Choose a business structure
The first step to getting your driver training school license is to choose a structure for your business. There are different types of business structures, each with unique benefits and limitations. Learn more about business structures or watch the video below.
You can use the Department of Revenue's (DOR) Business Licensing Wizard to get a list of licensing requirements based on the business structure you choose.
Register with the Secretary of State
If the business structure you choose is one of the following, you must file with the Washington Secretary of State before filing the business license application:
- Washington (Domestic) Corporation
- Washington (Domestic) Partnership
- Washington (Domestic) Liability Company
- Washington (Domestic) Limited Liability Partnership
Trademark your business
You may also trademark your business through the Secretary of State. A trademark is any word, name, symbol, or device adopted or used by a person to identify the goods made or sold by that person and to distinguish them from goods made or sold by others. Registration of a trademark provides the registered user with exclusive use of that trademark and protects against infringements upon the user's rights.
Apply for a business license
File a business license application with DOR. They'll assign you a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number. Once you receive your UBI you can apply for your driver training school license.
Get a federal employer identification number (EIN)
Your EIN is your federal tax ID. You need it to pay federal taxes, hire employees, open a bank account, and apply for business licenses and permits.
Your business needs a federal tax ID number if it does any of the following:
- Pays employees
- Operates as a corporation or partnership
- Files tax returns for employment, excise, or alcohol, tobacco, and firearms
- Withholds taxes on income, other than wages, paid to a non-resident alien
