Bothell city endorsement

Requirements and fees

General business license
Variable

The city of Bothell requires a license for all businesses located within city limits, or conducting business within city limits. If you are not sure if you will do business within the city limits, contact the city directly before you apply.

If you will have more than one business located on a single property, you must complete a separate application for each business.

Add up all employees (part-time and full-time) and that equals the number of FTEs. This includes self-employed persons, sole proprietors, owners, managers, and partners.​

Employee Count Calculation

  • An employee working more than 1040 hours (including hours of paid leave used) in Bothell during a calendar year is considered a full Bothell employee and shall be reported as one employee (1 FTE). 
  • An employee working 1040 hours or less (including hours of paid leave used) in the city is considered a partial Bothell employee and shall be calculated as follows: 
    • Number of hours worked by the employee in Bothell in a calendar year, plus hours paid to the employee for employer paid leave (vacation, holidays, and sick), divided by 2080 hours.
    • The number of full Bothell employees, plus partial Bothell employees, rounded to the nearest full employee, is the number of Bothell employees for business license reporting. The minimum number of FTE is one.

Employee Definition
Any person who performs work, labor, or services for a business and is on the business’ payroll. This includes self-employed persons, sole proprietors, owners, managers, partners, and all full-time, part-time and temporary employees or workers on the business’ payroll.

Origination fee:

Reported gross annual income

License fee

$0 through $12,000

$0

Above $12,000

1 through 2 employees - $87
3 through 10 employees - $373
11 through 25 employees - $1,031         
26 through 50 employees - $2,175
51 through 75 employees - $3,606
76 through 100 employees - $5,035
101 or more employees - $5,035 + $58 for each employee over 100

Renewal fee:

Reported gross annual income

License fee

$0 through $12,000

$0

Above $12,000

1 through 2 employees - $87
3 through 10 employees - $373
11 through 25 employees - $1,031         
26 through 50 employees - $2,175
51 through 75 employees - $3,606
76 through 100 employees - $5,035
101 or more employees - $5,035 + $58 for each employee over 100

Nonprofit businesses
$0

If you are a nonprofit business, you may be exempt from city fees. To qualify you must submit a copy of your business’ IRS 501(c) certificate with your application.

Origination fee: $0

Renewal fee: $0

Home businesses
Variable

If your business is in a residence within the city, you must comply with Bothell Municipal Code 12.06.140(B)(8). For more information on home occupation requirements, contact the city directly.

Add up all employees (part-time and full-time) and that equals the number of FTEs. This includes self-employed persons, sole proprietors, owners, managers, and partners.​

Employee Count Calculation

  • An employee working more than 1040 hours (including hours of paid leave used) in Bothell during a calendar year is considered a full Bothell employee and shall be reported as one employee (1 FTE). 
  • An employee working 1040 hours or less (including hours of paid leave used) in the city is considered a partial Bothell employee and shall be calculated as follows: 
    • Number of hours worked by the employee in Bothell in a calendar year, plus hours paid to the employee for employer paid leave (vacation, holidays, and sick), divided by 2080 hours.
    • The number of full Bothell employees, plus partial Bothell employees, rounded to the nearest full employee, is the number of Bothell employees for business license reporting. The minimum number of FTE is one.

Employee Definition
Any person who performs work, labor, or services for a business and is on the business’ payroll. This includes self-employed persons, sole proprietors, owners, managers, partners, and all full-time, part-time and temporary employees or workers on the business’ payroll.

Origination fee:

Reported gross annual income

License fee

$0 through $12,000

$0

Above $12,000

1 through 2 employees - $87
3 through 10 employees - $373
11 through 25 employees - $1,031         
26 through 50 employees - $2,175
51 through 75 employees - $3,606
76 through 100 employees - $5,035
101 or more employees - $5,035 + $58 for each employee over 100

Renewal fee:

Reported gross annual income

License fee

$0 through $12,000

$0

Above $12,000

1 through 2 employees - $87
3 through 10 employees - $373
11 through 25 employees - $1,031         
26 through 50 employees - $2,175
51 through 75 employees - $3,606
76 through 100 employees - $5,035
101 or more employees - $5,035 + $58 for each employee over 100

Non-resident businesses
Variable

If your business is physically located outside city limits, but conducts business within city limits, your license fee is determined by number of employees and gross annual income earned within this city’s limits.

Add up all employees (part-time and full-time) and that equals the number of FTEs. This includes self-employed persons, sole proprietors, owners, managers, and partners.​

Employee Count Calculation

  • An employee working more than 1040 hours (including hours of paid leave used) in Bothell during a calendar year is considered a full Bothell employee and shall be reported as one employee (1 FTE). 
  • An employee working 1040 hours or less (including hours of paid leave used) in the city is considered a partial Bothell employee and shall be calculated as follows: 
    • Number of hours worked by the employee in Bothell in a calendar year, plus hours paid to the employee for employer paid leave (vacation, holidays, and sick), divided by 2080 hours.
    • The number of full Bothell employees, plus partial Bothell employees, rounded to the nearest full employee, is the number of Bothell employees for business license reporting. The minimum number of FTE is one.

Employee Definition
Any person who performs work, labor, or services for a business and is on the business’ payroll. This includes self-employed persons, sole proprietors, owners, managers, partners, and all full-time, part-time and temporary employees or workers on the business’ payroll.

Origination fee:

Reported gross annual income

License fee

$0 through $12,000

$0

Above $12,000

1 through 2 employees - $87
3 through 10 employees - $373
11 through 25 employees - $1,031         
26 through 50 employees - $2,175
51 through 75 employees - $3,606
76 through 100 employees - $5,035
101 or more employees - $5,035 + $58 for each employee over 100

Renewal fee:

Reported gross annual income

License fee

$0 through $12,000

$0

Above $12,000

1 through 2 employees - $87
3 through 10 employees - $373
11 through 25 employees - $1,031         
26 through 50 employees - $2,175
51 through 75 employees - $3,606
76 through 100 employees - $5,035
101 or more employees - $5,035 + $58 for each employee over 100

Businesses exempt from city licensing

Your business may be exempt from getting a city business license. For more information, please contact the city directly. 

Average approval time

Average approval time from date a completed application is received: 3 business days.

Apply for a city license

State tax registration $0
Registering your business name as a trade name $5
Business license application fee Variable

Online

Need help?
Setting up your business licensing and tax account
How to add a city license endorsement


By mail

Complete the following and mail to:

Business License Application and City and County Addendum

Business Licensing Service
P.O. Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507-9034