Resources to Start a Business

WA Department Of Licensing: Starting a Business
http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/startbusiness.html

Comprehensive website with links to a variety of additional sources that covers the following topics

• Planning your business & Create your business structure
• Getting licensing information and forms
• Filing a Master Business Application
• All about the Hiring employees
• City and county licensing requirements
• Specialty licenses
• Frequently asked questions

Also a place to find out if you can renew your MBL online.

WA Secretary of State: Corporations
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps

• Can perform a search of existing corporations
• Provides information about your corporation or Limited Liability Company.
• Registration and renewal services your corporation or Limited Liability Company.

Also a place to link to The Department of Licensing Uniform Commercial Code.

AccessWa: Business Taxes
http://access.wa.gov/business/taxes.aspx

Explains:

• Ins and outs of State business taxes
• unemployment insurance
• tax Incentives, " workers' compensation premiums in Washington
• links you to all the online filing forms.

IRS: Tax Information for Businesses
From small business and self-employed one-stop resources to tax information for corporations to SEP IRA info on CD-ROM this is a veritable powerhouse of information.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/index.html

Seattle Small Business Administration
"An independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns." Offers a wealth of information and an e-newsletter.
http://www.sba.gov/wa/seattle/

Seattle SBA: Starting Your Business
Offers a four step guide to conceptualizing, starting, managing, and getting out of a small business.
http://www.sba.gov/starting/index.html

Northwest Entrepreneur Network
Publishes Venturer a monthly newsletter on topics critical to entrepreneurial success. Also offers monthly presentations and additional resources for members. Membership is $125, $35 for students.
http://www.nwvg.org/

NOLO Law for All: Small Business
Explains the ins and outs of forming a legal LLC.
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/article-30287.html

Business Networking
Lots of Links!
http://poplarware.com/seattlenetworking.html

Guide for Starting a Software Consulting Business: links to articles, books, samples contracts, etc.
http://poplarware.com/bizstart.html

The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything by Guy Kawasaki
http://tinyurl.com/26ukcg

"The Art of The Start is the first book you should read if you are planning to build an organization or business. Guy Kawasaki (former fellow at Apple Computer and director of Garage Technology Ventures) writes in a practical way giving you nuggets of gold to immediately implement. Read the book and then use it as a reference guide as you turn your idea into reality." - Zoe Harris, DE list member

Resources for getting contracts with various government agencies
http://governmentexpress.com/resources.html

Publicity tips, including contact information for various magazine and newspaper editors.
http://www.publicityinsider.com/

Background info on companies and executives who run them
http://www.hoovers.com/free/

Target market demographics
http://www.claritas.com/claritas/default.jsp?ti=3&ci=1&pn=freeinfo

Worldwide trade show directory
http://www.tsnn.com/

Business Plan Templates
http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html

Small Business Health Insurance Fact Sheet
http://www.insurance.wa.gov/publications/documents/Small_bus_buy_and_cover.pdf

Washington Department of Labor and Industries:
Information on Workman's Compensation, wage requirements, etc.
http://www.lni.wa.gov/