Resources

Get Verified to do Business with VA

Get verified through the Vets First Verification Program to participate in the Veterans First Contracting Program for VA set-asides and sole-source contracts for SDVOSBs and VOSBs.

No cost, confidential, one-on-one technical assistance in all aspects of selling to federal, state, and local governments.

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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, and Chinese.

The Business Guide includes sections that will help you plan, run, grow, or close a business in Washington State.

The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.

Bunker Labs was built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation. The organization provides educational programming, mentors, events and thriving local networks to help military veterans start and grow businesses.

Get Verified to do Business with VA

Get verified through the Vets First Verification Program to participate in the Veterans First Contracting Program for VA set-asides and sole-source contracts for SDVOSBs and VOSBs.

No cost, confidential, one-on-one technical assistance in all aspects of selling to federal, state, and local governments.

Subscribe to Newsletter

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, and Chinese.

The Business Guide includes sections that will help you plan, run, grow, or close a business in Washington State.

The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.

Bunker Labs was built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation. The organization provides educational programming, mentors, events and thriving local networks to help military veterans start and grow businesses.

The Veteran Business Outreach Program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. The SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).

The Veteran’s Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship (VIBE) provides military veterans, and military spouses the education, resources, and supportive environment to use their natural inclinations and skills to innovate and create their own professional lanes through entrepreneurship. VIBE, taps into several Washington regional assets—motivated veterans, a supportive community, a university setting—with the goal of supporting students as they learn about entrepreneurship and turn their ideas into viable businesses.

The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises is charged with certifying small, minority and women-owned businesses to facilitate their participation in public contracting and procurement. This is accomplished through a comprehensive certification process and education. The outcome - successful small businesses led by minorities, women and veterans help make our economy and our families more resilient, strengthening our communities and improving the quality of life for all Washingtonians.

This is a road map for opening a business in the state of Washington. There are eight steps in the road map but not all of them will apply to your business. We recommend you read through all steps in this road map before applying for your business license. You can download the Road Map as a PDF file if you prefer that format.

Here are the 8 steps:

1. Research and make a plan;
2. Register your business with the Secretary of State (SOS);
3. License your business with the Department of Revenue (DOR);
4. Report your new employees to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS);
5. Apply for a Reseller Permit with the Department of Revenue (DOR);
6. Register as a contractor with Department of Labor & Industries (L&I);
7. Contact your local health department for food handling requirements; and
8. Check with your City and/or County for their requirements.

Start here to see what's involved in each step

Get Verified to do Business with VA

Get verified through the Vets First Verification Program to participate in the Veterans First Contracting Program for VA set-asides and sole-source contracts for SDVOSBs and VOSBs.

No cost, confidential, one-on-one technical assistance in all aspects of selling to federal, state, and local governments.

Subscribe to Newsletter

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, and Chinese.

The Business Guide includes sections that will help you plan, run, grow, or close a business in Washington State.

The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.

Bunker Labs was built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation. The organization provides educational programming, mentors, events and thriving local networks to help military veterans start and grow businesses.

The Veteran Business Outreach Program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. The SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).

The Veteran’s Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship (VIBE) provides military veterans, and military spouses the education, resources, and supportive environment to use their natural inclinations and skills to innovate and create their own professional lanes through entrepreneurship. VIBE, taps into several Washington regional assets—motivated veterans, a supportive community, a university setting—with the goal of supporting students as they learn about entrepreneurship and turn their ideas into viable businesses.

I am a Marine Corps and Vietnam combat veteran. I retired from the Portland VA Medical Center as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist in December of 2017. I began private practice in Vancouver, WA in February of 2018.

Education: I have an MBA and a Master of Science in counseling. My education comes from my average intelligence in combination with the grace and perseverance of the VA’s chapter 31 program. As a mental health therapist I share what I have learned from experience on both sides of the fence.

Credentials: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor #93969, Clinically Certified Forensic Counselor # 29128, Clinical Supervision Certificate Portland State University, Masters in Addictions Counseling Certificate Portland State University.

Specialty: Trauma including Military, Childhood, and Acute trauma. I also collaborate with people living with anxiety and depression, and personality disorders.

Therapeutic Methods: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma informed CBT, cognitive processing therapy, internal family systems therapy, and reality therapy.

Purpose of Treatment:
Feeling OK with one’s reaction to trauma
Develop resourcefulness (good problem solving-critical thinking skills)
Decide that there is something you can do to manage your feelings
Face rather than avoid difficult and stressful situations
Identifying as a survivor
Being comfortable in your own skin, able to relax and feel joy

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), and Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP).

I have resolved through therapy myself both childhood and adult post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) My personal experiences and recovery give me a unique perspective and a distinct advantage when working with clients who have had similar experiences. The three groups of clients I most enjoy working with are Veterans, Couples, and Teens. My life and the lives of most of my clients are living examples showing that the effects of trauma and TBI can be reduced and in many cases eliminated.

I am also a military veteran.  I served proudly for 12 years in the Navy on four submarines.  It was a privilege to be a member of that elite corps of military professionals. I have worked with active duty military as well as veterans and their families – from WWII through Iraq and Afghanistan.

I thoroughly enjoy working with my clients. Each client teaches me something new about myself and my field of work.  I invite you to schedule an appointment to see if you think you can work with me to deal with the issues that intrude on your life, and to claim for yourself a higher quality of life.

As a person, though, I am more than the sum of my licenses, degrees, and experiences.  I am a husband with a fabulous wife, Kathleen, and a dad and stepdad to four amazing kids and 12 grandkids. Kathleen and I have a 8-year-old German Shepherd, Frejya, who is a part of our practice. I am training Frejya as both a service dog and therapy dog – or maybe she is training me!  You can find me at http://www.brain-healing.net and contact me at jack.stell@brain-healing.net.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a nine-member council supported by a cabinet-level state agency. By statute, the Council provides strategic planning, oversight, advocacy, and program administration to support increased student success and higher levels of educational attainment in Washington.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a nine-member council supported by a cabinet-level state agency. By statute, the Council provides strategic planning, oversight, advocacy, and program administration to support increased student success and higher levels of educational attainment in Washington.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a nine-member council supported by a cabinet-level state agency. By statute, the Council provides strategic planning, oversight, advocacy, and program administration to support increased student success and higher levels of educational attainment in Washington.