Guide to starting a business in Seattle

One of the best things about living in America is that you can make your dreams come true. You don’t have to work for unreasonable bosses and faceless corporations your whole life. Instead, you can start your own business. Whether the plan is a bodega on a street corner or an IT start-up, many Americans dream of being their own bosses. And now that you’ve moved and are ready to start your new life, it is the perfect time to think about starting a business in Seattle. Once the movers and packers Seattle leave, sit down and make a plan – the first step towards achieving your dreams.

A step-by-step guide to starting a business in Seattle

Starting a business is not something you do overnight – it’s a process. If you want to do more than start – if you want to succeed, then you can’t rush through setting things up. Instead, follow all the steps to setting up a business in Seattle to ensure that you start off on the right foot.

Step 1: Identify the needs of the consumers before starting a business in Seattle

A successful business is one that brings something new to the market and fulfills the needs of the consumers that other businesses don’t. So if you want your business to succeed in Seattle, you need to offer something people are willing to pay for. The answer may seem obvious at first glance – e-commerce, marketing, finances, and real estate are all growing areas in today’s world. But you’re not opening a business just anywhere.

Look into what the people of Seattle need right now and more importantly, will need in the future. Perhaps international commercial shipping companies are the future of business in Seattle. Or maybe green energy is where it’s at. But you won’t know this unless you research the market. You’ll want to take a good look at:

• what consumers in Seattle are looking for
• recent consumer trends that might reveal what the people of Seattle will need in the future
• which businesses already exist in the area and what they provide
• what is missing from the market currently or how existing products and services can be improved

Start by hiring someone to do market research for you. Then consult with them on how to go forward. But always choose something that you’re passionate about when starting a business. Otherwise, you’ll find it hard to put in the time and effort necessary for running your company.

Step 2: Develop a business plan and secure funding

A business plan serves as your roadmap to achieving success. It represents a clear description of your business idea and of how you plan on turning that idea into reality put explicitly into words. You can make it as detailed as you like, including information about other businesses you want to work with, what type of self storage Seattle you’re going to use, how many employees you’re going to have, etc. Or you can make it less precise. But there are certain things every business needs to include:

1. the executive summary (a concise introduction reiterating the key points of your plan)
2. a business overview (the name, location, legal structure, etc)
3. an operations plan (a description of how the business will operate)
4. the market analysis (explaining how your business will fit in the current market)
5. products and services (a description of what your business is creating or offering)
6. sales and marketing (an explanation of your pricing and strategies for marketing your product or service)
7. a competitive analysis (comparing your business with your future competitors)
8. the management team (information on the important members of your team)
9. a financial plan and projections (expected costs of starting and running the business as well as projected income)

If you’re not financing your own business, a good business plan can help you secure funding from outside sources like benefactors, other companies, banks, and government programs.

Step 3: Register your business

Once you have a solid grasp on your business idea, it is time to make it official. You’ll need to register your business with the Washington Secretary of State. How much this will cost you and exactly what the process is will depend on what type of legal organization you want your business to be – a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a corporation, or an LLC. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Secretary of State and ask!

Step 4: Obtain federal and state permits and licenses

Depending on the type of business you’re starting and the industry you operate in, you may need to obtain a license or permit before you can legally operate. Typically, a state permit will be enough for most new businesses. But if you’re operating across state lines as interstate moving companies do, you should also look into federal licenses.

Step 5: Get your federal tax ID number after starting a business in Seattle

A federal tax ID number or employer identification number is what you use to open a business bank account, file taxes, handle payroll, and more. It is basically your business’s social security number. It is crucial to obtain one if you want to run a business legally. Luckily, you can easily file for it online on the IRS website.

Step 6: set up shop and start operations

Finally, once you get all the legalities out of the way, it’s time to open your business and start earning money! If you’re running your business out of your home, it is highly recommended to convert one room into an office where you can focus on work and work alone. And if you’re renting office space, make sure it’s in a good location, looks attractive from the outside to draw in potential customers, and feels welcoming but professional on the inside.

You’ll want to set everything up in advance so that you can get the word out about opening before the big day. Go out there and promote your business, leave flyers at local cafes and restaurants, make contact with other business owners in the area, set up signs, create an event on Facebook – all this is part of a good marketing strategy.

Starting a business is just the first step

It’s important to remember that starting a business in Seattle is just the beginning. After you open your business, you need to work on it, improve it, and promote it constantly. This is the only way to successfully run and manage a business after starting it. Almost half of new businesses close within the first five years. You don’t want that to happen to you. So while you should celebrate the success of starting a business, don’t forget to put in the work needed for longevity.

Why Choose Us

History

Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage is locally owned and operated by the same family for four generations, since 1890. We have a well-established reputation for service quality and reliability with a high percentage of repeat household and commercial clients.

Professionalism

We’re a certified ProMover by the American Moving and Storage Association with A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, voted “Best in Western Washington” in 2009 and from 2011 to 2016 by KING5. Our company is fully licensed and insured and member of WMC and AMSA.

Value

Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage provide free, no-obligation in-home estimate and competitive rates, including low minimum rates for shipments moving under 300 miles. We’ve set a refund policy for unused packing materials and three Puget Sound locations to help clients save on travel fee costs.