Example plan · Bellingham, WA
Starting a Business in Bellingham: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Bellingham: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.
Permits and registrations specific to Bellingham, WA
Sales tax permitWashington business license with retail sales tax endorsement
City of BellinghamHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Whatcom CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Local licenses and permits to obtain
- Register your business with the City of Bellingham · City of Bellingham Finance Department (city)
- File Whatcom County business personal property return · Whatcom County Assessor (county)
Register with these Washington agencies
- 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 Bellingham
This example plan has 30 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 unemployment insurance (Washington) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Washington business license with retail sales tax endorsement (Washington) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Register for and file Washington entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Register your business with the City of Bellingham — 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 — Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain food service establishment / health permit — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Ensure certified food protection manager on staff — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Bellingham — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Report new hires to the Washington new hire directory — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Carry workers' compensation insurance (Washington) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Display required federal labor law posters — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Complete Form I-9 for each new hire — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Display required Washington workplace notices — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Provide paid sick leave (Washington) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Government fees
Known charges: $160.00 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
28 of 30 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.
File formationOct 24, 2026in 7 days
Ready to operateDec 31, 2026in 75 days
Opening dateNot setAdd a target opening date to check the plan fits
Progress0 / 30Saved in this browser
Things the formation documents depend on: a registered agent and any professional approvals.
Suggested planning date: Oct 24, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
File the formation documents with the state.
Suggested planning date: Nov 7, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Obtain the EIN (and apply for tax-exempt status, for nonprofits). Most registrations need it.
Suggested planning date: Nov 10, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
State tax accounts, trade name, foreign qualification and publication requirements.
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
checked Oct 13, 2026
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
Per event
checked Oct 16, 2026
Licenses and permits you need before you operate: state, industry, local and professional.
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
fee $90.00
Annual
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
Insurance, employment paperwork, new-hire reporting and workplace notices.
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Per event
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
checked Oct 13, 2026
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Per event
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
Recurring filings and payments, in the order they fall due.
Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · in 14 days
Quarterly
not individually checked
Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · in 14 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 106 days
Annual
not individually checked
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 106 days
Annual
not individually checked
Statutory deadline: Apr 15, 2027 · in 180 days
Annual
not individually checked
Statutory deadline: Apr 30, 2027 · in 195 days
Annual
checked Oct 13, 2026
Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2027 · in 379 days
fee $70.00
Annual
checked Oct 13, 2026
Monthly
not individually checked
Quarterly
checked Oct 13, 2026
Quarterly
not individually checked
Monthly
not individually checked
Common questions about Bellingham
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 Bellingham:
- 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
- Register your business with the City of Bellingham (City of Bellingham Finance Department, city)
- File Whatcom County business personal property return (Whatcom County Assessor, county)
In the example restaurant plan above, the licenses and permits are: Washington state business license (Business Licensing Service); Washington business license with retail sales tax endorsement (Washington); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; City business license endorsement — Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Bellingham. Change the industry in the form to see yours.
Sources: sos.wa.gov, dor.wa.gov, esd.wa.gov
In the example plan for Bellingham, requirements come from four levels. Washington sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
- State (16): 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 (2): Obtain food service establishment / health permit; File Whatcom County business personal property return
- City (3): City business license endorsement — Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Bellingham; Register your business with the City of Bellingham
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.
- The example plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the Washington new hire directory; Carry workers' compensation insurance (Washington); Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required Washington workplace notices.
Sources: esd.wa.gov, lni.wa.gov