Washington Business Bill of Sale
Washington does not require a bill of sale, but the Washington State Department of Licensing recommends one. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Washington business bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Washington State Department of Licensing looks for, matching the fields on Form TD-420-065. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Seller
Buyer
Business details
Price and terms
How to sell a business in Washington
A business bill of sale transfers the tangible and intangible assets of a small business, such as equipment, inventory, furniture, the trade name, customer list and goodwill, from the seller to the buyer at closing. It is the document that goes with the purchase agreement and is what the buyer shows to banks, landlords and the state when the business changes hands.
Seller steps
- Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
- Agree on the price and fill in the Washington business bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the serial number.
- Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. Washington does not require a notary.
- Hand over any registration papers, manuals, receipts or health records that go with the business.
- Hand over the business and keep your signed copy of the bill of sale for your records.
Buyer steps
- Check the description against the business itself before you sign.
- Keep the signed bill of sale with your records; it is your proof of ownership and purchase price.
- If you bought it for a business, give the bill of sale to your bookkeeper for the asset record.
Before you sign
- Attach an inventory and equipment list as a schedule for anything beyond a one-line description.
- Say clearly whether the buyer assumes any debts, leases or contracts.
- Both parties sign in their capacity (owner, member, president) if an entity is involved.
- This is the bill of sale, not the purchase agreement. For a sale above a few thousand dollars, have a lawyer draft the purchase agreement and use this as the closing document.
Why a bill of sale matters for a business
- Transfers the assets at closing in one signed document.
- Lists exactly what is and is not included, which prevents post-sale fights.
- Needed to transfer the DBA, licenses, lease and utility accounts.
- Supports the buyer's asset basis for taxes and the seller's gain calculation.
Want both parties to walk away with a signed copy and a notary page ready? The $9 ready-to-sign pack adds them.
Washington at a glance
- Bill of sale
- Not required, strongly recommended
- Notary
- Notarization optional
- Official state form
- Form TD-420-065
- Where the buyer registers
- Washington State Department of Licensing (dol.wa.gov)
- License plates
- Stay with vehicle
Washington's Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (420-065) records the sale but does not transfer the title or act as the Report of Sale; the seller files a Vehicle Report of Sale (420-062) separately, online or by mail.
Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.
Other Washington forms
- Washington Vehicle Bill of Sale
- Washington Motorcycle Bill of Sale
- Washington Boat Bill of Sale
- Washington Trailer Bill of Sale
- Washington Firearm Bill of Sale
- Washington Mobile Home Bill of Sale
- Washington RV Bill of Sale
- Washington ATV / UTV Bill of Sale
- Washington Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
- Washington Golf Cart Bill of Sale
- Washington Jet Ski Bill of Sale
- Washington Snowmobile Bill of Sale
- Washington Scooter / Moped Bill of Sale
- Washington Equipment Bill of Sale
- Washington Tractor Bill of Sale
- Washington Horse Bill of Sale
- Washington Dog Bill of Sale
- Washington Livestock Bill of Sale
- Washington General Bill of Sale
Business Bill of Sale in other states
Washington business bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale required to sell a business in Washington?+
Washington does not require a bill of sale, but the Washington State Department of Licensing recommends one. Washington's Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (420-065) records the sale but does not transfer the title or act as the Report of Sale; the seller files a Vehicle Report of Sale (420-062) separately, online or by mail. Washington publishes Form TD-420-065 for this; the PDF from this page carries the same information and is accepted alongside it.
Does a Washington business bill of sale need to be notarized?+
Washington does not require notarization. Two signatures are enough. If you want extra certainty, the ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page you can use anyway.
Does the buyer need to file a business bill of sale in Washington?+
No. Businesses are not titled or registered with the state, so there is nothing to file. The signed bill of sale is the ownership record; each party keeps a copy.
Is a business bill of sale the same as a purchase agreement?+
No. The purchase agreement sets the deal: price, terms, representations, non-compete. The bill of sale is the closing document that actually transfers the assets. Small deals sometimes use the bill of sale alone; larger ones should have both.
Does it transfer the LLC or corporation?+
No. This transfers assets. Selling the entity itself is a membership-interest or stock sale and needs different documents. Most small-business sales are asset sales.
Do I need to notify the state?+
Usually the DBA (assumed name) and any licenses or permits have to be reassigned or re-filed, and some states have bulk-sale notice rules. Check with the secretary of state and your accountant.