How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Hawaii?
Last updated: March 2026
Hawaii Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$50
Sales Tax Rate
4.0%
Minimum Wage
$14/hr
Cost of Living Index
193.3
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$15
Starting a Business in Hawaii
Hawaii requires a General Excise Tax license from the Department of Taxation. All businesses operating in Hawaii must have this license.
Hawaii has a General Excise Tax (GET) of 4% applied to all business activities, not just sales. Individual income tax rates range from 1.4% to 11%.
Hawaii's extremely high cost of living—driven by shipping costs for all goods—makes it one of the most expensive states to operate a business. Tourism dominates the economy.
For official formation documents, visit the Hawaii Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Hawaii
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Hawaii’s cost of living index of 193.3. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $13,510 | $38,600 | $88,780 |
| Airbnb / Vacation Rental | Real Estate | $21,230 | $57,900 | $173,700 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $154,400 | $386,000 | $965,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $19,300 | $57,900 | $154,400 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $38,600 | $106,150 | $250,900 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $9,650 | $57,900 | $193,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $144,750 | $386,000 | $965,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $38,600 | $183,350 | $579,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $193,000 | $675,500 | $1,640,500 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $28,950 | $125,450 | $337,750 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $57,900 | $193,000 | $579,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $48,250 | $193,000 | $579,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $193,000 | $772,000 | $1,930,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $240,285 | $640,760 | $2,402,850 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $240,285 | $1,049,920 | $2,999,220 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $20,265 | $54,040 | $135,100 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $23,160 | $102,290 | $250,900 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $77,200 | $231,600 | $579,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $2,895 | $21,230 | $71,410 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $57,900 | $193,000 | $579,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $48,250 | $231,600 | $675,500 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $48,250 | $125,450 | $289,500 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $3,860 | $17,370 | $50,180 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $96,500 | $540,400 | $1,447,500 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $15,440 | $42,460 | $106,150 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $38,600 | $106,150 | $289,500 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $38,600 | $154,400 | $482,500 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $115,800 | $347,400 | $965,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $57,900 | $154,400 | $386,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $482,500 | $965,000 | $1,930,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $7,720 | $23,160 | $61,760 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $9,650 | $28,950 | $96,500 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $28,950 | $106,150 | $308,800 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $15,440 | $77,200 | $231,600 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $96,500 | $250,900 | $675,500 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $38,600 | $106,150 | $250,900 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $38,600 | $144,750 | $386,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $19,300 | $100,360 | $250,900 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $144,750 | $482,500 | $1,447,500 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $86,850 | $231,600 | $386,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $30,880 | $69,480 | $154,400 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $96,500 | $386,000 | $1,158,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $38,600 | $106,150 | $250,900 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $38,600 | $115,800 | $289,500 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $38,600 | $135,100 | $386,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $96,500 | $482,500 | $1,930,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $28,950 | $144,750 | $482,500 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $3,860 | $19,300 | $63,690 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $77,200 | $250,900 | $579,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $38,600 | $135,100 | $386,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $38,600 | $144,750 | $386,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $28,950 | $77,200 | $173,700 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $28,950 | $77,200 | $193,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $48,250 | $173,700 | $482,500 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $19,300 | $77,200 | $231,600 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $193,000 | $482,500 | $1,158,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $23,160 | $65,620 | $156,330 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $77,200 | $173,700 | $424,600 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $96,500 | $347,400 | $965,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $9,650 | $34,740 | $96,500 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $38,600 | $135,100 | $386,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $38,600 | $125,450 | $386,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $193,000 | $675,500 | $1,930,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $289,500 | $772,000 | $1,930,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $28,950 | $96,500 | $289,500 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $57,900 | $193,000 | $579,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $19,300 | $96,500 | $289,500 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $38,600 | $173,700 | $482,500 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $9,650 | $48,250 | $154,400 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $9,650 | $48,250 | $193,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $19,300 | $77,200 | $231,600 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $57,900 | $193,000 | $579,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $289,500 | $772,000 | $1,930,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $115,800 | $347,400 | $868,500 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $96,500 | $337,750 | $772,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $28,950 | $96,500 | $289,500 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $3,860 | $11,580 | $34,740 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $96,500 | $289,500 | $772,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $20,265 | $46,320 | $106,150 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $19,300 | $54,040 | $135,100 |
| Real Estate Investing (Rental) | Real Estate | $48,250 | $144,750 | $482,500 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $337,750 | $723,750 | $1,447,500 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $28,950 | $115,800 | $347,400 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $38,600 | $115,800 | $386,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $19,300 | $135,100 | $482,500 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $38,600 | $106,150 | $289,500 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $386,000 | $1,158,000 | $3,860,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $38,600 | $113,870 | $386,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $6,755 | $19,300 | $52,110 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $38,600 | $144,750 | $386,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $96,500 | $289,500 | $772,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $96,500 | $289,500 | $772,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $57,900 | $154,400 | $386,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $3,860 | $46,320 | $193,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $96,500 | $386,000 | $1,158,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $48,250 | $144,750 | $386,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $6,755 | $23,160 | $63,690 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $28,950 | $77,200 | $193,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $289,500 | $1,470,660 | $5,790,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $28,950 | $154,400 | $386,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Hawaii
Licenses & Permits in Hawaii
General Business License
Hawaii requires all businesses to obtain a General Excise Tax (GET) License from the Hawaii Department of Taxation before commencing business. This license covers the state's general excise tax, which is applied to most business activities at 4% (4.5% in Oahu). Additionally, businesses must register with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for entity formation. Some businesses also need a county business license from Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, or Kauai counties.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Establishment Permit — Hawaii Department of Health — Food and Drug BranchCost: $100-$800 • Renewal: Annual
- Contractor's License — Hawaii Contractors License BoardCost: $250-$700 • Renewal: Biennial
- Tour Guide Certification — Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer AffairsCost: $50-$200 • Renewal: Biennial
- Beauty Salon License — Hawaii Board of Barbering and CosmetologyCost: $75-$250 • Renewal: Biennial
- Real Estate Broker License — Hawaii Real Estate CommissionCost: $200-$500 • Renewal: Biennial
- Agricultural Business License — Hawaii Department of AgricultureCost: $50-$300 • Renewal: Annual
- Liquor License — County Liquor Commission (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai)Cost: $500-$4,000 • Renewal: Annual
- Child Care Center License — Hawaii Department of Human Services — Child Care Program OfficeCost: $100-$500 • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Hawaii counties regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances. Honolulu allows home occupations as an accessory use in residential districts with restrictions on customers, signage, and business activities that could affect neighbors. Hawaii's high cost of commercial space makes home-based businesses particularly attractive. The state's cottage food law specifically allows home-based food production and direct sales.
Hawaii Business Resources
SBA District Office
Hawaii SBA District Office — Honolulu
Secretary of State
https://businessregistration.ehawaii.govZoning Information
Hawaii's counties (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai) control zoning. Agricultural and conservation land use restrictions significantly limit commercial development.
Health Department Notes
Food establishments require a permit from the Department of Health's Food Safety Program. Hawaii has strict requirements due to the island ecosystem.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers. Hawaii's Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) law also mandates disability coverage for employees.