Incorporating in Washington is relatively easy.  This article should give you resources to understand how the incorporation process works in Washington, and to use the legal forms from the Washington Secretary of State to incorporate in Washington.

It is advised that you check your corporate name for availability before filing any applications, though it is not required to reserve your name if you are prepared to file your applications once your find out if your name is available. To check name availability, visit the Corporations Search page offered by the Washington Secretary of State. If your name is available and you need additional time to prepare your documents, you can reserve your company name for a period of 180 days. To do so, fill out the Name Reservation application. The filing fee for reserving a profit corporation name is $30. An expedited service is also available for an additional $50. Forms and payment can be mailed to: Secretary of State, Corporation Division, 801 Capitol Way S., P.O. Box 40234, Olympia, WA 98504-0234.

Washington offers two ways to form your corporation - online or via mail. To register online, visit the Online Application Forms Web site and select the appropriate organization type. From there you will be directed to the online services page, where you can follow the simple step-by-step process to incorporate your business. If you prefer to file by mail, you must fill out the Articles of Incorporation form provided by the Washington Secretary of State. The basic filing fee is $180, however, your Articles of Incorporation can be expedited, for a total filing fee of $230. Forms and fees can be mailed to the above listed address.

The initial annual report is due within 120 of your filing. This can be filed through the Washington Secretary of State Corporation On-Line Registration system.

There are many companies that offer the service of filing these articles on your behalf, such as FileOnline  or LegalZoom.