Starting a Business in Tacoma: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Tacoma: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Permits and registrations specific to Tacoma, WA
- City business license endorsement — Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington · City via Business Licensing Service: Tacoma / Pierce County (city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Tacoma · Tacoma (Pierce County) building department (city)
- Renew Tacoma general business license · City of Tacoma Tax and License Division (city)
- File Pierce County business personal property return · Pierce County County Assessor (county)
- Form the business: Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities
- Register for state taxes: Washington Department of Revenue
- Register as an employer: Washington Employment Security Department
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Tacoma
Based on your selections, this plan has 13 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.
Do these first
- Maintain a registered agent in Washington
- File formation documents with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- Register for and file Washington entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Notify residents and regulators of a data breach within 30 days (Washington) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Washington state business license (Business Licensing Service) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- City business license endorsement — Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Tacoma — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Renew Tacoma general business license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Known charges: $160.00 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
11 of 13 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 2 steps with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.
Common questions about Tacoma
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Tacoma:
- Contractor licensing: Washington Department of Labor & Industries (contractor registration)
- Real estate licensing: Washington Department of Licensing
- Alcohol licensing: Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
- Child care licensing: Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families
- Health facility licensing: Washington Department of Health
- City business license endorsement — Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington (City via Business Licensing Service: Tacoma / Pierce County, city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Tacoma (Tacoma (Pierce County) building department, city)
- Renew Tacoma general business license (City of Tacoma Tax and License Division, city)
- File Pierce County business personal property return (Pierce County County Assessor, county)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: Washington state business license (Business Licensing Service); City business license endorsement — Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Tacoma; Renew Tacoma general business license. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: sos.wa.gov, dor.wa.gov, esd.wa.gov
Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:
- Maintain a registered agent in Washington
- File formation documents with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Sources: sos.wa.gov, dor.wa.gov
Known government fees for your plan: $0.00 one-time and $160.00 per year.
Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.
Sources: sos.wa.gov, dor.wa.gov
In your plan for Tacoma, requirements come from four levels. Washington sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (2): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C
- State (6): Maintain a registered agent in Washington; File Annual Report (Washington); Register for and file Washington entity-level taxes; Washington state business license (Business Licensing Service)…
- County (1): File Pierce County business personal property return
- City (3): City business license endorsement — Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Tacoma; Renew Tacoma general business license
Sources: sos.wa.gov, dor.wa.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with Washington Employment Security Department.
- Workers' compensation: Washington Department of Labor & Industries. Required when: 1 employee
- Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave and WA Cares premiums: applies from 1 employee.
Sources: esd.wa.gov, lni.wa.gov