2019 is a record-breaking year for BLS local partnerships

Spokane licenses more than
22,000 businesses with BLS

33 is the magic number

The state Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service (BLS) is capping a record-breaking year with 33 new local partnerships in 2019. Now serving 115 communities, these local partnerships stretch from Bellingham to Walla Walla and from Pacific County to Spokane County across Washington's 71,362 square miles.

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Declaration of interdependence

Timelapse photo of BLS partners
Cashmere and Wenatchee.

Cities and towns accepting the free BLS service made big improvements in their business communities through the unique system that integrates hundreds of state and local licenses in a single environment to help businesses of all sizes get up-and-running quickly. Business principals access online support through the secure My DOR interface and other personal services available weekdays by phone, live chat, email, fax, and in-person at any of the 13 regional Revenue offices statewide. 

With an interconnected license process, prospective business owners can apply for local business licenses in various cities where they conduct business at the same time they manage any of hundreds of regulatory licenses –  such as liquor licenses and minor work permits – administered by separate state agencies.

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One system to serve them all

City of Kirkland and its 10,000 businesses joined BLS in 2018

Cape Disappointment is near Ilwaco, the
furthest southwest of BLS partner cities.

BLS scales to the need, supporting cities with only a few dozen merchants, while also serving as the administrative backbone for business licensing in larger metro areas with more than 35,000 complex enterprises both within and across neighboring jurisdictions. 






In every case, each city get its full amount of license fee revenue deposited via the state Treasurer funding process within days of a license application or renewal filing. In addition to financial processing, renewal notices, and delinquent collections, license issuance is handled by BLS, saving cities postage, paper, and personnel resources while they retain full regulatory authority and control over their jurisdiction.

2020 Vision: More BLS partnerships coming into focus

Map of Washington cities that issue a local license
Click to enlarge

Over the next two years, BLS will add more than 60 new municipal partners creating an integrated state and local licensing network unrivaled globally. Businesses located in these future city partners will use the straightforward online application process connected to the state's tax reporting portal to bypass hurdles to save valuable time they can dedicate to their bottom line.

Business Rule #1: The customer is always right

BLS grew from 51 local partners
at the end of 2011 to 115 in 2019.
Another 38 will join in 2020.

"The service is popular with businesses that save time and effort," said Federal Way Finance Director Adé Ariwoola, MBA, who has 30 years of public sector experience on his resume.
"They quickly apply for and renew their state and local licenses in one process. They like getting their tasks done all at once."

Ade Ariwoola,
Federal Way
Finance Director