Promote:
Invest in the District of Columbia
A short guide for companies expanding into the District of Columbia: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. District of Columbia at a glance
PopulationEstimate
693,645
The population was 693,645 as of July 1, 2025.
Source: Census Bureau, state population estimates, July 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$193 billion
GDP was US$192,975.4 million in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$278,205
GDP per person was US$278,204.8 in 2025, in current dollars, computed from the Bureau of Economic Analysis's GDP and the Census Bureau's population estimate.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
−1.0%
Real GDP growth was -1.0 percent in 2025, the Bureau of Economic Analysis's own published percent change for all industries.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance
2. Before you set up
The body that handles foreign investment, any one-stop route, the District of Columbia’s limits on foreign ownership and the zones, as the guide found them.
SelectUSA's District entry gives WDCEP's address and website under a DMPED business-attraction title; DMPED lists WDCEP among its business development partners.
Source: SelectUSA, state economic development organizations (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The District runs no single portal for registration and tax together: the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection registers entities and the Office of Tax and Revenue registers taxes.
Source: OTR, new business registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Since 1905, aliens have held District real estate on the federal alien land chapter's terms: it bars owners who are not United States residents but exempts lots in a platted city or town. Check your case with counsel.
Source: Code of the District of Columbia, section 42-901 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board's 2024 annual report lists 0 foreign-trade zones in the District of Columbia.
Source: Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 2024 annual report (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in the District of Columbia
- Register a foreign entity with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection through its corporate filing system.Department of Licensing and Consumer ProtectionUS$220 for a foreign for-profit entityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DLCP, license and corporate filing fees (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Register for District taxes with form FR-500 in the MyTax portal, attaching your articles of incorporation or organization.Office of Tax and RevenueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: OTR, new business registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Return to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection for a Basic Business License once the FR-500 is filed.Department of Licensing and Consumer ProtectionUS$49 for 6 months, US$99 for 2 years, US$198 for 4 yearsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DLCP, license and corporate filing fees (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Contact the Department of Employment Services about unemployment insurance if you will employ staff; the FR-500 starts the account.Department of Employment ServicesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Department of Employment Services, registration questions (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 1 more set-up step
- If you will sell insurance, banking or securities services, check licensing and compliance with the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.Department of Insurance, Securities and BankingOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DISB, banking laws and regulations page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with WDCEP. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- This guide lists every body in the District found with evidence dated 2025 or later. Source (opens in a new tab)
Investment and business setup
Economic development partnership
WDCEP
Washington DC Economic Partnership
Helps companies moving to or growing in the District with sites, incentives, research and a soft landing program for international firms.
Visit WDCEP (opens in a new tab)Source: WDCEP, Global Soft Landing page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
Business licensing and registration
DLCP
Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
Registers business entities and issues business licenses and professional licenses in the District.
Visit DLCP (opens in a new tab)Source: DLCP, BOSS platform release, July 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 17, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
OTR
Office of Tax and Revenue
Registers businesses for District taxes with form FR-500 and collects franchise, sales and withholding taxes.
Visit OTR (opens in a new tab)Source: OTR, new business registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
DC Chamber
DC Chamber of Commerce
Runs the District's export program and international programs, with business guides for District companies and foreign firms.
Visit DC Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: District chamber of commerce, Export DC page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
Regional business association
Board of Trade
Greater Washington Board of Trade
Represents members across the District, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia on regional business policy.
Visit Board of Trade (opens in a new tab)Source: Greater Washington Board of Trade, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Business license terms
A District law effective September 25, 2026 allows 4-year basic business licenses, renewal more than 9 months after expiry, and refunds of fees paid in error.
What to do: Choose your license term and renewal date with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection before you file.
Sources: Council Code site, Law 26-183, effective September 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab); DLCP, license and corporate filing fees (opens in a new tab) · as of September 25, 2026
Local economy
The Chief Financial Officer certified in September 2026 that employment in the District has declined significantly as federal jobs shrank, and the local economy lags national trends.
What to do: Test local demand assumptions against current District data before you size a project.
Sources: Chief Financial Officer, September 2026 revenue estimate letter (opens in a new tab); Chief Financial Officer, September 2026 revenue estimates release (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 2026
Sales tax rate
The Office of Tax and Revenue says the general sales tax rate remains 6 percent through September 30, 2027, after the increase to 7 percent was postponed.
What to do: Confirm the rate with the Office of Tax and Revenue before you price District sales.
Sources: OTR, home page and sales tax notice (opens in a new tab); Chief Financial Officer, September 2026 revenue estimate letter (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Corporate franchise tax base
The Chief Financial Officer reports corporate franchise revenue down 19.9 percent in the first eleven months of fiscal 2026 and expects slower growth through fiscal 2030.
What to do: Confirm current corporate tax treatment of capital spending with the Office of Tax and Revenue.
Sources: Chief Financial Officer, September 2026 revenue estimate letter (opens in a new tab); OTR, business franchise tax rates (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 2026
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Business registration platform
DLCP's BOSS platform now handles corporate registration and basic business licensing; tax registration stays with the Office of Tax and Revenue.
What to do: Check which portal currently takes your filing before you start.
Sources: DLCP, home page (opens in a new tab); DLCP, BOSS platform release, July 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Reserved sectors
Code section 42-901 applies the federal alien land chapter to District real estate; it bars owners who are not United States residents, except for lots in platted cities or towns.
What to do: Check how the federal alien land chapter applies to your purchase with counsel before you sign.
Sources: Code of the District of Columbia, section 42-901 (opens in a new tab); United States Code, title 48, section 1502 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:District of Columbia is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 3, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.