This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Permit and tax rules change, and your situation may differ. Always confirm current requirements with the official state agency linked in this guide, and consult a licensed attorney or tax professional for advice about your specific business.Last verified against official state sources: 2026-06-11
If you sell handmade goods at Washington craft fairs you generally must register, because registration is required for anyone selling a product that requires collecting sales tax, grossing $12,000 or more a year, or operating under a business name. Handmade goods are taxable retail sales, so the sales tax trigger applies even at low volumes. The Business License Application gives you a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) used for all tax filings.
About 10 business days for online applications through My DOR, plus 2 to 3 weeks if city or state endorsements are required.
Washington offers a free Temporary Registration Certificate for vendors doing no more than two events per year in the state, each lasting no longer than a month; craft shows and fairs are listed as qualifying events. Each certificate covers one event, and you return the completed form reporting sales and taxes within 10 business days after the event. More than two Washington events a year requires the standard business license.
The minimal-activity exemption (under $12,000 gross per year AND no duty to collect sales tax) rarely helps craft vendors, since handmade goods sales require sales tax collection regardless of volume. It mainly benefits service providers whose income is not subject to retail sales tax.
The state retail sales tax rate is 6.5 percent plus local rates; Washington is destination based, so you collect the combined rate at the event location (DOR Tax Rate Lookup Tool). On top of sales tax, Washington levies the Business and Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts at 0.471 percent for retailing, though the Small Business B&O Tax Credit can reduce or eliminate it for small sellers.
Unlike most states, Washington's Business License Application IS the general state business license: one application registers you with the Department of Revenue, issues your UBI, and sets up your tax account. Many cities license through the same system as endorsements added to your state license.
Engaging in business without a certificate of registration is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 82.32.290.
Special event promoters must make a good faith effort to verify every vendor has a valid Washington tax registration number, keep event and vendor records for a year, and provide vendor lists to the Department within 20 days of a request. Fines run $100 per unregistered vendor and $250 for failing to provide information, capped at $2,500 for a first offense (RCW 82.32.033).
Organizing an event? List your fair on TheCraftMap to reach thousands of vendors.
If you sell handmade goods at Washington craft fairs you generally must register, because registration is required for anyone selling a product that requires collecting sales tax, grossing $12,000 or more a year, or operating under a business name. Handmade goods are taxable retail sales, so the sales tax trigger applies even at low volumes. The Business License Application gives you a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) used for all tax filings.
Washington State Business License (issues a UBI number); free Temporary Registration Certificate for occasional vendors, issued by the Washington State Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service. Cost: $50 to open a new business/UBI, $5 per location at annual renewal, plus any city endorsement fees. The Temporary Registration Certificate for qualifying short-term vendors is free.. About 10 business days for online applications through My DOR, plus 2 to 3 weeks if city or state endorsements are required.
The minimal-activity exemption (under $12,000 gross per year AND no duty to collect sales tax) rarely helps craft vendors, since handmade goods sales require sales tax collection regardless of volume. It mainly benefits service providers whose income is not subject to retail sales tax.
The state retail sales tax rate is 6.5 percent plus local rates; Washington is destination based, so you collect the combined rate at the event location (DOR Tax Rate Lookup Tool). On top of sales tax, Washington levies the Business and Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts at 0.471 percent for retailing, though the Small Business B&O Tax Credit can reduce or eliminate it for small sellers.
Unlike most states, Washington's Business License Application IS the general state business license: one application registers you with the Department of Revenue, issues your UBI, and sets up your tax account. Many cities license through the same system as endorsements added to your state license.
Browse upcoming craft fairs in Washington with booth fees and application deadlines, read our picks for the best Washington craft fairs, and use the booth ROI calculator to plan your season.
Last verified: 2026-06-11. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.