New Business Owner Resources
Here you can find many of the resources you will need to start your business in Pasco, WA!
Starting a business and not sure where to begin?
We’ve compiled some resources to help you!
Starting a business in Washington State
The Washington State Small Business Liaison Team has a video available that helps explain everything you need to know to start a business in Washington State. The video is available below in English and Spanish.
Resources from the Washington Small Business Guide
The Business Guide provides a comprehensive list of checklists, workshops, resources, and additional information you need to know when starting your business. Be sure to check it out!
File your Washington Business License Application with the Washington State Department of Revenue.
Create “Articles of Incorporation” (corporation) or “Certificate of Formation” (limited liability company), and file them with the Secretary of State’s office.
Find the information you need at the button below.
Find advisors and mentoring at these resources
Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Maria Peña - Certified Business Advisor Pasco
SCORE Mid-Columbia Tri-Cities
Find Mentoring
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
Help for small businesses
Small business guidance
WA State resources
Licenses to stay up to date on:
Business Licensing is responsible for regulating and overseeing businesses operating within the City of Pasco. Business Licensing facilitates and manages the process of issuing business licenses and Special Event permits.
Stay up to date on all your licenses and permits at the WA State Department of Health.
Find the Regulatory Handbook from the Washington Governor’s Office. The Regulatory Handbook contains information about local, state and federal permits, approvals, and licenses for Washington State. Although not a complete list, this list does provide in-depth information on most environmental permits.
Additional Resources:
Learn about the Labor & Industries sick leave laws.
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) requirements
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries requires three posters to be placed at the job site. The posters are free to download and print, or order free copies by mail.
Labor & Industries also requires you to have an Accident Prevention Plan in place.
The Pasco Chamber of Commerce is partnering with L&I to help you make sure your business is meeting the Labor and Industries requirements! Contact us at 509-547-9755 or admin@pascochamber.org so we can help get you the answers to your questions.
Notice to Employees – If a Job Injury Occurs
Job Safety and Health Law
Your Rights as a Worker
Check out the Washington State Labor & Industries
Essentials for Business
Don’t like reading through your regulatory obligations? Try our Essentials for Business videos instead. These brief videos answer many of the most common questions small business employers have in just a couple minutes.
Video 1: Introduction
Don’t like reading through your regulatory obligations? Try our Essentials for Business videos instead. These brief videos answer many of the most common questions small business employers have in just a couple minutes.
Video 2: Who Needs to be Covered by Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Nearly everyone working for your business needs to be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. This can include family members and independent contractors.
Check out this brief Essentials for Business video to learn about who you need to cover with workers’ comp.
Video 3: Getting a Workers’ Compensation Account
You may know that you need a workers’ compensation account from Labor & Industries once you hire employees, but did you know that you start the process at the Department of Revenue?
Learn this and other tips for getting your required workers’ comp account with our Essentials for Business video series.
Video 4: Filing Reports
Your workers’ compensation quarterly reports are due on the last day of the month after each quarter ends. Do you know everything you need to file?
Learn how to file your quarterly reports in about two minutes with our Essentials for Business video series.
Video 5: Record Keeping and Payroll
To file your workers’ compensation quarterly reports, you’ll need payroll and financial records for your employees…and often for independent contractors, too.
Learn the records your business should keep and for how long in our fifth Essentials for Business video segment, Record Keeping and Payroll.
Video 6: Using the Verify Tool
You can find all of your business’s workers’ compensation information like rates, risk classes, and experience factor right on the front page of the L&I website.
Learn how to navigate the L&I Verify Tool with this quick segment from our Essentials for Business video series.
Have a current business in Pasco?
You can sign up for the Trespass Authorization to grant the City of Pasco Police Department authorization to enforce trespassing laws on your property, in accordance with local ordinances and state laws.
They are in PDF fillable form. Fill it out and email it to LT. Decker at deckerm@pasco-wa.gov.