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• The Office of Economic Development provides a wealth of information about doing business in the city including the demographics and economy of Bellevue, business taxes and permits and planning for Bellevue’s business future. Email Robert Derrick, Director, or call (425) 452-5256. Email Tom Boydell, Manager of the Office of Economic Development or call him at (425) 452-5241.
• The City of Bellevue Business Advocate-Ombudsman serves as an advocate for businesses seeking to resolve or clarify issues with the City of Bellevue.
• The City of Bellevue's Finance Department procures products and services necessary for the city's operation. This site will help you find information on being a supplier or contractor to the city. Email the Finance Department, or call (425) 452-7876.
• The Development Services office is designed to be a “one-stop shopping” for general information and the permits and inspections needed for development activity within the city limits or utility service area. This includes MyBuildingPermit.com which is an easy-to-use permitting portal that makes it possible to get simple permits from Bellevue and nine other participating jurisdictions. The site provides many other services as well. This website is one-stop government service at its best and has won several state and national awards.
• The City of Bellevue also provides some business planning tools and other resources for business at its Planning for Business site.
• The City of Bellevue Tax Division provides answers for determining if and how you need to pay the City’s Business and Occupation taxes. Email them or call (425) 452-6851.

Regional Governmental Resources
enterpriseSeattle is a regional source for economic development assistance and growing the jobs and tax base in King County, its 39 cities and the Greater Puget Sound. Funded by a private-public partnership, enterpriseSeattle provides a customized client services program focused on business retention, expansion and recruitment. Click here to email enterpriseSeattle or call them at (206) 389-8650.

The Port of Seattle plays a key role in bringing international trade, transportation and travel to the Pacific Northwest:

• The Port owns and operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport - the nation’s 18th busiest – handling more than 31 million passengers in 2007.
• The Port’s passenger cruise terminals at Pier 66 and Terminal 30 handled 190 ship calls and nearly 755,000 passengers during the 2007 season.
• >State-of-the-art cargo handling facilities helped rank the Port’s as the nation’s 7th busiest U.S. seaport in 2007, serving 21 international steamship lines.
• The Port also operates four public marinas, and manages a number of real estate assets for financial return and broad economic advantage.

Puget Sound Regional Council
The PSRC is an organization formed and funded by local counties and cities and is committed to creating a great future for the region through planning for regional transportation, land use and economic development.  The PSRC also has a number of studies and research available in helping plan your own business.

State of Washington
The State of Washington provides several sources for businesses and business owners:

• Doing Business in the State of Washington: The official site of the State of Washington providing a comprehensive list of the information needed for doing business in Washington State can be found by clicking here.
• Washington State Department of Commerce offers resources for businesses considering relocating to or expanding in the state of Washington and other business resources through its International Trade and Economic Development division and can be found by clicking here.
• Washington State Department of Revenue: Learn about and file your state business taxes, including:
  • Filing electronically (e-file).
  • A business tax guide.
  • Doing Business in Washington:  The Department of Revenue also provides information on doing business in Washington State including the process for registering your business, filing a master business application and resources and workshops.
• The Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (EFACW) was created by the Washington State legislature in 1983 to provide export finance counseling assistance to small- and medium-sized exporters or prospective Washington-based exporters.
• The Washington State Department of Licensing is where you need to go to get a business license in the state.
• Many of the Washington State agencies have a small business liaison who can be contacted for help or questions:
  • Department of Labor and Industries – smallbusiness@lni.wa.gov – 360.902.4205 or 800.987.0145
  • Employment Security Department – smallbusiness@esd.wa.gov – 360.902.9376
  • Department of Revenue – robertr@dor.wa.gov – 360.705.6600
  • Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises – ccanorro@omwbe.wa.gov – 360.704.1187
  • Department of Community Trade & Economic Development – keno@cted.wa.gov – 509.944.0365
  • Governor’s Office of Regulatory Assistance – Karen.permerl@gov.wa.gov – 360.902.0529
  • Secretary of State – Division of Corporations and Charities – preed@secstate.wa.gov – 360.725.0377
  • Department of Licensing – dwalker@dol.wa.gov – 360.664.1572
  • Department of Veteran Affairs – ralphi@dva.wa.gov – 800.562.2308
  • Liquor Control Board – tck@liq.wa.gov – 360.664.1625

U.S. Government
Small Business Administration– The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns.  The SBA provides small business planning services, government backed financing and loan programs, and counseling and assistance to small business owners.

Seattle Office:
2401 Fourth Avenue, Suite 450
Seattle WA 98121
206-553-7310
www.sba.gov/wa

SBA Programs:

• SBA 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program: provides loans to small businesses unable to secure financing on reasonable terms through normal lending channels and is administered through local banks and financial institutions. To get a list of participating lenders in the local area, click here.
• SBA 504 Program: provides growing businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land and buildings administered through Certified Development Companies (CDC).  For a list of CDCs in the local area, click here.
• SCORE: A national non-profit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of the nation's small businesses and is a resource partner of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).  SCORE provides counseling, workshops and resources for small businesses.  For the local chapter of SCORE, contact:

  Seattle SCORE
  2401 Fourth Ave, Suite 450,
  Seattle WA, 98121
  (206) 553 7320
  http://www.seattlescore.org/default.aspx

• Women’s Business Centers: The SBA runs several local women’s business centers in the Puget Sound area that provide a wide range of services for women entrepreneurs at all levels of business development. 
• Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WNET) provides networking and focused interactive training sessions on a variety of small business management topics designed for small business owners.

Internal Revenue Service – The IRS provides resources and information for individuals, businesses and charities and non-profits.

IRS Small Business & Self Employed Tax Center: Get access to a broad range of resources across federal and state agencies, as well as industry/profession specific information for self-employed entrepreneurs, employers and businesses by clicking here. 

IRS Small Business Video and Audio Presentations: These short presentations are dedicated to helping your small business. In addition to these video and audio presentations, please visit the Small Business Tax Workshop Video page for instructional lessons.

For individuals: Get tax information for individuals, including employees and self-employed person by clicking here.

For non-profits: Get tax information for charities and non-profit organizations clicking here. 

Taxpayer Advocate Service: The IRS also has a taxpayer advocacy service which is an independent organization within the IRS to help taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS and recommend changes that will prevent the problems.  Local advocates can be found at 915 2nd Ave., Stop W-405, Seattle, WA 98174, 206-220-6037

Employee Benefit Security Administration: The EBSA provides information and assistance to employees and employers to better understand and exercise their rights under the law regarding qualified employee plans help practitioners and employers better understand and comply with the law.