Here's what you need in Hawaii
Official state business portal: Business Action Center (BAC). The Business Action Center is Hawaii's hub for registering a business, checking name availability and finding the licenses and tax registrations you need.
| What you need | Who issues it | Official fee | Links | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General state business licenseGeneral Excise Tax (GET) License. Every business in Hawaii must get a General Excise Tax (GET) license from the Department of Taxation. It is the same license shown in the sales tax row below, so you apply only once and its one time fee is listed there. | Hawaii Department of Taxation | Fee not published.Ask the agency | Applyat hitax.hawaii.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Form an LLCArticles of Organization (Form LLC-1). To form an LLC, file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Business Registration Division. You can file online, or by email, mail or fax, and expedited service costs extra. | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division | $50 filing fee plus a $1 State Archives fee | Applyat hbe.dcca.hawaii.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Business name (DBA)Trade Name Registration (Form T-1). Register a trade name with the state Business Registration Division by filing Form T-1. | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division | $50 filing fee plus a $1 State Archives fee | Applyat hbe.dcca.hawaii.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Sales tax permitGeneral Excise Tax (GET) License (Hawaii has no sales tax). Hawaii has no sales tax. Instead, businesses pay the General Excise Tax on their business activities. This is the same GET license as in the general license row above, and you register for it online through Hawaii Tax Online. | Hawaii Department of Taxation | $20 one-time fee | Applyat hitax.hawaii.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Unemployment insurance (once you hire)Unemployment insurance employer registration (Form UC-1). If you have employees working in Hawaii, register your business online with the Unemployment Insurance Division and file a tax report every quarter. | Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Unemployment Insurance Division | You pay tax on wages | Applyat uiclaims.hawaii.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Federal tax ID (EIN)Employer Identification Number (EIN). You need an EIN if you have employees or pay certain federal taxes, and banks often ask for one. Apply online with the IRS and you get the number in minutes. | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Free | Applyat irs.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
Costs after you start
What an LLC in Hawaii pays or files after it is formed.
| What you need | Who issues it | Official fee | Links | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual ReportEvery Hawaii LLC files an Annual Report each year. The due date is the end of the quarter in which the LLC was registered. | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division | $12.50 a year online ($15 on paper) | Applyat hbe.ehawaii.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
Licenses by type of business
State level licenses. Your city or county may add its own permits.
| What you need | Who issues it | Official fee | Links | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair salon, barber shop or nail salonBeauty shop license. A new beauty shop needs a shop license from the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The application must include a confirmation of employment for each licensed barber or beauty operator who will work there. | Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology | $226 if licensed in an even-numbered year, $138 in an odd-numbered year | Applyat cca.hawaii.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Child care in your homeFamily child care home registration. You must register with the Department of Human Services to care for 3 to 6 children who are not related to you in your home. | Hawaii Department of Human Services | Fee not published.Ask the agency | Source | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Selling alcohol (bar or restaurant)Liquor license. Liquor licenses are issued by the liquor commission of each county (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai). Each commission also sets the license fees for its own county. | County liquor commission (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui or Kauai) | Set by each county | Source | Nov 7, 2026 |
| General contractorContractor license. Contractors need a license from the Contractors License Board. A company must employ a licensed Responsible Managing Employee (RME) to get its license. | Hawaii Contractors License Board | $50 application fee, plus license fees after board approval | Applyat cca.hawaii.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Selling homemade food (cottage food)Homemade Food Operation. You can make foods that do not need refrigeration in your home kitchen and sell them directly to consumers or to other retailers without a food establishment permit. You must take food safety training and label each product. | Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch | No permit needed | Source | Nov 7, 2026 |
What is different in Hawaii
- Hawaii is one of 6 places in our data with a general state business license: General Excise Tax (GET) License.
- At $50, the LLC filing fee is among the lowest: only 3 of 49 verified states charge less.
- Business names (DBAs) are filed with the state, at the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. At $50, the state DBA fee is among the highest: only 5 of 33 verified states charge more.
- At $226, the salon or shop license fee is among the highest: only 7 of 36 verified states charge more.
- Annual Report: $12.50 a year online ($15 on paper). Every Hawaii LLC files an Annual Report each year. The due date is the end of the quarter in which the LLC was registered.
Steps to start a business in Hawaii
Pick a structure and register it
Sole owners can start under their own name. To form an LLC, file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division ($50).
Get a free EIN
Apply on irs.gov. You need it to hire, and banks usually ask for it. Never pay a website for an EIN.
Register your business name
If you trade under a name that is not your legal name, file a DBA with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division.
Register for sales tax
If you sell taxable goods or services, get your permit from the Hawaii Department of Taxation before your first sale.
Get the state business license
General Excise Tax (GET) License, from the Hawaii Department of Taxation.
Get a state license for your type of business
Salons, child care, alcohol, building work and home food each have their own state rules. See the table above.
Check city and county permits
Ask about a local business license, zoning, health and building permits before you sign a lease.
Register as an employer when you hire
Open a state unemployment insurance tax account with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Unemployment Insurance Division.
City and county permits
Cities and countys in Hawaii can require their own business license, zoning approval, health permit or building permit. Rules change from place to place, so ask your city hall and county clerk before you sign a lease. Home businesses often need a home occupation permit.
Questions about business licenses in Hawaii
Do I need a business license in Hawaii?
Yes. Every business in Hawaii must get a General Excise Tax (GET) license from the Department of Taxation. It is the same license shown in the sales tax row below, so you apply only once and its one time fee is listed there.
How much is an LLC in Hawaii?
The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division charges $50 filing fee plus a $1 State Archives fee to file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1). To form an LLC, file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Business Registration Division. You can file online, or by email, mail or fax, and expedited service costs extra.
How much does an LLC cost per year in Hawaii?
Annual Report: $12.50 a year online ($15 on paper). Every Hawaii LLC files an Annual Report each year. The due date is the end of the quarter in which the LLC was registered.
Does an LLC need a business license in Hawaii?
Yes, if your type of business or your location requires one. Forming an LLC only registers your company with the state; it is not a license. An LLC in Hawaii still needs any state license for its type of business and any local business license from its city or county.
Do I need a sales tax permit in Hawaii?
Yes, if you sell taxable goods or services. Hawaii has no sales tax. Instead, businesses pay the General Excise Tax on their business activities. This is the same GET license as in the general license row above, and you register for it online through Hawaii Tax Online. Official fee: $20 one-time fee.
How much is a DBA in Hawaii?
Register a trade name with the state Business Registration Division by filing Form T-1. Official fee: $50 filing fee plus a $1 State Archives fee.
Can I sell homemade food from home in Hawaii?
You can make foods that do not need refrigeration in your home kitchen and sell them directly to consumers or to other retailers without a food establishment permit. You must take food safety training and label each product. Fee: No permit needed.
Do contractors need a state license in Hawaii?
Contractors need a license from the Contractors License Board. A company must employ a licensed Responsible Managing Employee (RME) to get its license. Official fee: $50 application fee, plus license fees after board approval.
Do I need an EIN?
You need an EIN if you have employees or pay certain federal taxes, and banks often ask for one. Apply online with the IRS and you get the number in minutes. It is free: never pay a website for an EIN.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from an official government page, checked on the date shown. Facts we could not confirm are marked Not yet verified and show no number. How we check.
- General state business license Hawaii Department of Taxation Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Form an LLC Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Business name (DBA) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Sales tax permit Hawaii Department of Taxation Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Unemployment insurance (once you hire) Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Unemployment Insurance Division Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Official business portal State of Hawaii, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Hair salon, barber shop or nail salon Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Child care in your home Hawaii Department of Human Services Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Selling alcohol (bar or restaurant) County liquor commission (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui or Kauai) Checked Nov 7, 2026
- General contractor Hawaii Contractors License Board Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Selling homemade food (cottage food) Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Annual Report Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Federal tax ID (EIN) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Checked Nov 7, 2026