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Washington State Celebrates Accessibility Milestone with
Release of Small Business Guide in Braille
 The Washington State Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation & Assistance (ORIA) is proud to announce the release of the Small Business Guide (SBG) in Braille. In a significant stride towards creating an inclusive and accessible community, the SBG in Braille is the first of its kind providing information specific to Washington state to all businesses. It is a testament to our state's dedication to ensuring that every member of our community, regardless of their abilities, has the tools they need to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship. This initiative is in line with our ongoing efforts to make resources more accessible, promoting inclusivity, and fostering a diverse business environment.
Key highlights of the SBG include:
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Comprehensive Information: The guide supplies valuable information, links to essential resources, and outlines the steps for operating a business effectively. It serves as an indispensable resource for entrepreneurs, whether they are starting a new venture or seeking to grow their existing businesses.
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Language Diversity: To cater to the diverse linguistic needs of our community, the guide has been translated into Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese, ensuring that language is no longer a barrier to accessing critical business information.
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Business Lifecycle Support: The guide covers various aspects of the business lifecycle, including planning, running, growing, and closing a business. It provides business owners with a comprehensive understanding of regulatory requirements specific to Washington State, helping them navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship.
Within the SBG, business owners can find valuable information on:
- Business planning
- Licenses and permits
- Hiring and employer responsibilities
- Paying taxes
- Getting financing
“I’m proud of our state’s commitment to accessibility, and it’s ensuring that everyone has a chance to succeed regardless of their barriers. The Braille Small Business Guide is a sign of our commitment to inclusion and valuing the contributions of all Washingtonians,” Governor Inslee said in a statement when discussing the unveiling of the SBG in Braille.
This initiative reinforces Washington State's reputation as a leader in accessibility and as a place where every individual is encouraged to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, regardless of their abilities or background. We are excited to see the positive impact the SBG in Braille will have on our community and look forward to its continued use in the years to come.
The release of the SBG in Braille at this event reflects our commitment to providing vital resources to all our citizens. The release will occur at the Deaf / Blind Small Business Workshop hosted by the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and The Hearing, Speech, and Deaf Center.
This valuable resource will be available at the link below beginning October 20, 2023.
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 Understanding Business Tax Basics and Tax Reporting Responsibilities
Attend a free tax workshop to learn about your tax reporting responsibilities. Learn about tax classifications, deductions, sales tax collection, and recordkeeping requirements. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions about taxes that apply specifically to your business.
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 Contracting Opportunities for Small, Diverse,
and Veteran-Owned Businesses
Upcoming solicitation: Janitorial Services
DES will post solicitation 24723 for Janitorial Services to WEBS this fall. This new contract will have reserved awards in each county for Washington small and certified veteran-owned businesses. Vendors may be awarded in multiple categories. This contract has three categories:
- General cleaning services
- Floor-cleaning services
- Window-washing services
Now accepting bids: Communications and Marketing Services
The estimated annual worth of the contract is $10 million. Vendors may be awarded in multiple categories. There are 28 reserved awards for Washington small and certified veteran-owned businesses. Vendors can submit bids for communications and marketing services in WEBS by Nov. 1st.
- To view the solicitation, visit WEBS and search contract 20422.
What are reserved awards?
Reserved award means at least one Washington small or certified veteran-owned business will be awarded on the contract. This is one of the ways the enterprise supplier diversity policy gives small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses equitable access to state contracts and creates durable change in state spending with these businesses. Learn more about the supplier diversity policy.
Not registered in WEBS?
Businesses should register in WEBS to get notifications about future bid opportunities for your
commodity codes. You’ll be the first to know when solicitations are posted.
It's simple and only takes about 10 minutes. You only need your business name, contact
information, and tax ID number (TIN).
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 New! Early Return to Work Consultation Program
Helping you Build a Plan for your Business
The new Early Return to Work Consultation Program, can help employers build and implement a return-to-work program at their business. Services also include educating employers about L&I’s financial incentives programs, creating light duty opportunities, conducting ergonomic evaluations, and completing job analyses and non-claim-specific job descriptions.
You can also join one of the upcoming webinars. To register click the following link:
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 Applications for COVID Impacts Recovery Grant
Now Open through Nov. 1, 2023.
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COVID Impacts Recovery grants offer small, one-time grants to Washington businesses in the arts, heritage, and science sectors to provide funding for recovery from pandemic economic impacts. For-profit and non-profit businesses are eligible.
Examples of eligible businesses:
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Arts: Performing Arts Company (Theatre, Dance, Music, etc.), Live Entertainment Venue, Art Gallery, Independent Artist, Writer, or Performer
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Heritage: Museum, Historical or Cultural Organization
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Science: Environment, Conservation or Wildlife Organization
Grant funding is limited to $5,000 per application. This is based on our goal of providing meaningful funding impact with a limited funding pool.
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 Startup Washington will be hosting four in-person Global Entrepreneurship Month seminars in four locations: Vancouver, Mount Vernon, Spokane and Aberdeen. If you can’t join them for any of these, a virtual seminar will be provided on Nov. 30 via Zoom so you can still connect, learn and thrive. The seminars are free, and lunch is, too!
Nueva clase en español
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Entrenamiento Empresarial de ScaleUp, Tu negocio está listo, ¿verdad?
- Tuesdays, Oct.17 – Dec.12 FROM 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Regístrese aquí
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 Changes to Certificates, Notifications, & Fees
Certificates and Notifications issued by our office have a slightly different look:
In accordance with WAC 434-112, the following fees have increased:
- Expedite Fees is $100.
- For-Profit Annual Report Fees will be $70, and with a Delinquency fee assessed the total fee will be $95.
- Same Day Service fee will not increase to $150 until system limitations are removed.
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 The Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR) are free workshops providing you with essential information and resources to help start and grow your business.
Outreach events are sponsored by the Small Business Liaison Team and hosted by local partners.
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Small Business Resource Expo in Shoreline - Register
Shoreline City Hall 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133
Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Small Business Requirements & Resources Workshop in Skagit County - Register
Learn Business Requirements and Connect with Business Resources.
WSU Mount Vernon NWREC 16650 State Route 536 Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Wednesday, October 25 · 4:00 pm - 7: 00 pm
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Conferencia para Pequeños negocios en Skagit County - Regístrate
Conozca recursos y servicios importantes del estado de Washington.
WSU Mount Vernon NWREC 16650 State Route 536 Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Jueves, 26 de octubre de 2023 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Determinando la ubicacion y dia en Spokane 2023. Para registrarse por teléfono o más información puede marcar a nuestras oficinas 360-705-6706.
- Conferencia Para Negocios en Spokane County - Regístrate
Conozca recursos y servicios importantes del estado de Washington.
Hamilton Studio 1427 W Dean Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
Miercoles 8 de noviembre 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
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"The Japanese language Washington State Small Business Guide is designed to help Japanese and Japanese American small/micro business owners with common and not-so-common questions. We at the Japan-America Society of the State of WA Small Business Resiliency Program reached out to ORIA to create this translation because we have worked with these small businesses and have seen the negative impact of language barriers in navigating the details of business ownership. We believe this guide will give business owners in our community the knowledge they need at their fingertips in their own language to help succeed in their business endeavors in Washington state." quoted by Miki Smith with JASSW.
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Thinking of Starting a Nonprofit?
You and others in your community see a problem that needs to be solved or an opportunity to make things better. You’ve been helping your community and see opportunities to do more. You know it will be a lot of work, but you courageously step forward to make a difference.
Learn what you need to know to make your decision:
The Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA) convenes a powerful network of nonprofit organizations across Washington State to learn, advocate, and collaborate, so that nonprofits can achieve their missions. Sometimes a single learning session is just what you need to get started, spark inspiration, or take action on something you want to try. Popular webinars include QuickBooks Made Easy, Boards & Governance Leadership Training, and more!
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Workshops • Events • Webinars • Training
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This newsletter is a collaborative effort by the WA Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT). The SBLT is a partnership between 29 state agencies working together with local economic development partners to support and connect with business owners.
Our mission:
- To preserve the established connections to businesses for future communication of emergency related information.
- To make it easier for businesses to access state services & resources.
- To provide the latest cross-agency news affecting small businesses.
Published by The Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance
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