where you do it.
Does Your LLC Need One?
Most Washington businesses must file the Business License Application before doing business. Whether you need it depends on your activities, but common triggers include:
- You are required to collect retail sales tax or owe B&O tax;
- Your gross income meets the Department of Revenue's registration threshold;
- You do business under a trade name different from your legal LLC name;
- You hire employees in Washington;
- Your business or profession requires a state endorsement or license.
Because a Washington LLC that sells goods or services almost always meets one of these, most LLCs file the application. When in doubt, register - it is inexpensive and keeps you compliant.
Washington Business License Fees (2026)
The table below lists the Business Licensing Service processing fees, each verified against the Department of Revenue. These are the processing fees; specific state and city endorsements carry their own separate fees.
| Filing purpose | Processing fee (2026) | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Open first location of a new business/UBI (or reopen with no active locations) | $50 | Department of Revenue |
| Any other purpose (hire employees, add endorsements, register a trade name) | $10 | Department of Revenue |
| Add an additional business location | $0 | Department of Revenue |
| Add a City Non-Resident Business endorsement | $0 | Department of Revenue |
| Trade name (DBA) registration | $5 per name | Department of Revenue |
| Annual renewal (per location) | $5 + endorsement fees | Department of Revenue |
State and city endorsement fees vary by activity and jurisdiction; confirm the amount for your specific endorsements on the Department of Revenue's fee sheets before you file.
Notice how the processing fee depends on the purpose of the filing rather than the size of the business. A brand-new business opening its first location pays the $50 fee once; after that, most changes - adding a trade name, adding an endorsement, or updating information - fall under the $10 "other purposes" fee, and simply adding an additional location carries no processing fee at all. This structure rewards handling several changes in a single filing rather than filing repeatedly. If you are forming a Washington LLC and know you will need a trade name and one or two endorsements, it is efficient to request them together with your initial application so the $50 covers the whole setup.
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Form your entity first (if applicable). If you are running the business as an LLC, file the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State before the Business License Application so your entity information matches.
- Get an EIN. Obtain a free EIN from the IRS if you have employees or more than one member; you will use it on the application.
- Complete the Business License Application. Apply online through the Business Licensing Service or by mailing the paper Business License Application, and select the state and city endorsements your activity requires.
- Add a trade name if needed. Register any DBA on the same application for $5 each.
- Pay and submit. Pay the $50 new-business processing fee (or $10 for other purposes) plus any endorsement fees. You receive your UBI and license once processed.
Your UBI Number and B&O Registration
The UBI (Unified Business Identifier) is a nine-digit number that identifies your business across Washington agencies, including the Department of Revenue and the Secretary of State. Filing the Business License Application also opens your B&O tax account, so after you are licensed you file periodic excise tax returns reporting gross receipts. Washington has no state income tax, so the B&O and sales tax returns are your main state tax filings. See Washington LLC annual report and taxes for the tax calendar and the national business tax overview.
Keep your UBI handy, because it links your records across agencies. The Secretary of State uses it to track your LLC and its annual report, the Department of Revenue uses it for your excise tax account, and Labor & Industries and Employment Security use it if you have employees. When you open a business bank account, apply for financing, or bid on contracts, you will often be asked for the UBI along with your EIN. One number, several agencies - which is what "Unified Business Identifier" is meant to convey.
Employer Obligations Beyond the License
Hiring in Washington adds obligations that the Business License Application starts but does not finish. Filing the application with the "hire employees" purpose (the $10 processing fee) flags your business, but you also register for workers' compensation through the Department of Labor & Industries and for unemployment insurance through the Employment Security Department, and you handle federal payroll taxes with the IRS using your EIN. Employers must also verify work eligibility and follow Washington wage-and-hour and paid-leave rules. None of these are optional once you have a payroll, so build them into your setup rather than treating the business license as the finish line.
State, City, and Professional Endorsements
The Business License Application can add endorsements for many regulated activities - for example, a specialty tax classification, or a city general business license for cities that partner with the Business Licensing Service. Cities that do not partner with BLS issue their own licenses directly, so check with the city or cities where you operate. Regulated professions (such as contractors, cosmetologists, and food handlers) require separate professional licenses from the relevant agency in addition to the state business license. Confirm which endorsements apply to your activity before you file.
Common examples make the endorsement idea concrete. A restaurant needs food-service permits from its local health jurisdiction; a general contractor must register with Labor & Industries and carry a bond and insurance; a cosmetologist or barber needs a license from the Department of Licensing; and a business selling liquor, cannabis, or tobacco needs endorsements from the agencies that regulate those products. The Business License Application routes many of these through one form, but the underlying professional requirements - exams, bonds, insurance, inspections - still come from the specialized agency. Treat the business license as the front door and the professional endorsements as the specific rooms you are cleared to enter.
Renewing and Updating Your License
Your Washington business license renews annually. The Department of Revenue assigns an expiration date and sends a renewal notice; the renewal processing fee is $5 per location plus any endorsement fees. Renew on time, because a late renewal carries a penalty of up to $150. Use the same Business License Application process to update your business - adding a location, changing a trade name, or adding endorsements - for the $10 other-purpose fee. When you close the business, close the license account with the Department of Revenue; see how to dissolve an LLC in Washington.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Washington business license?
The Business License Application processing fee is $50 when opening the first location of a new business, or $10 for other purposes. The annual renewal processing fee is $5 per location, plus any endorsement fees.
Does an LLC need a business license in Washington?
Most Washington LLCs must file a Business License Application to obtain a UBI and register for B&O tax before doing business. City or professional endorsements depend on your location and activity.
What is a UBI number in Washington?
A UBI (Unified Business Identifier) is a nine-digit number identifying your business across Washington agencies. You receive it when you register your business or file the Business License Application.
How do I register a trade name (DBA) in Washington?
Register it through the Business License Application with the Business Licensing Service for $5 per trade name. The trade name is tied to your UBI.
Where do I get a Washington business license?
Apply through the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service, online or by mail, using the Business License Application. One application can add many endorsements.
Related
- Business license overview (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Washington
- Washington LLC annual report and taxes
- Washington LLC cost and filing fees
- Washington registered agent requirements
- How to get an EIN
- What is a DBA?
Sources
- Washington Department of Revenue - Apply for a business license (Business License Application; UBI; endorsements).
- Washington Department of Revenue - Variable business license processing fees ($50 new business; $10 other; $5 renewal; up to $150 late penalty).
- Washington Department of Revenue - Register trade names ($5 per trade name).
- Washington Department of Revenue - Business licensing and renewals FAQs (who needs a license; renewals).
- Washington Department of Revenue - Business & occupation tax (B&O registration; no state income tax).
- Washington Department of Revenue - Apply for a new business license (application steps).
- Washington Legislature - RCW 82.04, Business and Occupation Tax.
- Washington Legislature - RCW 25.15, Limited Liability Company Act.
- Washington Legislature - RCW 19.02, Business License Center Act (statewide business licensing system).
- Washington Legislature - RCW Title 18, Businesses and Professions (state professional and occupational licensing).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- U.S. Small Business Administration - Apply for licenses and permits (federal and state licensing overview).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Washington Department of Revenue before acting.