On this guide
Follow the path in order.WooCommerce channel guide • Washington launch path
Start WooCommerce in Washington
Decide your setup, get the Washington registration order straight, and finish the early WooCommerce launch steps without losing the official detail behind the answer.
Last verified April 26, 2026 7 chapters
Best for launching on WooCommerce in Washington. Need the full appendix? Open the full reference guide.
On this journey
1 of 7 reviewed
Current chapter: Choose setup
On this journey
1 of 7 reviewed
Current chapter: Choose setup
01
Chapter 1 of 7
Choose the setup you want to launch with
Start with the setup decision first, then use the rest of the guide to build the state registrations and platform steps around it.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
Your setup choice, the short safe path, and the money realities that matter before spending deeply.How to move through it
Review sole proprietor.Use Part 1 to get oriented, then compare both setup paths before you spend more time or money.
3 parts to review • 34 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 3
Start here before you spend heavily
A short orientation for the guided journey before the detailed launch steps begin.
Part 1 of 3
Start here before you spend heavily
A short orientation for the guided journey before the detailed launch steps begin.
Short answer
Use this first part only to get oriented. The detailed state, platform, local, and packet steps will follow in order.- First decide whether you are launching as a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC.
- Then work through the Washington registrations, WooCommerce setup, local checks, and packet review in order.
Do next: Do not spend money yet.
Why this matters
Key detail
Do not spend money yet.
Keep in mind
- First decide whether you are launching as a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC.
- Then work through the Washington registrations, WooCommerce setup, local checks, and packet review in order.
Official links
Up next Compare setup
Part 2 of 3
Compare sole proprietor and LLC
The side-by-side setup comparison.
Part 2 of 3
Compare sole proprietor and LLC
The side-by-side setup comparison.
Short answer
Read both setup paths before you decide which one you want the rest of the launch flow to follow.- Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
- Washington does not require a Secretary of State entity-formation filing just to exist as a sole proprietor.
- Faster launch.
Do next: Review sole proprietor.
Save the path you want to optimize around
The unchosen setup stays visible for comparison, but the chosen one gets visual priority so the reading path feels more intentional.
Quick tradeoff view
Use one pass to compare the launch speed, separation, and upkeep tradeoffs.The detailed comparison stays below. This lens just makes the two setup shapes easier to scan before you read every bullet.
Best for
Sole proprietor
Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
Speed to start Quicker start
Owner and business separation Very little separation
Ongoing admin load Lighter upkeep
Best for
single-member LLC
Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business.
Speed to start More front-loaded paperwork
Owner and business separation Cleaner separation
Ongoing admin load More upkeep
Compare details
Sole proprietor
Best for
Best for
Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
What it means
- Washington does not require a Secretary of State entity-formation filing just to exist as a sole proprietor.
- But a direct WooCommerce store selling taxable goods almost always still triggers the Washington business-license and tax-registration branch.
- If you use another public business name, Washington uses a state trade name through the Department of Revenue rather than a county DBA filing identified in this pack.
- Business income generally runs through your personal return, but you still handle Washington tax, local permits, and WooCommerce setup separately.
- You usually do not get a liability shield.
Why someone chooses it
- Faster launch.
- Lower up-front filing cost.
- Fewer entity-maintenance steps.
Main downside
Personal liability
single-member LLC
Best for
Best for
Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business.
What it means
- Washington LLC formation uses a Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State and a registered agent with a physical Washington address.
- File the initial report with formation if possible, or separately within 120 days.
- File the Washington annual report each year.
- A direct WooCommerce storefront is still your own direct-sales channel, so the LLC does not replace your Washington business-license, reseller, employer, or Seattle analysis.
Why someone chooses it
- Liability protection.
- Cleaner setup for banking, wholesale accounts, bookkeeping, payment processing, and scaling.
- Better fit for inventory, employees, carrier contracts, 3PL relationships, and long-term brand work.
Main downside
Higher setup friction than a sole proprietorship
Official links
Formation sos.wa.gov
Compare Washington business types
Tax dor.wa.gov
Sole-proprietor baseline
Formation dor.wa.gov
Trade-name registration
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Formation sos.wa.gov
LLC filing instructions
Formation sos.wa.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation sos.wa.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Federal sos.wa.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Official sos.wa.gov
Registered-agent rule
Federal irs.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax dor.wa.gov
Washington income-tax and business-tax structure
Up next Money and risk
Part 3 of 3
See the money and risk realities before you spend
The upfront friction and risk notes that shape the launch decision.
Part 3 of 3
See the money and risk realities before you spend
The upfront friction and risk notes that shape the launch decision.
Short answer
These are the friction points most likely to catch a new WooCommerce operator off guard in Washington.- A direct WooCommerce store is your own direct-sales channel, so you do not get marketplace-facilitator simplifications as the beginner default.
- WooCommerce is not one universal storefront stack. Hosting, payments, automated tax, labels, live rates, and many advanced operations branch into separate tools.
- No public WooCommerce-wide or WooPayments-wide seller liability-insurance threshold was identified in the reviewed public docs as of April 26, 2026.
Do next: Review washington-specific friction.
Why this matters
Washington-specific friction
Main takeaway
A direct WooCommerce store is your own direct-sales channel, so you do not get marketplace-facilitator simplifications as the beginner default.
Watch for
- Washington splits startup work across the Secretary of State, Department of Revenue, local city licensing, and employer agencies instead of one master filing.
- The Washington Business License Application is not optional for the normal direct-store fact pattern, and Department of Revenue guidance says not to begin business activity until the license is issued.
- Reseller permit is not step one. First resolve the actual Washington registration branch.
- Seattle adds a real city-license, tax-return, home-business, and possible Establishing Use branch.
- Inventory location matters. A second warehouse, pickup point, or meaningful home-fulfillment pattern can create a different city or permitting answer than a simple home office.
WooCommerce-specific friction
Main takeaway
WooCommerce is not one universal storefront stack. Hosting, payments, automated tax, labels, live rates, and many advanced operations branch into separate tools.
Watch for
- Free core does not mean no real cost. Hosting, domains, processing fees, and extensions become the real budget.
- WooCommerce Shipping labels are separate from live checkout rates.
- WooPayments is optional, not the universal answer, and it is not the same thing as plugging in an existing regular Stripe account.
- WordPress.com hosted-plan and plugin packaging changed during 2026, so same-day checking matters if that is your hosting path.
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
No public WooCommerce-wide or WooPayments-wide seller liability-insurance threshold was identified in the reviewed public docs as of April 26, 2026.
Watch for
- If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability insurance still become practical early.
- If you use a 3PL, wholesale supplier, landlord, event venue, or higher-risk product category, those contracts may create their own insurance requirements even if WooCommerce itself does not publicly show one.
- Re-check live payment-provider, host, 3PL, supplier, carrier, and lease terms on the action date before assuming no insurance requirement applies.
Official links
Formation sos.wa.gov
Compare Washington business types
Formation sos.wa.gov
LLC filing instructions
Formation sos.wa.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation sos.wa.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Federal sos.wa.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Official sos.wa.gov
Registered-agent rule
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Local dor.wa.gov
Washington business-license and tax registration
Official dor.wa.gov
Variable licensing fees
Tax dor.wa.gov
Sales-tax collection baseline
Tax dor.wa.gov
Rate and sourcing rule
Federal dor.wa.gov
Resale purchases or exempt buying
Tax dor.wa.gov
Use-tax reminder
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Local seattle.gov
City license baseline
Local seattle.gov
City tax filing and annual due date
Local seattle.gov
Seattle Shield threshold change
Official seattle.gov
Home-business rules
Tax seattle.gov
Use-permit and new-location branch
02
Chapter 2 of 7
Handle the Washington registration path in order
This is the state-side work before you rely on the platform to carry any part of the operating flow.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
The Washington and federal registration sequence, tax setup, and state-maintenance checks.How to move through it
Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach.Use the order check first, then move from name and entity work into EIN, banking, and tax setup.
4 parts to review • 44 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Registration sequence
Keep the Washington and federal setup in this order.This chapter works best when you keep the filings, EIN, banking, and tax work in one clean sequence instead of bouncing between tabs.
- 1 Use the checklist to keep the order straight
These checklist groups keep the pre-spend, pre-sale, and pre-launch work visible before you open the platform workflow.
- 2 Handle name, entity, and filing setup
Use the name-and-formation steps plus the state LLC order before you open banking or state tax registration.
- 3 Get the EIN and banking basics in place
Use the EIN and banking steps before you start platform onboarding, payouts, or supplier paperwork.
- 4 Close the Washington tax and filing branch
Keep the Washington tax and maintenance rules together before you assume the platform solved them.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 4
Use the checklist to keep the order straight
The quick-start checklist grouped by the main launch phases.
Part 1 of 4
Use the checklist to keep the order straight
The quick-start checklist grouped by the main launch phases.
Short answer
These checklist groups keep the pre-spend, pre-sale, and pre-launch work visible before you open the platform workflow.- Pick your business name.
- Form the business or register the Washington trade name if needed.
- Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
Do next: Pick your entity.
See checklist
Do these before you spend money
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Pick your entity.
- Pick your business name.
- Decide your product lane.
- Decide whether you will ship from home, allow Local Pickup, or hand inventory to a 3PL.
- Avoid regulated or high-risk categories for your first launch unless you deliberately want a harder compliance build.
- Confirm the offer is not blocked by law, payment-processor rules, carrier rules, host rules, or local property-use limits.
- Make sure you can document sourcing, brand rights, and product safety where relevant.
Do these before your first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Form the business or register the Washington trade name if needed.
- Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
- Open a dedicated business bank account.
- Close the Washington business-license and tax-registration branch before direct retail sales.
- Resolve the reseller permit branch only after the registration branch is actually in place.
- Check local permits, city taxes, home-based business rules, and Seattle issues if the address is there.
- Choose your WordPress hosting path and install WooCommerce.
- Choose one payment gateway and finish verification for that stack.
Do these before launch goes live
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish checkout, account, privacy, return, shipping, and contact-page setup.
- Decide whether taxes will be handled manually in core WooCommerce or through an automated extension.
- Set shipping zones, rates, origin address, and fulfillment locations.
- Decide whether you need labels only, live checkout rates, or both.
- Run a full test checkout before sending traffic.
- Keep Local Pickup off unless the address-specific local branch is genuinely clear.
Official links
Up next Name + filing
Part 2 of 4
Handle name, entity, and filing setup
The name, formation, and LLC-order work for the state launch path.
Part 2 of 4
Handle name, entity, and filing setup
The name, formation, and LLC-order work for the state launch path.
Short answer
Use the name-and-formation steps plus the state LLC order before you open banking or state tax registration.- Step 3: Form the business.
- If you sell under your legal name:.
- Register the trade name with the Department of Revenue through the Business License Application.
Do next: Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach.
Step details
Best practical order for a Washington single-member LLC launch
- Choose the product lane and whether the business will be home-based, use Local Pickup, or use a 3PL.
- Choose the legal name and public brand approach.
- File the Certificate of Formation.
- Get the EIN.
- Open the bank account.
- File the Washington Business License Application and tax-registration branch.
- Apply for the Washington reseller permit only if it actually fits your sourcing model after registration.
- Check Seattle or other city licensing, tax, zoning, and home-business rules.
- Build the WooCommerce store and finish payment setup.
- Finish the tax, shipping, policy, and checkout branch.
- Launch a small test before scaling inventory or locations.
- Track recurring state, city, and platform obligations on the compliance calendar.
Sole proprietor: Decide whether you need a state name filing
Main takeaway
If you sell under your legal name:
Watch for
- Register the trade name with the Department of Revenue through the Business License Application.
- Washington public guidance says the fee is $5 for each trade name.
Single-member LLC: Name search and naming standards
Main takeaway
Before filing:
Single-member LLC: File the formation document
Main takeaway
Core filing:
Watch for
- Form name: Certificate of Formation.
- Form number: no public form number identified in the reviewed Washington sources.
Single-member LLC: Complete the immediate post-filing step
Main takeaway
Timing:
Watch for
- If you do not file it with the formation, Washington public guidance says you must submit it within 120 days and pay $10.
- complete the initial-report and internal operating steps immediately after formation acceptance.
- Adopt the operating agreement and keep it internally.
- the operating agreement is internal and not filed with the Secretary of State.
Single-member LLC: File the trade-name form if needed
Main takeaway
If the public brand differs from the LLC legal name, register the trade name through the Department of Revenue.
Watch for
- Washington public guidance says the fee is $5 per trade name.
- Washington public guidance also says the trade name stays active until canceled and does not create exclusive rights.
Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach
Main guide step 2
What this step settles
You need to decide whether you are:
Why it matters: Important:
- operating under your own legal name,
- using a Washington trade name,
- reselling existing brands,
- creating your own brand,
- or using a private-label or DTC path.
- Your customer-facing store name does not have to match your legal entity name, but your tax, bank, gateway, and verification details still need to match real-world documents.
- Washington uses a state trade name branch through the Department of Revenue when the public name differs from the legal-owner name.
- If you want long-term control, start the domain, trademark, and supplier-document path early.
Step 3: Form the business
Main guide step 3
What this step settles
If you choose sole proprietor: If you sell under your legal name, Washington does not require a Secretary of State entity filing just to exist.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you sell under your legal name, Washington does not require a Secretary of State entity filing just to exist.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you use another public name, register the Washington trade name through the Business License Application.
- If you choose sole proprietor: Either way, a direct Washington WooCommerce store selling taxable goods still needs the ordinary Washington business-license and tax-registration analysis.
- If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
- If you choose single-member LLC: Search Washington business records and decide whether the public brand matches the legal name.
- If you choose single-member LLC: File the Certificate of Formation.
- If you choose single-member LLC: Appoint and maintain a registered agent with a physical Washington street address.
- If you choose single-member LLC: File the initial report with formation if possible, or within 120 days if filed separately.
- If you choose single-member LLC: If the public-facing name differs, add the Washington trade name branch separately.
Official links
Formation sos.wa.gov
Compare Washington business types
Formation sos.wa.gov
LLC filing instructions
Formation sos.wa.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation sos.wa.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Federal sos.wa.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Official sos.wa.gov
Registered-agent rule
Tax dor.wa.gov
Sole-proprietor baseline
Formation dor.wa.gov
Trade-name registration
Formation dor.wa.gov
Trade-name bulletin
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax dor.wa.gov
Washington income-tax and business-tax structure
Tax dor.wa.gov
Washington registration hub
Tax dor.wa.gov
State tax-registration trigger page
Tax dor.wa.gov
Immediate post-application guidance
Up next EIN + banking
Part 3 of 4
Get the EIN and banking basics in place
The EIN, banking, and recordkeeping baseline before launch.
Part 3 of 4
Get the EIN and banking basics in place
The EIN, banking, and recordkeeping baseline before launch.
Short answer
Use the EIN and banking steps before you start platform onboarding, payouts, or supplier paperwork.- Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping.
Do next: Step 4: Get your EIN.
Step details
Step 4: Get your EIN
Main guide step 4
What this step settles
Use the IRS EIN application if applicable. For most LLCs this is required. For many sole proprietors it is optional, but it is still practical for banking, supplier paperwork, reseller documentation, and payment-gateway setup.
Why it matters: The IRS also says that if you are forming a legal entity, you should form it with the state first so the EIN application is not delayed.
Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping
Main guide step 5
What this step settles
Do this right away:
- Open a business checking account.
- Keep business money separate from personal money.
- Save every invoice, refund, carrier charge, extension bill, domain charge, hosting bill, and tax record.
- Keep a supplier folder, a tax folder, and a store-operations folder from day one.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Local dor.wa.gov
Washington business-license and tax registration
Official dor.wa.gov
Variable licensing fees
Tax dor.wa.gov
Sales-tax collection baseline
Tax dor.wa.gov
Rate and sourcing rule
Federal dor.wa.gov
Resale purchases or exempt buying
Tax dor.wa.gov
Use-tax reminder
Up next Tax + maintenance
Part 4 of 4
Close the Washington tax and filing branch
The Washington tax stack, registration timing, and maintenance follow-up.
Part 4 of 4
Close the Washington tax and filing branch
The Washington tax stack, registration timing, and maintenance follow-up.
Short answer
Keep the Washington tax and maintenance rules together before you assume the platform solved them.- A single-member LLC generally needs an EIN.
- Washington's normal registration path is the Department of Revenue Business License Application.
- A standard direct WooCommerce storefront is not a marketplace-facilitator setup.
Do next: Step 6: Register for Washington tax, business license, and resale setup.
Step details
1. EIN
Main takeaway
A single-member LLC generally needs an EIN.
Watch for
- A sole proprietor may not always need one federally, but it is often practical anyway.
2. Washington sales tax, tax registration, and business-license setup
Main takeaway
Washington's normal registration path is the Department of Revenue Business License Application.
Watch for
- That filing creates the UBI and tax-account setup used for excise filing and other state business obligations.
- Washington public tax-registration guidance says the tax-registration requirement applies if you sell taxable goods or expect at least $12,000 in annual gross income.
- Washington public licensing guidance separately says the business-license branch also applies if you use a different public name, hire within 90 days, or owe Department of Revenue taxes or fees.
- Washington public tax-registration guidance says state tax registration itself is $0.
- Washington public fee guidance says a new open or reopen application generally has a $50 processing fee, plus applicable trade-name or endorsement fees.
3. Platform tax rule
Main takeaway
A standard direct WooCommerce storefront is not a marketplace-facilitator setup.
Watch for
- Direct WooCommerce orders do not inherit marketplace-facilitator collection relief.
- Treat Washington retail sales-tax handling, excise filing, and B&O reporting as the baseline.
- If you later add a true marketplace channel, handle that as a separate fact pattern instead of importing marketplace shortcuts into the WooCommerce core setup.
4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing
Main takeaway
Use the Washington reseller permit path if you will buy inventory for resale.
Watch for
- Washington public guidance says a business must have the appropriate business licenses and endorsements before it can get the permit.
- Washington public guidance says reseller permits are generally valid for four years, but some newer or lower-history accounts may receive a two year permit.
- Give the permit to the vendor rather than paying retail sales tax at the time of purchase when the purchase genuinely qualifies for resale treatment.
5. Entity tax treatment
Main takeaway
A standard single-member LLC is generally disregarded for federal income-tax purposes unless it elects a different classification.
Watch for
- Washington public tax guidance says Washington does not have a personal or corporate income tax.
- Washington public tax guidance also says businesses can still owe B&O, retail sales or use tax, and other state taxes where applicable.
- Seattle and some other cities can add a separate local business-tax layer.
6. Entity filing-fee or franchise-tax rule
Main takeaway
As of April 26, 2026, the reviewed Washington public materials did not identify a Washington LLC franchise tax.
Watch for
- The recurring public Washington entity-maintenance item identified here is the annual report at $70.
- Department of Revenue also assigns an excise-return filing frequency after registration.
- Treat those as current public-record findings, not as a lifetime guarantee. Re-check before each filing year.
7. If the founder changes entity type later
Main takeaway
Safe path:
Watch for
- Washington Department of Revenue public guidance says changing the business structure is treated like starting a new business.
- The same public guidance says the new business must submit a new Business License Application, receives a new UBI number, and generally must reapply for city and state endorsements.
- treat a sole-proprietor-to-LLC conversion as a new-registration checkpoint for state and city accounts.
- and do not assume the old Washington or Seattle licensing carries over automatically.
Sole proprietor: Register for Washington tax, seller permit, or reseller setup
Main takeaway
Important distinction:
Watch for
- Washington public guidance also says you generally need a business license if you use a different public name, hire within 90 days, sell taxable goods or services, or owe Department of Revenue taxes or fees.
- Washington's normal startup branch is the Department of Revenue Business License Application.
Sole proprietor: Understand the tax reality
Main takeaway
Federal business income generally flows through to Schedule C for a standard sole proprietor.
Watch for
- Washington does not have a personal or corporate income tax, but Washington does impose B&O, retail sales or use tax, and other business-tax branches where applicable.
- Local city taxes, especially in Seattle, can still apply even if you never formed an LLC.
Single-member LLC: File ongoing entity maintenance
Main takeaway
Key points:
Watch for
- due: last day of the month in which the business was originally formed or registered.
- filing method: Washington Secretary of State annual report filing path.
Step 6: Register for Washington tax, business license, and resale setup
Main guide step 6
What this step settles
Practical rule:
Why it matters: Do not hand a supplier a Washington resale document as your first move. First close the real Washington registration branch.
- A direct WooCommerce storefront is your own direct-sales channel. This pack does not treat it as a marketplace-only fact pattern.
- Washington Department of Revenue public guidance says a state Tax Registration is required if you sell taxable goods or expect at least $12,000 in annual gross income.
- Washington public licensing guidance also says you need a business license if you will use a different public name, hire within 90 days, sell a product that requires sales-tax collection, or owe Department of Revenue taxes or fees.
- The normal startup path is the Washington Business License Application, which opens the Washington business record, creates the UBI, and sets the tax-account branch used for excise filing.
- Washington public fee guidance says a new open or reopen application is generally a $50 processing fee, plus applicable trade-name or endorsement fees. Washington public tax-registration guidance separately lists state tax registration itself at $0.
- Washington public guidance says not to begin business activity until you receive the business license.
- If you want to buy inventory tax-free for resale, use the Washington reseller permit branch only after the business-license and tax-registration path is in place.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Local dor.wa.gov
Washington business-license and tax registration
Official dor.wa.gov
Variable licensing fees
Tax dor.wa.gov
Sales-tax collection baseline
Tax dor.wa.gov
Rate and sourcing rule
Federal dor.wa.gov
Resale purchases or exempt buying
Tax dor.wa.gov
Use-tax reminder
Federal irs.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax dor.wa.gov
Washington income-tax and business-tax structure
Tax dor.wa.gov
Filing frequency calendar
Official dor.wa.gov
Change-structure reset
Federal fincen.gov
BOI reporting status
Tax dor.wa.gov
Washington registration hub
Tax dor.wa.gov
State tax-registration trigger page
Tax dor.wa.gov
Immediate post-application guidance
03
Chapter 3 of 7
Finish the WooCommerce account and operations branch
Use these steps for the platform-side account, plan, operations, and eligibility work after the state basics line up.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
WooCommerce account setup, operations, and pre-launch readiness.How to move through it
Step 10: Choose the right cost, hosting, and extension stack.Open the WooCommerce branch only after the Washington basics line up, then finish plan and operations choices.
3 parts to review • 23 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 3
Open the WooCommerce account
The first account and verification work for the platform path.
Part 1 of 3
Open the WooCommerce account
The first account and verification work for the platform path.
Short answer
Start the platform onboarding only after the legal name, EIN, and payout details line up cleanly.Do next: Step 9: Choose your hosting path and install WooCommerce.
Step details
Step 9: Choose your hosting path and install WooCommerce
Platform step 1
What this step settles
WooCommerce is a WordPress-based direct storefront plugin with free core and no platform revenue share.
Why it matters: Have these ready: Platform registration flow: Important hosting boundary:
- a WordPress-compatible hosting path or a hosted plan that currently allows the plugin stack you need,
- your store address and contact details,
- your business and product-type details,
- your admin email,
- and your draft domain and brand plan.
- WooCommerce is flexible, but not one universal hosted stack.
- If you plan to use WordPress.com hosting, re-check the exact hosted-plan and plugin-capability pages on the same day you buy. Public WordPress.com materials changed during 2026, and the reviewed public pages do not support flattening every hosted plan into one simple rule.
- Choose your hosting model and get WordPress running.
- Install and activate the WooCommerce plugin.
- Complete the onboarding wizard with store location, industry, and product-type details.
- Work through the follow-up checklist for products, payments, shipping, taxes, marketing, and store personalization.
- Keep the store in build mode until the legal, tax, and checkout branches are actually ready.
Official links
Up next Plan + pricing
Part 2 of 3
Review the plan, pricing, and optional programs
Plan, pricing, and optional program decisions before launch.
Part 2 of 3
Review the plan, pricing, and optional programs
Plan, pricing, and optional program decisions before launch.
Short answer
Use this part for the platform plan, pricing, or optional brand and program choices that come before operations.- Step 11: Configure payments and verification.
Do next: Step 10: Choose the right cost, hosting, and extension stack.
Step details
Step 10: Choose the right cost, hosting, and extension stack
Platform step 2
What this step settles
WooCommerce core itself is free and the public pricing page says there is no platform fee and no revenue share.
- WooCommerce core itself is free and the public pricing page says there is no platform fee and no revenue share.
- That does not make the total store free. Your real cost stack can include hosting, domain, payment-processing fees, paid extensions, email, security, and 3PL or label costs.
- Many important operations branch into extensions rather than core, so start simple instead of buying a large stack on day one.
- For a first Washington launch, the safest path is one stable host, one payment gateway, and the simplest tax and shipping setup that can actually handle your product.
Step 11: Configure payments and verification
Platform step 3
What this step settles
WooCommerce does not force one payment processor.
Why it matters: What that means: If you choose WooPayments: If you choose another gateway: Operational rule: Keep your legal name, date of birth, business address, EIN, bank details, and Washington records aligned across IRS, Washington, bank, and payment-processor records. Mismatches are one of the easiest ways to delay payouts or trigger review.
- The onboarding checklist can help install selected online or offline payment methods.
- You can enable offline methods such as Direct Bank Transfer, but most real ecommerce stores still need a card-payment path before scaling.
- If you use WooPayments, treat it as optional, not universal.
- it is a separate payment product,
- it is built with Stripe,
- it creates a Stripe Express account rather than using an existing regular Stripe account,
- it can require business, identity, bank-account, and tax verification,
- and the correct country is the country where the business is registered, not where you personally happen to be.
- that gateway has its own fees, acceptable-use rules, chargeback posture, and verification branch,
- and WooCommerce itself does not make those provider rules disappear.
Official links
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform registration guide
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform pricing
Platform wordpress.com
Hosted WordPress.com plan check
Platform woocommerce.com
Store settings and onboarding checklist
Platform woocommerce.com
Payment setup and verification
Platform woocommerce.com
Tax configuration path
Platform woocommerce.com
Shipping setup and Local Pickup
Platform woocommerce.com
Shipping labels versus live checkout rates
Platform woocommerce.com
Fulfillment extensibility and inventory branch
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Up next Ops + eligibility
Part 3 of 3
Finish operations and eligibility before scaling
Operations and eligibility checks before the business scales.
Part 3 of 3
Finish operations and eligibility before scaling
Operations and eligibility checks before the business scales.
Short answer
Close the operating branch only after the listing, trip, hosting, or operational eligibility checks are ready.- Step 13: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch.
Do next: Step 12: Configure tax, checkout, shipping, policies, domain, and analytics.
Step details
Step 12: Configure tax, checkout, shipping, policies, domain, and analytics
Platform step 4
What this step settles
Core checkout and account settings are configurable in WooCommerce, including guest checkout, account creation, and privacy-policy notices.
- Core checkout and account settings are configurable in WooCommerce, including guest checkout, account creation, and privacy-policy notices.
- For taxes, you can use core manual tax settings or an automated extension path such as WooCommerce Tax.
- Official WooCommerce tax docs say the software settings explain how the platform handles taxes, not when or what you legally must charge.
- If you enable automated taxes, the official docs say automated-tax mode can override parts of the normal core tax settings.
- That automation does not replace Washington registration or tell you whether you legally owe tax.
- Washington retail sales-tax sourcing is destination-based. Washington public guidance says pickup at your business location is sourced to the business location, while items shipped or delivered are sourced to where the customer receives them.
- Core shipping starts with Shipping Zones plus Flat Rate, Free Shipping, and Local Pickup.
- Official WooCommerce Local Pickup guidance says local pickup uses the store address for tax calculation by default. That software behavior does not replace the local legal analysis about whether pickup is allowed at the address.
- WooCommerce Shipping can handle label buying and return-address management, but official docs separate that from live checkout rates.
- If you need live checkout rates, treat that as a separate extension decision.
- Add your return, privacy, terms, and shipping-policy pages before launch.
- Connect your domain and make sure the site is running correctly over HTTPS.
Step 13: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch
Platform step 5
What this step settles
Use the platform-specific version of this section:
- Self-fulfillment from home: Store inventory, pack orders, and ship from your own location.
- Self-fulfillment from home: This is often the cheapest first path.
- Self-fulfillment from home: It also creates the strongest local risk for home inventory, buyer traffic, noise, and recurring carrier activity.
- Local Pickup branch: Local Pickup is a built-in core shipping method.
- Local Pickup branch: Only turn it on if the address-specific local branch is already clear.
- Local Pickup branch: In Washington, pickup also changes the tax-sourcing fact pattern to the business location where the customer receives the item.
- Local Pickup branch: In Seattle, pickup from a residence is the sharpest local risk because the city's home-business and permitting record is strict about impacts on residential use and can require more than the general tax license.
- 3PL or inventory-location branch: A 3PL can reduce home-address friction, but it does not replace Washington business-license, B&O, city-tax, or employer obligations.
- 3PL or inventory-location branch: Washington public nexus guidance says inventory held in Washington by a marketplace facilitator or another third-party representative still counts as Washington physical presence.
- 3PL or inventory-location branch: WooCommerce Shipping can store multiple origin addresses, but that is an operational tool, not a legal determination.
- 3PL or inventory-location branch: If you move inventory into your own warehouse, showroom, pickup point, or separate Seattle location, re-check the city-license, branch-location, zoning, and Establishing Use branch before operating there.
- 3PL or inventory-location branch: The reviewed official sources did not fully close every possible 3PL fact pattern, so keep the exact fixed-location effect as a retained follow-up if your arrangement is more than simple third-party storage and shipping.
Official links
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform registration guide
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform pricing
Platform wordpress.com
Hosted WordPress.com plan check
Platform woocommerce.com
Store settings and onboarding checklist
Platform woocommerce.com
Payment setup and verification
Platform woocommerce.com
Tax configuration path
Platform woocommerce.com
Shipping setup and Local Pickup
Platform woocommerce.com
Shipping labels versus live checkout rates
Platform woocommerce.com
Fulfillment extensibility and inventory branch
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
04
Chapter 4 of 7
Handle the local and city-specific branches
These local facts can still change the answer even after the state and platform path looks clear.
Optional branch
What this chapter does
Local permits, local taxes, city appendices, and location-specific operating rules.How to move through it
Review seattle appendix.Only turn this chapter on if your location, city, or operating model changes the answer.
2 parts to review • 13 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Only turn this branch on if it matches your plan
These branch questions keep the main reading path clean. If one matches your situation, the relevant detail blocks below get emphasized.
Matching branch content is now highlighted below.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
Local permits and location checks
Washington pushes many operating-location questions down to cities even though trade-name registration and tax registration are state-level.
Part 1 of 2
Local permits and location checks
Washington pushes many operating-location questions down to cities even though trade-name registration and tax registration are state-level.
Short answer
Washington pushes many operating-location questions down to cities even though trade-name registration and tax registration are state-level.Do next: Review local permits and location checks.
Why this matters
Local permits and location checks
Main takeaway
Washington pushes many operating-location questions down to cities even though trade-name registration and tax registration are state-level.
Watch for
- For any place where the business will operate:.
- check the city licensing office.
- check zoning and building rules if inventory will be stored.
- check any local business-tax branch.
- and check parking, traffic, fire-code, and pickup implications if the business operates from home.
- Typical local risk areas:.
- home occupation restrictions.
- zoning for storage.
- truck or carrier activity at a residence.
- signage.
- occupancy and use permits.
- city business taxes.
- branch locations or pickup points.
Official links
Tax dor.wa.gov
Washington registration hub
Tax dor.wa.gov
State tax-registration trigger page
Tax dor.wa.gov
Immediate post-application guidance
Local seattle.gov
City license baseline
Local seattle.gov
City tax filing and annual due date
Local seattle.gov
Seattle Shield threshold change
Official seattle.gov
Home-business rules
Tax seattle.gov
Use-permit and new-location branch
Up next Seattle appendix
Part 2 of 2
Seattle Appendix
If the business operates in Seattle, add one more review layer.
Part 2 of 2
Seattle Appendix
If the business operates in Seattle, add one more review layer.
Short answer
If the business operates in Seattle, add one more review layer.Do next: Review seattle appendix.
Why this matters
Seattle Appendix
Main takeaway
If the business operates in Seattle, add one more review layer.
Watch for
- Seattle public guidance says anyone doing business in Seattle must have a Seattle business license tax certificate, and the reviewed city materials specifically call out home-based businesses.
- Seattle public guidance also says some online-only businesses may need the Seattle license if the business originates from Seattle or has servers within city limits.
- Seattle public guidance says the 2026 general business-license fee starts at $73 for the base tier, plus $10 for each branch location, and the first-year fee is cut in half if the business starts on or after July 1.
- Seattle public guidance says the business-license tax certificate renews annually by December 31.
- Seattle public tax guidance says businesses doing business in Seattle must have the city license, file a return, and pay any tax due, and that annual returns for annual filers are due on or before April 30 of the following year.
- Seattle public guidance says the city B&O threshold increased to $2,000,000 effective January 1, 2026, but businesses under the threshold still report annual gross revenue.
- Home-business layer:.
- Seattle public home-business guidance says you may run a business from home only if it does not interfere with the use of the property as a residence.
- The same city guidance says you must live in the dwelling unit, signs are tightly limited, and the business cannot change the character of the property from residential to commercial because of noise, traffic, odor, lighting, or other outside effects.
- Use-permit layer:.
- Seattle public permitting guidance says all land uses are established by permit.
- The same city guidance says a permit to establish use is needed to change the use on the property, and that an addition / alteration permit is needed to open a new business even if the space is not being remodeled.
- If you are also moving into a warehouse, studio, office, or pickup location, use the Seattle Services Portal and city permitting guidance before signing the lease or operating there.
- Practical Seattle takeaway:.
- If you want to store, package, or ship WooCommerce inventory from a Seattle home, allow Local Pickup, or move into a studio, warehouse, or retail location, do not assume the general tax-license page fully clears the use.
- Check the specific Seattle licensing and permitting branch before signing a lease or scaling inventory.
05
Chapter 5 of 7
Use the hiring and insurance branch only if it matches your plan
This branch matters when you expect to hire, scale, or need the insurance follow-up tied to the business model.
Optional branch
What this chapter does
Hiring, payroll, insurance, and scale-up risk reminders.How to move through it
Review insurance reality.Only turn this branch on when hiring, payroll, or coverage questions are close enough to matter.
2 parts to review • 7 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Only turn this branch on if it matches your plan
These branch questions keep the main reading path clean. If one matches your situation, the relevant detail blocks below get emphasized.
Matching branch content is now highlighted below.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
If you hire, close the employment branch first
The employee registration, payroll, and employment-program branch.
Part 1 of 2
If you hire, close the employment branch first
The employee registration, payroll, and employment-program branch.
Short answer
Use these cards if the business will hire employees or carry payroll responsibilities soon.- Quarterly reporting:.
- Agency group: Washington Department of Revenue, Employment Security Department, and Labor & Industries.
- Owner-coverage branch:.
Do next: Review 1. employer registration.
Why this matters
1. Employer registration
Main takeaway
Quarterly reporting:
Watch for
- Agency group: Washington Department of Revenue, Employment Security Department, and Labor & Industries.
- Public path: apply for or update the Washington business license.
- Public step: ESD public guidance says if you have employees in Washington, you need to apply for a license from the Department of Revenue or update the existing business license when hiring employees for the first time.
- Public form: Business License Application.
- Washington ESD public guidance says every employer files two reports each quarter: an unemployment tax and wage report, plus a combined report for Paid Leave and WA Cares.
- Washington public guidance also says the unemployment report is due on the last day of the month after quarter end.
- Washington public guidance says new and rehired workers must be reported within 20 days.
- Washington public guidance says new and rehired employees must be reported within 20 days.
2. Workers' compensation
Main takeaway
Owner-coverage branch:
Watch for
- Agency: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.
- Public path: get the workers' compensation account by applying for or updating the state business license.
- Coverage cost: premium-based, not a flat filing fee.
- Timing: before or at the point you become an employer.
- Washington L&I public guidance says business owners, partners, member-managers, and certain officers can elect optional owner coverage separately.
- The public owner-coverage form is Application for Elective Coverage (F213-042-000).
- Washington L&I public guidance says employers must get a workers' compensation account by applying for or updating the state business license.
3. Disability, paid leave, or similar coverage
Main takeaway
Washington Paid Leave public guidance says every business files a quarterly report.
Watch for
- The same public guidance says businesses classified as having fewer than 50 employees for the 2025 calendar year are not required to pay the employer portion of the premium for 2026, though they still collect the employee share or pay it on the employee's behalf.
- Washington public Paid Leave updates say that starting January 1, 2026, the premium rate is 1.13%, employers pay 28.57%, and employees pay 71.43%.
- This combo did not identify a separate Washington statewide private-employer short-term-disability registration beyond the paid-leave and payroll systems reviewed here.
- Washington ESD public guidance says every employer in Washington files two reports each quarter: one unemployment tax and wage report, and one combined report for Paid Leave and WA Cares.
- Washington Paid Leave public guidance says the 2026 premium rate is 1.13%, employers pay 28.57% of the total premium, employees pay 71.43%, and employers with fewer than 50 employees generally do not pay the employer share.
4. Exemption certificate if applicable
Main takeaway
This combo did not identify a general Washington CE-200-style exemption certificate for a standard WooCommerce merchandise-employer branch.
Watch for
- If you are in a contractor, PEO, or special-employer fact pattern, research that separately.
Official links
Tax esd.wa.gov
Employer registration and quarterly reporting
Official esd.wa.gov
New-hire reporting
Official lni.wa.gov
Workers' compensation coverage
Formation lni.wa.gov
Optional owner coverage
Official paidleave.wa.gov
Paid leave reporting and rates
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Up next Insurance branch
Part 2 of 2
Keep the insurance branch visible as you scale
The insurance, liability, and scale-trigger branch.
Part 2 of 2
Keep the insurance branch visible as you scale
The insurance, liability, and scale-trigger branch.
Short answer
This is the insurance and liability follow-up tied to hiring, products, services, or growth.- No public WooCommerce-wide or WooPayments-wide seller liability-insurance threshold was identified in the reviewed public docs as of April 26, 2026.
Do next: Review insurance reality.
Why this matters
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
No public WooCommerce-wide or WooPayments-wide seller liability-insurance threshold was identified in the reviewed public docs as of April 26, 2026.
Watch for
- If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability insurance still become practical early.
- If you use a 3PL, wholesale supplier, landlord, event venue, or higher-risk product category, those contracts may create their own insurance requirements even if WooCommerce itself does not publicly show one.
- Re-check live payment-provider, host, 3PL, supplier, carrier, and lease terms on the action date before assuming no insurance requirement applies.
06
Chapter 6 of 7
Keep the operating calendar and mistake list close after launch
Once you are live, use the ongoing calendar and the mistake list to keep the business on a safer path.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
The recurring compliance calendar, live-operating routine, and beginner mistakes to avoid.How to move through it
Treating WooCommerce like a one-click closed platform instead of a modular WordPress stack.Use the recurring calendar first, then keep the repeated-mistake notes close after launch.
2 parts to review • 28 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
Use the ongoing compliance calendar
The recurring compliance calendar grouped by timing.
Part 1 of 2
Use the ongoing compliance calendar
The recurring compliance calendar grouped by timing.
Short answer
This groups the recurring checks by when they matter after launch.- Get EIN if applicable.
- Finish manual or automated tax setup.
- Finish checkout, account, privacy, and policy setup.
Do next: Finish entity or Washington trade-name setup.
See checklist
Before first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish entity or Washington trade-name setup.
- Get EIN if applicable.
- Open bank account.
- File the Washington business-license and tax-registration branch that fits your facts.
- Resolve the reseller permit sequence if you will buy inventory for resale.
- Check local permits, city tax, and zoning rules.
- Install WooCommerce and choose your hosting and payment stack.
Before first live launch
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish manual or automated tax setup.
- Finish checkout, account, privacy, and policy setup.
- Finish shipping zones, rates, and fulfillment setup.
- Decide whether labels only or live checkout rates are needed.
- Run a test checkout and verify the site is loading correctly over HTTPS.
Monthly
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Reconcile orders, payouts, refunds, chargebacks, and taxes.
- Review cash reserves for taxes.
- Review margins, shipping cost, and extension spend.
- Review backups, updates, security, and site performance.
Quarterly
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- File Washington excise returns on the cadence the Department of Revenue assigns to the account.
- If you have employees, file the Washington unemployment report and the combined Paid Leave and WA Cares report each quarter.
- Re-check whether a local operational change created a new permit or zoning issue.
Annual or periodic
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- File annual federal income-tax returns and state business returns as applicable to your entity and tax election.
- File the Washington annual report if you are an LLC.
- Renew the Washington business license or endorsements if the issued license carries an expiration date.
- File the Seattle city business return if you are doing business there, and renew the Seattle business license tax certificate by December 31.
- Re-check your Washington reseller permit expiration date if you use one.
- Renew domains, hosting, paid extensions, and any insurance policies on a tracked calendar.
- Re-check current WooCommerce, WordPress.com, gateway, 3PL, and local materials before the next renewal cycle or major stack change.
Official links
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Local dor.wa.gov
Washington business-license and tax registration
Formation sos.wa.gov
Compare Washington business types
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform registration guide
Platform woocommerce.com
Store settings and onboarding checklist
Tax dor.wa.gov
Washington registration hub
Up next Common mistakes
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes New Operators Make
The most common mistakes from the research pack plus the first-launch recommendation.
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes New Operators Make
The most common mistakes from the research pack plus the first-launch recommendation.
Short answer
These are the repeated errors called out in the research pack.- Assuming free core means the whole store is inexpensive.
- Buying inventory before resolving Washington business-license and reseller permit sequencing.
- Turning on Local Pickup before resolving local zoning or home-business rules.
Do next: Treating WooCommerce like a one-click closed platform instead of a modular WordPress stack.
Why this matters
Practical first-launch recommendation
- If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.
- If you intend to build a real WooCommerce business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.
Key detail
Treating WooCommerce like a one-click closed platform instead of a modular WordPress stack
Keep in mind
- Assuming free core means the whole store is inexpensive
- Buying inventory before resolving Washington business-license and reseller permit sequencing
- Turning on Local Pickup before resolving local zoning or home-business rules
- Assuming label-printing tools also solve live checkout rates
- Mixing personal and business money
- Ignoring WordPress, WooCommerce, and extension updates
- Treating payment processors or 3PLs as the compliance department
Official links
Formation sos.wa.gov
Compare Washington business types
Formation sos.wa.gov
LLC filing instructions
Formation sos.wa.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation sos.wa.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Federal sos.wa.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Official sos.wa.gov
Registered-agent rule
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Local dor.wa.gov
Washington business-license and tax registration
Official dor.wa.gov
Variable licensing fees
Tax dor.wa.gov
Sales-tax collection baseline
Tax dor.wa.gov
Rate and sourcing rule
Federal dor.wa.gov
Resale purchases or exempt buying
Tax dor.wa.gov
Use-tax reminder
Platform woocommerce.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Local seattle.gov
City license baseline
Local seattle.gov
City tax filing and annual due date
Local seattle.gov
Seattle Shield threshold change
Official seattle.gov
Home-business rules
Tax seattle.gov
Use-permit and new-location branch
07
Chapter 7 of 7
Review your selected steps and open the packet PDF
Use the review screen to decide what belongs in the packet, then open a real PDF preview in a new tab.
Finish
Review and print
Review the chapters you kept and make sure the right reminders stay visible.
Use this step to keep only the chapters that match the launch plan now, then keep the local and city reminders close before you treat the packet as final.
Saved setup choice
single-member LLCThat choice stays visible while the rest of the journey gets lighter.
Packet count
4 chapters selectedOptional branches can stay out of the packet until they match the real launch plan.
Still verify locally
6 remindersLocal tax, zoning, insurance, and platform policy changes still need the official check.
Open the working launch packet with fillable tracker rows, then print or download it from the PDF tab.
Choose what stays in the packet
Selected chapters
- Choose setup
Your setup choice, the short safe path, and the money realities that matter before spending deeply. - Washington registrations
The Washington and federal registration sequence, tax setup, and state-maintenance checks. - WooCommerce setup
WooCommerce account setup, operations, and pre-launch readiness. - Local and city checks
Local permits, local taxes, city appendices, and location-specific operating rules. - Hiring and insurance
Hiring, payroll, insurance, and scale-up risk reminders. - Ongoing calendar and mistakes
The recurring compliance calendar, live-operating routine, and beginner mistakes to avoid.
See local verification reminders
- Public page says to register if the business uses a different public name, plans to hire within 90 days, sells taxable goods, expects at least $12,000 in annual gross income, or otherwise owes Department of Revenue taxes or fees.
- Public page says tax registration is required if gross income is $12,000 per year or more or if the business sells a product or service that requires sales-tax collection.
- Public guidance says not to begin business activity until you receive the business license and says the Department assigns an excise-tax filing frequency.
- Public pages say most Seattle businesses need the city license, including home-based businesses, and note that some online-only businesses may also need it.
- Public page says Seattle businesses must file city returns and that annual returns for annual filers are due on or before April 30 of the following year.
- Public page says the Seattle B&O threshold increased to $2,000,000 effective January 1, 2026, but businesses under the threshold still must file a return.
Change your path
Need a different route into this answer?
Use one of these links if you landed in the wrong platform, wrong state, or want the state-only baseline before you keep reading.
Choose another platform Switch away from WooCommerce without losing the state-first flow. Choose another state for WooCommerce Stay on WooCommerce and reopen the state picker for Washington alternatives. Open the Washington state guide Compare the platform-specific path with the state-only baseline. Open official sources Jump straight to the official source directory if you want agency links first.