Business Resources

Below are links to business guides to help you through the process of starting, maintaining, and growing your business:

• Washington Business Hub has a comprehensive small business guide that is available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) has an all-purpose Business Guide for information related to planning, launching, managing, and growing your business.
• Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC) has an extensive list of business resources for start-ups and growing businesses in addition to their business guides.

Learn more about how you can become a successful business owner by taking a course or by asking a professional for advice:

• SCORE is a national nonprofit that provides free business mentoring and low- or no-cost workshops to entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country.
• Greater Seattle SCORE is the local chapter of the national SCORE organization and is a strong resource for businesses seeking expert advice, local workshops, and/or free business resources.
• Highline College Start Zone in Des Moines offers affordable training, consulting, and other support for small businesses.
• WSBDC has a variety of training opportunities through their online training resources, including: instructional videos, export training, specialty training, and many others.

Burien’s proximity to the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma as well as to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport provides local businesses with an opportunity to expand their operations through exports or government contracting. If you are interested in growing your business through exports or by contracting with the government, the following resources may helpful:

• The Washington State Department of Commerce offers a number of export resources on their webpage. An expert Small Business Export Assistance team is available to businesses who are considering an export strategy. If you are seeking advocacy or consultation in the process of becoming an exporter, or you would like to know more about the export voucher program, contacting the Small Business Export Assistance team is a good place to start.  
• The WSBDC can help you assess your export readiness while providing a variety of export-related resources.
• The SBA has a comprehensive guide for all of your contracting-related needs and questions. To see what you need to get started as a contractor or to check whether your business qualifies for government contracts, visit the SBA’s website. You can also learn about government contracting through one of the SBA’s online tools.
• The Washington State Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) assists small businesses in all aspects of government contracting. Whether you need help finding, bidding on, or winning government contracts, Washington PTAC provides no-cost, confidential, one-on-one assistance to Washington businesses. Contact the King County PTAC office located at Green River College in Auburn, Washington to learn more about how PTAC can assist your business.

Traditionally disadvantaged groups may face obstacles in starting or managing a small business. The following resources are included to help promote equity and participation among small business owners of all backgrounds:

• The Washington Women’s Business Center (WBC) is committed to providing training and financing opportunities to female entrepreneurs. Learn more about the free business counseling and training workshops offered by the WBC by visiting the WBC website
• The Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) champions disadvantaged businesses in the awarding of government contracts. Becoming a certified member of OMWBE can help businesses qualify for special government contracts. To learn more about how you can certify your business, visit the OMWBE website.
• Linked-deposit programs are available to woman, minority, and veteran-owned businesses through the OMWBE and the Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs.
• The Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs affords contracting opportunities to certified Veteran-owned Businesses. Visit the Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs website to learn more about how you can certify your business.
• The SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development works to broaden the availability of small business programs for veterans. Learn more about the resources and programs provided by the SBA and other parties by visiting the Office of Veterans Business Development website.

Maintaining clean and safe streets can help encourage commercial activity and make your business more attractive for your customers and employees. The City of Burien and its partners offer the following programs:

• The Clean and Safe Streets program is a collaborative effort between Discover Burien and the City of Burien. The purpose of the program is to clean garbage and litter in the downtown commercial area. Litter is removed and public garbage cans are emptied in the downtown area three times a week.
• Taking Aim at Graffiti (TAG) is a graffiti removal program that is provided to Burien businesses free of charge. Removal services are contracted out to Recology CleanScapes and are typically carried out within one to three business days of issuing a report. Learn more about eligibility for the program under Graffiti Removal.
• For businesses with an ongoing loitering problem, filing a no trespassing form gives business owners an opportunity to authorize the removal of trespassers without prior notification from the Burien Police Department.
• Recology's commercial container lock program was created to prevent the rummaging and littering of large waste receptacles. Owners of commercial containers can either rent a lock from Recology, or use their own lock free of charge. For questions related to the commercial container lock program, please contact Recology customer service at (206) 767-3322 or email burien@recology.com

Saving money and protecting the environment do not have to be at odds. Learn more about how you can cut back on business expenses while promoting environmental sustainability by visiting one of the following resources:

• Seattle City Light rebate programs for small businesses
• Puget Sound Energy (PSE) business incentives
• Recology waste management business services