Initial Fees and Licenses in Washington

April 13, 2006

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If you're going to operate your business in Washington, when you start up you're likely to incur filing fees and licensing fees depending on the type of business you run and your business form (corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company (LLC)).

Corporations. If you're doing business as a domestic corporation (a corporation incorporated in Washington) in Washington, you will be subject to various fees when you start up. Domestic corporations must pay $175 to the Washington Secretary of State for filing articles of incorporation, and various fees are collected for restatements of articles of incorporation, articles of merger or share exchange, articles of revocation of dissolution, and application for reinstatement.

If you're doing business as a foreign corporation (a corporation incorporated outside of Washington), you will be subject to a $175 initial fee when you start up.

Limited liability companies (LLCs). If your company is either a domestic or foreign limited liability company (LLC), you must file documents with the Washington Secretary of State. If your company is a domestic LLC, you must deliver articles of organization along with a $175 fee to the Washington Secretary of State. If your company is a foreign LLC, you must apply for a foreign LLC registration application along with paying a $175 fee to the Washington Secretary of State. The initial or an amended annual report costs $10 to file. The annual license renewal, for all years after the first, is $59.

Business licenses and fees. Washington requires that you obtain a license and pay a fee if you are operating certain types of businesses in the state. Below is a partial list of some of the types of businesses required to obtain a license. Be sure to check with the state to make sure you are complying with the license requirements for your particular profession.