How to Start a Business in Washington State: A Step-by-Step Checklist
A plain-English checklist for starting a business in Washington State, from choosing a structure to getting your UBI, EIN, bank account and books set up.
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Blog & Resources
Insights for small business owners
Plain-English guides on taxes, bookkeeping, and staying compliant — plus free checklists.
LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship: Which Is Right for Your New Business?
Compare an LLC and a sole proprietorship on liability, taxes, cost and paperwork so you can choose the right structure for your new business.
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How to Form an LLC in Washington State (Costs and Annual Requirements)
How to form a Washington LLC, what it costs, and the annual report and registered agent rules you need to follow to keep it active.
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What Is an EIN and Do I Need One for My Small Business?
What an EIN is, who needs one, how to get one free from the IRS, and why many sole proprietors should get one even when it's optional.
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What Is a UBI Number and How Do I Get a Washington Business License?
Learn what a Washington UBI number is, how to get your state business license and city endorsements, and how to keep them current.
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Trade Names (DBA) in Washington: Do You Need One?
What a trade name (DBA) is, when Washington requires one, how to register it, and why it doesn't replace forming an LLC.
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Why You Need a Separate Business Bank Account (Even as a Sole Proprietor)
Why every new business, even a sole proprietorship, should have a dedicated business bank account, plus what you need to open one.
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What Is an LLC Operating Agreement and Why Do You Need One?
What an LLC operating agreement covers, why even single-member LLCs should have one, and what to include in yours.
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BOI Reporting: Do Small Businesses Still Need to File With FinCEN?
The current status of FinCEN beneficial ownership (BOI) reporting for U.S. small businesses and how to avoid BOI filing scams.
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How Are Small Businesses Taxed? A Beginner's Guide
A beginner-friendly overview of how small businesses are taxed at the federal level and in Washington State, by business structure.
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Self-Employment Tax Explained: What It Is and How to Lower It
What self-employment tax is, how it's calculated, and legitimate ways sole proprietors and LLC owners can reduce it.
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Quarterly Estimated Taxes for Small Business Owners: How and When to Pay
Who has to pay quarterly estimated taxes, the IRS due dates, how to calculate your payments, and how to avoid underpayment penalties.
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How Much Should I Set Aside for Taxes as a Small Business Owner?
A practical way to decide how much of your business income to save for taxes, with a simple system to make sure the money is there.
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Should My LLC Elect S-Corp Status? When It Makes Sense
How an S-corp election works for an LLC, when it can save tax, what it costs to maintain, and the Form 2553 deadline.
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Reasonable Salary for S-Corp Owners: How Much Should You Pay Yourself?
What the IRS means by reasonable compensation for S-corp owners, how to set your salary, and how to document it.
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Washington B&O Tax Explained for New Business Owners (2026 Update)
How Washington's B&O tax works, why it's based on revenue instead of profit, and the 2026 changes to the filing threshold and small business credit.
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Do I Need to Collect Sales Tax in Washington? A Guide for New Businesses
When Washington businesses must collect retail sales tax, which services are now taxable, how destination-based rates work, and how to report it.
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The Top Small Business Tax Deductions New Owners Miss
The most common small business tax deductions, the ones new owners often miss, and how to document them so they hold up.
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The Home Office Deduction: Who Qualifies and How to Calculate It
Learn who qualifies for the home office deduction, how the simplified and regular methods work, and the mistakes to avoid.
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Business Vehicle Expenses: Standard Mileage vs. Actual Expenses
How to deduct business vehicle use with the 2026 standard mileage rate or actual expenses, what counts as business miles, and how to keep a mileage log.
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1099 Rules for 2026: The New $2,000 Threshold Explained
The 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC threshold rises to $2,000 for payments made in 2026. Here's who needs a 1099, when it's due, and what didn't change.
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Venmo, PayPal and Form 1099-K: What Small Businesses Need to Know
How Form 1099-K works for payments through apps like Venmo, PayPal and Square, the current $20,000 and 200-transaction threshold, and how to report app income.
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Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation: Deducting Equipment in 2026
How Section 179 and 100% bonus depreciation let small businesses deduct equipment, tools and vehicles in the year of purchase in 2026.
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The QBI Deduction Explained: A 20% Tax Break for Business Owners
How the 20% Qualified Business Income deduction works for sole proprietors, LLCs, partnerships and S-corps, and what the 2025 tax law changed.
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Small Business Tax Deadlines Calendar (Federal and Washington)
A year-round calendar of key federal and Washington State tax and filing deadlines for small business owners.
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Can I Deduct Startup Costs? What New Businesses Can Write Off
How the IRS treats expenses you paid before your business opened, the $5,000 first-year startup cost deduction, and what records to keep.
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What Happens If I Miss a Tax Deadline? Penalties and How to Fix It
What happens when a small business misses a federal or Washington tax deadline, how penalties work, and the steps to fix it fast.
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What Is Bookkeeping and Why Does Your Small Business Need It?
A simple explanation of what bookkeeping is, what a bookkeeper does, and why accurate books matter for taxes, cash flow and growth.
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Bookkeeping vs. Accounting: What's the Difference?
The difference between bookkeeping and accounting, what a bookkeeper does versus an accountant or CPA, and which one your small business needs.
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Cash vs. Accrual Accounting: Which Method Should Your Business Use?
The difference between cash and accrual accounting, which method small businesses typically use, and how your choice affects taxes and reports.
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How to Set Up a Chart of Accounts for Your Small Business
What a chart of accounts is, the five main account types, and how to set up simple, tax-friendly categories for your small business.
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Choosing Accounting Software for Your Small Business
How to choose accounting software for a new small business, the features that matter most, and how popular options compare.
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The Monthly Bookkeeping Checklist for Small Business Owners
A practical monthly bookkeeping checklist to keep your small business books accurate, tax-ready and useful for decisions.
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Bank Reconciliation Explained: Why It Matters and How to Do It
What bank reconciliation is, why it's the most important bookkeeping check, and a step-by-step way to reconcile your accounts each month.
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How Long Should You Keep Business Records and Receipts?
How long the IRS and Washington State expect small businesses to keep receipts, tax returns, payroll records and other documents, and how to store them.
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How Do I Pay Myself as a Business Owner? Owner's Draw vs. Salary
How sole proprietors, LLC owners, partners and S-corp owners pay themselves, how each method is taxed, and how much to take.
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Mixed Personal and Business Expenses? How to Fix It
Why mixing personal and business money causes problems, how to record mixed transactions correctly, and how to clean up and prevent it.
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Behind on Bookkeeping? How to Catch Up Before Tax Time
A step-by-step plan for catching up on months (or years) of bookkeeping, what documents you need and how to stay current afterward.
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7 Signs It's Time to Hire a Bookkeeper
Seven clear signs your small business has outgrown DIY bookkeeping, and what to look for when you hire a bookkeeper.
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10 Common Bookkeeping Mistakes Small Businesses Make
Ten bookkeeping mistakes we see most often in new small businesses and how to avoid each one.
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How to Read a Profit and Loss Statement (P&L) for Your Small Business
A plain-English walkthrough of the profit and loss statement: revenue, cost of sales, gross profit, expenses and net profit, and what to look for.
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Balance Sheet Basics for Small Business Owners
What a balance sheet shows, how assets, liabilities and equity fit together, and what small business owners should check each month.
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Why Profitable Businesses Run Out of Cash (and How to Prevent It)
Why profit and cash aren't the same, the most common causes of cash shortages in small businesses, and practical ways to improve cash flow.
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How to Create a Simple Budget and Forecast for Your New Business
A step-by-step guide to building a simple annual budget and cash flow forecast for a new small business, without complicated spreadsheets.
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How to Price Your Services Profitably as a New Business
A practical way to price your services so you cover costs, pay yourself, pay taxes and still earn a real profit.
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Employee vs. Independent Contractor: How to Classify Workers Correctly
How to tell whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor under IRS and Washington rules, and the risks of getting it wrong.
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Form W-9: Why You Should Collect It Before Paying Any Contractor
What Form W-9 is, when to request one, what to do if a contractor won't provide it, and how it connects to 1099 reporting.
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Year-End Checklist for Small Business Owners
A year-end checklist to close your books, reduce taxes legally and get ready for 1099s, W-2s and tax season.
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How to Prepare for Your First Tax Season as a Business Owner
What to expect from your first business tax season, which forms apply to you, and the documents to gather so filing goes smoothly.
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Guides
Tips for busy owners
Short, practical guides to keep your business organized and compliant.
Compliance ·
Annual Compliance Checklist for Small Businesses
The recurring filings most small businesses need each year, and how to keep track of them.
Bookkeeping Tips ·
Signs You Need a Catch-Up Bookkeeper
Shoebox of receipts? Unreconciled accounts? Here's when it's time to get help.
Business Formation ·
LLC vs. S-Corp: Which Is Right for Your Small Business?
A plain-English look at how each is taxed and when an S-corp election makes sense.
Taxes ·
What Is a Tax Extension and How to File It
An extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay. Here's how it works.
Free downloads
Helpful checklists
Small Business Tax & Compliance Calendar
Every key federal deadline, month by month.
New Business Checklist
Everything to set up in your first 90 days.