BLS September 2023 Update

BLS adds Snoqualmie as a licensing partner

Washington's city of the famous falls is starting the fall season as a BLS city partner. Snoqualmie will join BLS on September 19.

Snoqualmie, with a population of 14,000 along the banks of its eponymous river, sits in between Issaquah and North Bend, both longtime partners of the state's combined licensing one-stop.

More than 200 cities, towns, and counties access BLS's free licensing administration system – including 27 in King County communities. The state's most populous county is home to 2.5 million people and crucial state businesses, such as Costco and Microsoft.

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2024 fee updates and license changes due soon

Every summer, BLS requests that licensing partners review their processes for any changes for the next calendar year. 

For city and town partners, BLS can only make changes to fees or requirements with at least 75 days advance notice (RCW 35.90.070). 

If your city or town is making changes for January 2024, your leadership team should complete, sign, and return your Partner Change Request form by early October. 

All requested changes are subject to review by the Department of Revenue before being prioritized and scheduled. The most common change requests are updates to:

Submit a change request soon 
if you plan changes for 2024.

• Licensing requirements 
• Fees
• Web pages or forms
• Laws and/or policies

Questions? Email dorblspartner@dor.wa.gov.

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Small Business Fair(s) set for September 23

The Department of Revenue will again participate in the Washington Small Business Fair this year. The annual event is moving to new locations. The Pierce College campus in Puyallup will host the event in Western Washington while the Women's Club in downtown Spokane will host the event in Eastern Washington. Attendees will gain business skills in easy-to-understand seminars led by industry experts.

Current and aspiring small business owners should attend. Complete information, including location addresses and schedules, is online at bizfair.org.

No registration is required. The event is free.