Doing Business in Washington State

Resources available for Veteran/Service-Member Owned Business:

WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran/Servicemember Owned Business Registry

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Linked Deposit Program - up to 2% Interest Rate Reduction on Business Loans

Washington State Department of Enterprise Services http://www.des.wa.gov/services/Pages/ForBusiness.aspx
The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services provides information on doing business with the State for goods & services vendors, contractors, architectural and engineering consultants, and property owners.
Sign up on WEBS for state contract opportunities.

Washington State Business Licensing Service (http://bls.dor.wa.gov/startbusiness.aspx)
Washington State Business Resource Guides (http://bls.dor.wa.gov/forms/wabooklet.pdf) | (http://ora.wa.gov/business.asp)

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (www.lni.wa.gov)
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries helps employers meet safety and health standards for workers, oversees benefits to workers who are injured or become ill on the job, and enforces labor laws, as well as laws that protect workers’ wages.

Washington State Small Business Development Center (http://www.wsbdc.org/)

Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (www.omwbe.wa.gov)
The Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises provides business development assistance, supports the Governor’s Supplier Diversity Initiative, and is the sole certifying authority for State and Federal Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged businesses.

Veterans Business Outreach Center www.seattleccd.com
The Veterans Business Outreach Center delivers free business counseling and training to entrepreneurs who are members of the U.S. military community including veterans, service-disabled veterans, Reservists and Guard members, family members, and active-duty service members.

Washington Secretary of State (www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/)
The Washington Secretary of State web site provides descriptions of business/organization structures, information about registering a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), and answers to other Frequently Asked Questions.

Washington State Department of Revenue (www.dor.wa.gov)
The Washington State Department of Revenue is where to learn about doing business in Washington, and how to file and pay state tax obligations and is where to file a Master Business Application to get a state business license or Unified Business Indicator (UBI) number, get a new city or specialty license (such as a liquor license), change ownership of a business, open or change business locations, register or change a trade name, hire employees (including minors and workers in the home), and answers to other Frequently Asked Questions.

Washington State Emergency Management Division (http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_business.shtml)
State of Washington Emergency Management Business Portal. This portal is designed to be a one-stop destination that businesses of all sizes can access to find the most requested resources. Our goal is assist your business in achieving disaster resilience. We must begin with the premise that in Washington State, hazards such as earthquakes, winter storms, or even aging infrastructure can affect our communities and impact our economy.

Washington PTAC | Procurement Technical Assistance Center (http://www.washingtonptac.org/index.shtml)
We work with business owners who are in business for minimum of 2 years (preferably 3) to explore the world of government contracting. Here is a link to the services we offer detailed list.

Washington Access Fund http://www.washingtonaccessfund.org/resources/resources.php

UW Veterans Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship

FEDERAL

Center for Veterans Enterprise (www.vetbiz.gov)
The Center for Veterans Enterprise is supported by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and maintains a web site designed to assist Veteran/Service Member entrepreneurs who want to start and expand their businesses in the Federal and private marketplace.

VetBiz Resource Center

NCO 20 Business Resource Center (BRC) focuses on increasing small business utilization of service-disabled veteran owned small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, woman-owned small businesses, HUB Zone, and small disadvantaged businesses for Northwest Network (VISN 20.) (http://www.visn20.med.va.gov/VISN20/nco20.asp) The BRC works closely with VA leadership and the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) supporting the goal of helping small and veteran owned businesses contribute most effectively to the important mission of VA.

System for Award Management (SAM) is the Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS. There is NO fee to register for this site. Entities may register at no cost directly from this page. (https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/)

U.S. Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns.
Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup( http://www.sba.gov/bootstobusiness )
Patriot Express Loan ( http://www.sba.gov/content/express-programs/ )

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (www.dla.mil/db/procurem.htm)
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) are a local resource available at no or nominal cost that can provide assistance to business firms in marketing products and services to the Federal, state and local governments.

Veterans Corporation (www.veteranscorp.org)
The Veterans Corporation is a Federally-chartered 501(c)(3) organization that was created by Public Law 106-50 and is charged with creating and enhancing entrepreneurial business opportunities for Veterans, including Service-Disabled Veterans.