Washington Collection Agency License Guide
In Washington, all entities who collect and/or solicit debts on behalf of third parties – as well as entities who purchase delinquent or charged off debts for collection purposes – must hold a Collection Agency license.
A WA Collection Agency license is also required from any individual who uses a fictitious name to collect their own debt.
The licenses are processed by the Washington Department of Revenue - Business Licensing Service and issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) .
Access Washington Consumer Collection Agency License Forms and Related Documents
All license applications are available online on the DOL Collection Agencies page . To apply for a Collection Agency license, complete the following forms:
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Business License application form available here.
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Collection Agency License Addendum form available here.
The Collection Agency Addendum form must accompany the Business License application form.
Note: Document links are updated regularly, therefore they may have expired. If this is the case, please go directly to the DOL Collection Agencies page to find the forms you need.
Fulfill Requirements and Obtain Required Documents
Apart from the completed Business License form and Collection Agency Addendum form, the following are also required:
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Trust Account - All collection agencies in Washington are required to establish a trust account at a federally-insured banking institution.
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Financial Statement - Provide a personal or corporate financial statement form showing:
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The applicant’s assets and liabilities during one of the three months before application.
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At least $7,500 in cash (or its equivalent), of which $5,000 must be deposited in a bank account.
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Net worth of at least $7,500.
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Obtain Your WA Collection Agency Bond
All Collection Agency license applicants are required to provide a surety bond. Your bond must be furnished by a surety company authorized to conduct business in Washington.
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Bond Amount : $5,000
License Fees
All fees are non-refundable. The fees may be paid with a credit/debit card (for online submissions only), or with a check/money order made payable to the Department of Revenue.
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WA Collection Agency License Fee : $850
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WA Business License Fee : $19
Submit Your Collection Agency License Application
Submit your license application online through the WA Department of Revenue, or mail your completed forms (along with any additional documentation and fees) to:
Mailing Address:
State of Washington
Business Licensing Service
PO Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507-9034
For information regarding the license application, you may contact the Department of Licensing at BLS@dor.wa.gov or (800) 451-7985.