Business Resources
Start Ups
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Business (PDF)
Six Questions to Ask Before Starting a Business
Grants to Start Your Business - Myth or Reality (PDF)
2010 Guide for Small Business in Washington State
This online guide provides personalized access for small business owners to find resources across the state to help their company develop and grow - and to support the culture of innovation in our state.
Certificate of Occupancy Questions and Answers, City of Bellingham Permit Center
Busting the "Free Money" Myth
Searching for a government or no-interest loan to start a business? Don't waste your time.
Raising Start-Up Capital
Advice on the processes and pitfalls of financing, with links to angel investors, and other financing options.
Starting Your Business
The SBA site for starting a small business.
SCORE
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is a non-profit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth, and success of small business nationwide. Find your local SCORE office on this site and other information.
Insurance Information
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner Web site offers a variety of free fact sheets to help small business owners determine their insurance needs.
Business Entities
Learn about the different forms of business.
Starting a Restaurant
The failure rates for restaurants is high, but this descriptive checklist will get you going in the right direction.
How to Open a Successful Restaurant
A Seattle Weekly article that discusses five ways to open a restaurant with staying power.
Business Tax Overview
This brochure published by the Washington State Department of Revenue presents an overview of the various business taxes for Washington State.
Starting a Business In Washington
This site contains links to a variety of information for starting a business in Washington State. Topics include a checklist for businesses and information about business plans, licensing, financial assistance, and business counseling.
Washington Department of Commerce
This is the Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) Web site with numerous business tools. Whether you plan to start a business, expand your company or relocate to Washington State, you'll find dozens of programs to help you achieve your goals. There is also information to connect with financing options, infrastructure, tax incentive programs, energy cost reduction strategies, site selection tools, and much more.
SBA - Buying a Franchise
This site offers provides information on purchaing a franchise. It contains a buying a franchise workbook, a registry of franchises and evaluations,
Starting a Business in Blaine
This brochure on the City of Blaine Web site details a variety of useful information on how to start a business in the City of Blaine, Washington.
Top Ten Tips for New Small Businesses
Suggestions to help get you business off to a smooth start and keep it going!
IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Resources
The IRS Website provides a variety of useful resources, tax documents and online filing services to small businesses and self-employed individuals.
Strategic Planning
A guide for strategic planning in a for-profit business and a non-profit organization.