Commercial Compliance Hub
Check requirements

Hawaii · 13 statewide requirements covered

Business licences and permits in Hawaii

Hawaii has no sales tax — its General Excise Tax licence costs $20 once and never expires. It genuinely licenses auto repair shops, priced per facility, unlike most states covered here.

What applies everywhere in Hawaii

13 requirements are set by Hawaii itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.

Requirements set by Hawaii that apply in every jurisdiction in the state, with the issuing agency, the published fee and the date each was last checked against its source
Annual ReportHawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division$15 a year on paper; a $10 late fee applies per year delinquentOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Articles of IncorporationHawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division$51 one-time filing, including the $1 state archives feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Articles of Organization (LLC)Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division$51 one-time filing, including the $1 state archives feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Beauty Shop LicenceHawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division$176 on-time renewal; inactive status is $12To every business2026-09-04
Child Care LicenceHawaii Department of Human Services, Child Care Licensing ProgramFee not published — every official application page lists the required forms without stating a dollar amount anywhereTo every business2026-09-04
Contractor LicenceHawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division$338 biennial renewal for an entity or sole proprietor; a responsible managing employee licence is $208Only in some cases2026-09-04
Food Establishment PermitHawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch$300–$400 a year for a restaurant, banded by risk category and floor areaTo every business2026-09-04
Food Handler CertificationHawaii Department of Health, Food Safety BranchNo feeTo every business2026-09-04
General Business Licence (not required by Hawaii)Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration DivisionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
General Excise Tax LicenceHawaii Department of Taxation$20 one-time registrationTo every business2026-09-04
Individual Electrician or Plumber LicenceHawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division$40 application fee, plus a $95 examination feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Motor Vehicle Repair Dealer LicenceHawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division$224–$368 for a new licence, depending on whether it is issued in an even or odd yearTo every business2026-09-04
Veterinary Facility Permit (not required by Hawaii)Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing DivisionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04

Which Hawaii city are you opening in?

We do not yet publish a Hawaii city. The statewide requirements above are verified as far as they go, but a city or county adds its own — a local business tax receipt, a food permit, a building sign-off — and we will not guess at those. The jurisdictions we do cover are listed in full.

Is there a single Hawaii business licence?

No. Hawaii has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.

The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.

Who issues permits in Hawaii?

By industry

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.