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 Making and keeping business resolutions for the coming year is a powerful strategy that can propel you toward greater growth and success. In an ever-evolving business landscape, adaptability and innovation are key.
Visit the Startup Blog for five practical Small Business New Year’s Resolutions for 2024 and more helpful tips for your business.
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 Certification with Bayley Construction
How to Get Certified and How It Could Help Your Business
Bayley Construction, in partnership with Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE), is hosting an in-person event for small, diverse businesses to learn about the benefits of OMWBE certification.
This Certification 101 event is open to non-certified businesses and certified businesses and will provide an overview of the certification process and how it can help small businesses thrive by increasing access to government contracting.
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When: February 7, 2024 | 11AM – 1PM PST
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Where: 8005 SE 28th Street, Mercer Island, WA 98040
- Light refreshments will be provided.
- Register Here
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Annual Reports May Be Filed Up to 180 Days Early
Have You Looked To See When Your Expiration Date Is?
To ensure your business's smooth operation, filing your annual report promptly is crucial. By doing so, you can avoid delinquency fees and prevent the loss of your business. Our office allows you to file your report 180 days before the due date.
We encourage customers to use a calendar reminder every year to get their report in well before to mitigate any risk of delinquency or loss of status/business.
This will not affect your expiration date for the next year, your business' expiration day will always remain the last day of the month it first formed, registered, or incorporated. Most Annual Reports update the business’s record immediately.
Looking For The Most Up-To-Date Information?
Check Out Our Website For Alerts and Important Notifications!
New information, alerts, and possible system outages will be provided on the Corporations & Charities Division webpage at www.sos.wa.gov/corporations.
You can also find helpful tips, reminders, and general filing information through our Frequently Asked Questions. Our dedicated customer service representatives are readily available to answer questions via chat, telephone, or email.
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Paid Leave: Collective Bargaining Agreements Provision Expired Dec. 31
More Workers Will Be Eligible To Participate in 2024
The Paid Leave law about collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) has changed. Workers who were previously excluded from Paid Leave because of a CBA are eligible for the program beginning Jan. 1, 2024.
Visit paidleave.wa.gov/CBA to learn what you need to do in 2024 to collect premiums and submit reports for these employees.
Note: This CBA change only applies to Paid Leave. These employees are excluded from the WA Cares Fund until the CBA expires or is opened or renegotiated.
Unemployment Insurance (UI): Changes for Tax Reporting
If you file a UI tax report, you will soon have the option to include either job titles or Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes for each employee. This option will start with your fourth-quarter 2023 tax report.
All employers currently are required to include on quarterly tax reports the SOC codes for their employees. Starting with your fourth-quarter report, our system will include a place to enter job titles.
Job titles and SOC codes are different
A SOC code is a six-digit number that describes someone’s work. A job title is a word or several words that describes a person’s role in a business.
Since SOC codes are numbers, they are easier to use. Job titles vary across employers. They are useful when a job is:
- Unique or new.
- Isn’t included in the list of SOC codes.
Reporting penalties begin in 2024
Starting with your first-quarter 2024 tax report, we need to assess a penalty if you knowingly fail to report the SOC code or job title for each employee.
Washington state law requires that we assess this penalty, per Substitute House Bill 2308.
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Ready to Develop a Return to Work Plan?
Schedule An Early Return To Work Consultation Today!
Early Return to Work Consultation is a team of highly skilled professionals that 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.
Schedule a no-cost consultation:
Register for an upcoming webinar:
Register for an in person training at L&I’s Tumwater headquarters:
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DOR has several events throughout the year aimed to assist businesses with their tax reporting responsibilities and questions. We offer a variety of in-person, virtual and pre-recorded classes. Visit dor.wa.gov/Education to sign up today.
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Time Is Running Out To Get Health Coverage For 2024!
Washingtonians have until Jan. 15th to sign up for health and dental plans on Washington Healthplanfinder for the 2024 plan year. Don’t miss the chance to get the coverage you and your employees need!
Federal and state subsidies are available to lower an eligible customer’s monthly cost of insurance. Visit wahealthplanfinder.org to learn more about available savings and find the right plan!
New! This open enrollment everyone who lives in Washington state can buy health and dental insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, regardless of immigration status.
Need help enrolling? We have assisters throughout the state available to help at no cost with application questions, understanding tax credits and signing up for coverage.
Questions on how you can support your employees sign up for health coverage?
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 The Information Center (IC) Team
Let Us Do the Research For You!
The Information Center (IC) Team is a free customer service center available by phone, text, chat and email, and a great place for entrepreneurs and small businesses to ask questions regarding starting or operating a business. Our team of professionals are friendly, expert researchers, and eager to provide information and connect you with programs, training, and resources to help you achieve your goals.
Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR)
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 Guide
The Small Business Guide is broken into six sections, based on your stage of business. Whether you are starting your business, managing a new business or expanding your business, you'll find valuable information and resources.
The business guide is readily accessible online, but it's also available in PDF, so you can have it as a printed reference manual. The PDF is available English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Samoan, Somali, Tagalog and two volumes in Braille Ready Format.
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Explore Workshops • Events • Webinars • Training
Are You Ready to Export?
Embark on your export journey with confidence! Discover your partners and unlock essential resources and tools to support you every step of the way. Join us for an enlightening webinar where you’ll learn that expanding into international trade doesn’t have to be a solo experience.
The Washington SBDC International Trade Certified Business Advisors are NASBITE Certified Global Business Professionals and have additional experience in mentoring businesses and professional development in international trade. We are here to help you navigate the complexities of international trade and establish a strategic plan for meeting short-term and long-term goals.
This week's webinar will feature a conversation with Washington SBDC advisors Christy Mastin, Allan Peterson and Ellie He.
Wednesday Webinar Series with SBA Seattle District Office is an ongoing series of free, virtual, webinars covering a variety of topics to benefit small business owners.
On the fourth Wednesday of each month is Are You Ready to Export? where we will be focusing on export assistance, featuring conversations with different members of the Washington Export Outreach Team (WEOT).
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