Washington compliance for founders running global content businesses

Research steps taken and summary of findings for: "Washington compliance for founders running global content businesses" (state-specific focus: Washington)Steps taken

Research steps taken and summary of findings for: "Washington compliance for founders running global content businesses" (state-specific focus: Washington)Steps taken

Per process, performed broad web searches for authoritative Washington state sources (Secretary of State, Department of Revenue, Attorney General, Washington state legislature), and for reputable tax/practice commentary (CBIZ). Searches targeted Washington LLC formation and ongoing compliance, business licensing, B&O and sales tax treatment of digital goods/subscriptions/advertising revenue, remote-seller/nexus rules (including voluntary disclosure for foreign sellers), state consumer protection enforcement, and state privacy/health-data statutes.

Scraped and extracted content from the most relevant pages available (Secretary of State compliance page; Washington Department of Revenue B&O and remote-seller pages; Washington Attorney General consumer-protection pages; Washington legislature RCW chapter for My Health My Data Act; and a CBIZ explanation of Washington’s temporary International Remote Seller Voluntary Disclosure program). Where direct DOR text was not available in the automated scrape, I captured the DOR page links for authoritative confirmation and used the CBIZ article for a clear, recent summary of the voluntary disclosure program and B&O tax context.Key state-specific findings (concise, actionable points founders should know)- Business formation and ongoing filings (Secretary of State)

Washington-formed entities must maintain compliance with Secretary of State filing requirements (annual report filings, maintain a registered agent, update business information). Confirm filing deadlines and fees on the Secretary of State site and file timely to avoid administrative dissolution.- Business licensing: Most Washington businesses must register and obtain a business license via the state’s Business Licensing service (online registration). Local city/county licenses or permits may also be required depending on where you operate; foreign-qualified entities and remote sellers should register if they have nexus or physical presence.- Taxes — B&O (Business & Occupation) tax and sales tax:• Washington imposes a B&O tax on gross receipts (a tax on the business, not customers). B&O tax rates vary by classification and can range broadly (CBIZ cites rates varying ~0.471% to 2.1% depending on activity). Founders selling content (ad revenue, subscriptions, SaaS, digital goods) should determine which B&O classification applies (service, retailing, publishing, or other) and register with the Department of Revenue.• Sales tax: Washington generally applies retail sales tax to retail sales of tangible personal property and to certain digital products and services depending on classification. The treatment of digital goods, subscriptions, and ad-supported content can be complex—confirm current DOR guidance because taxable status depends on the exact product/service definition and exemptions.- Nexus and remote-seller rules; voluntary disclosure for international sellers:• Washington has remote-seller rules that create tax obligations where businesses have nexus by physical presence or economic thresholds (CBIZ highlights an eligibility threshold of annual sales > $100,000 in WA for the voluntary disclosure program). Recent/temporary voluntary disclosure programs (example: Washington’s International Remote Seller Voluntary Disclosure program, Feb 1–May 31, 2026) provided a limited window for foreign (non-U.S.) sellers to come forward, limit lookback to 5 years for B&O and 1 year for retail sales tax (instead of typical 7-year lookback), and waive penalties if eligible and timely. Founders with international reach should check whether they meet nexus thresholds and consider voluntary disclosure avenues if previously unregistered.- Consumer protection and advertising/influencer rules:• The Washington Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division enforces RCW 19.86 (Consumer Protection Act) and pursues unfair or deceptive practices. Founders running content businesses must ensure advertising and sponsorship disclosures comply with FTC guidance (clear, conspicuous disclosures for sponsored content/influencers) and avoid deceptive statements; the AG may bring enforcement actions under the CPA.- Data privacy and special protections for health data:• Washington enacted the My Health My Data Act (RCW chapter 19.373) to govern consumer health data: it creates consumer rights, limits collection/sharing of consumer health data, requires data-security practices, contains geofence restrictions around healthcare facilities, and provides processor obligations and exemptions. For content businesses that collect health-related data (e.g., health apps, targeted health content, or health-advertising data), this statute adds state-level compliance obligations beyond federal rules.• For general data privacy (PII), Washington’s state agencies and AG provide breach resources and enforcement under consumer protection; founders should implement privacy policies, data security measures, cookie/consent practices, and consumer request-handling processes.Gaps, caveats, and recommended next verification steps- Tax specifics (exact B&O classification for particular content business activities, current B&O rates applicable, and whether a specific digital product is taxable retail) must be confirmed directly on the Washington Department of Revenue website or with a tax advisor: the Department of Revenue is the authoritative source for rate schedules, taxable definitions, and nexus rules.- Local licensing requirements (city/county) vary—confirm with city/county permitting offices where the business operates or where employees/contractors are located.- Federal topics (copyright/DMCA, OFAC export controls and sanctions, FinCEN/BOI reporting) are important for global content businesses but are outside the state-only focus I prioritized here; I recommend an additional check for federal compliance if you publish globally or monetize internationally.- Employment classification and labor rules (independent contractor vs employee, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, L&I) should be validated with WA Dept. of Labor & Industries and with counsel or payroll provider.Conclusion / next action recommendedI have collected primary Washington state sources and a reputable tax-practice commentary (CBIZ) that together allow drafting a comprehensive, state-specific blog/newsletter addressing: entity maintenance (SOS), licensing, B&O and sales tax considerations for digital content, nexus/remote seller obligations (including the 2026 voluntary disclosure program), consumer protection enforcement risk (AG/CPA), and health-data privacy obligations under RCW 19.

Before publishing, I recommend

(a) confirming any tax rate, revenue threshold, or licensing detail directly on the DOR site or with a WA tax advisor; (b) adding federal compliance sections (copyright/DMCA, OFAC, FinCEN/BOI) where relevant; and (c) adding practical checklists and templates (privacy policy checklist, registration checklist, tax registration steps) drawn from the authoritative sources below.If you want, I can now: produce the requested comprehensive blog post (with sections, practical checklists, and a newsletter-ready excerpt/subject line), produce a shorter checklist for founders, or expand on any one area (taxs, privacy, advertising compliance, or entity maintenance). Tell me which deliverable you want next and I will draft it, citing the authoritative sources.