Business License Application
While filing the appropriate organizational document brings about its existence, a company is required to satisfy several additional formalities before it is properly licensed. A general partnership or sole proprietorship, although it does not require a filing with the Secretary of State to be formed, also must go through these additional formalities. These additional steps include applying for any trade names and specialized business licenses; registering with the Department of Revenue; and, if there are employees, registering with the Employment Security Department and the Department of Labor and Industries. These formalities can be satisfied by completing and filing with the Department of Licensing a Business License Application, discussed below.
A company applying for a license for certain specified types of business, or making certain specified registrations, such as registration with the Department of Revenue, is required to do so by submitting a Business License Application to the Department of Licensing. The purpose of the Business License Application is to provide a new company with a single form with which to conveniently apply for, or make, many common types of licenses and registrations required by Washington law. Business License Application forms can be obtained from the Business License Service of the Department of Licensing. The address for the Department of Licensing, as well as several other important Washington agencies, appears at Appendix B to this Chapter. Certain licenses cannot be applied for with a Business License Application, and companies should contact the appropriate agencies directly for information about such licenses.
A properly-completed Business License Application, when submitted to the Department of Licensing with the appropriate fee, will satisfy several important requirements applicable to virtually all companies doing business in Washington. First, the Business License Application is the required method of applying for many specialized licenses. Second, the Business License Application will satisfy the requirement that the company register with the Department of Revenue. Third, the Business License Application will satisfy the requirement that the company register with the Employment Security Department (to open an account to which the new business will make unemployment insurance contributions) and with the Department of Labor and Industries (to open an account to which premiums will be paid to Washington’s industrial insurance (workers comp) scheme).
The Business License Application is also used to register trade names for companies. A trade name is simply a name under which a company does business in Washington other than the company’s legal name. If, for example, a company with the legal name of “XYZ Consulting (USA), Inc.” is doing business in Washington under the name “XYZ Consulting” it is using a trade name and must register the trade name with the Department of Licensing. If the company fails to register its trade names, it loses the privilege of filing suit in the courts of the State of Washington until it so registers.
Following the filing of the Business License Application with the Department of Licensing together with the appropriate fee, the Department of Licensing will issue to a company a document entitled “Licenses and Registrations,” which will be endorsed to show any additional licenses granted for specific types of business. An original Licenses and Registrations document is required to be displayed prominently at all times at each place of business of the company.
A company applying for a license for certain specified types of business, or making certain specified registrations, such as registration with the Department of Revenue, is required to do so by submitting a Business License Application to the Department of Licensing. The purpose of the Business License Application is to provide a new company with a single form with which to conveniently apply for, or make, many common types of licenses and registrations required by Washington law. Business License Application forms can be obtained from the Business License Service of the Department of Licensing. The address for the Department of Licensing, as well as several other important Washington agencies, appears at Appendix B to this Chapter. Certain licenses cannot be applied for with a Business License Application, and companies should contact the appropriate agencies directly for information about such licenses.
A properly-completed Business License Application, when submitted to the Department of Licensing with the appropriate fee, will satisfy several important requirements applicable to virtually all companies doing business in Washington. First, the Business License Application is the required method of applying for many specialized licenses. Second, the Business License Application will satisfy the requirement that the company register with the Department of Revenue. Third, the Business License Application will satisfy the requirement that the company register with the Employment Security Department (to open an account to which the new business will make unemployment insurance contributions) and with the Department of Labor and Industries (to open an account to which premiums will be paid to Washington’s industrial insurance (workers comp) scheme).
The Business License Application is also used to register trade names for companies. A trade name is simply a name under which a company does business in Washington other than the company’s legal name. If, for example, a company with the legal name of “XYZ Consulting (USA), Inc.” is doing business in Washington under the name “XYZ Consulting” it is using a trade name and must register the trade name with the Department of Licensing. If the company fails to register its trade names, it loses the privilege of filing suit in the courts of the State of Washington until it so registers.
Following the filing of the Business License Application with the Department of Licensing together with the appropriate fee, the Department of Licensing will issue to a company a document entitled “Licenses and Registrations,” which will be endorsed to show any additional licenses granted for specific types of business. An original Licenses and Registrations document is required to be displayed prominently at all times at each place of business of the company.