Registering a Business in Washington
Are you thinking of starting a business in Bremerton?
Apply for your State and City license
here. Be sure to add Bremerton as an endorsement to your State license if you are located in the City or are working here.
Who Needs a City Business License?
Most businesses operating in Bremerton are required to have a Bremerton business license in addition to their State license. Complete the
License Check Sheet (PDF) to learn more. Business licenses are needed for:
- Retail sales and service
- Wholesale
- Providing professional or personal services
- Manufacturing
Effective 2019: Any person or business whose annual value of products, gross proceeds of sales or gross income of the business in the city is equal to or less than $2,000 AND does not maintain a place of business within the city shall be exempt from the general business license requirement. The exemption does not apply to regulatory license requirements that require a specialized permit.
Regulatory Endorsements
The City of Bremerton regulates taxis, adult entertainment, street vendors, mobile vendors, peddlers and some other business types. These businesses require both a standard business license and a regulatory license. For more information, please visit the
Regulatory Licenses tab above.
Licensing Information for Specific Business Types
- Businesses based outside Bremerton – If your business is based outside Bremerton and you do business within the city, then you must have a Bremerton business license. In other words, you need a license for where you conduct business; not just for where you're located.
- Subcontractors – Subcontractors need a Bremerton business license even if the contractor they are working with already has one. The license is valid only for the legal owner listed on it.
- Non-profits – If you raise funds in Bremerton, whether as a for-profit or nonprofit organization, you must have a Bremerton business license.
- Online-only business – Contact us if you have questions about licensing for online-only businesses. You may need a Bremerton business license if your business originates from Bremerton or has servers within city limits.
- Home-based business – Businesses based in a Bremerton home usually need a Bremerton business license and land use permit ($73.00 permit fee). Contact us if you have questions about licensing for home-based businesses. Please read these regulations if you are applying for a home occupation business.