DoorWorthy

Who needs a trade name registration (DBA) in Washington?

Issued by Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, at step 1 of 6 in the opening sequence: set up the business.

Every kind of business in Washington

The Washington table lists this for every kind of business.

Needed whenever the business trades under any name other than the owner’s full legal name or the LLC’s registered name. Washington registers trade names on the state business license, not with the county, so most owners add it on the same application.

Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.

Step 1 of 6: Set up the business

  1. Set up the business
  2. Register for tax
  3. Approve the space
  4. Get the permits for your kind of business
  5. Alcohol permits
  6. Before the first hire

Issued by Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service.

Sources and dates

Department of Revenue business license application pages; WAC 458-02-200 (handling fees). Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.

Questions about opening here.