- Determine what form of business organization is best for your business.
- Select proposed business name and check with Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) to see if name is available.
- File to register your corporation, partnership or LLC with DCCA.
- For a sole proprietor, register your business name with DCCA.
- If you will use any other names (DBA’s), check with and register these with DCCA as well.
- Determine if you will use any trademarks or service marks and register them with DCCA.
- If you will be a corporation, partnership or LLC that will be taxed as a corporation, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from IRS (even if you do not intend to have employees).
- Obtain a Hawaii general excise license (no matter what business structure you choose).
- If you will have employees, register for Hawaii income tax withholding and with unemployment insurance agency.
- If you will have employees, obtain temporary disability insurance, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance.
- If you will have employees, obtain proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. for citizens and non-citizens alike.
- Determine if you will require any special type of state or local business regulations or occupational license based on the type of business you are starting.
- If you will have a home-based business, check local ordinances and community association rules that may limit your activities.
Other Steps
- Obtain general liability insurance plus any other type of liability insurance unique to your line of work. (for example, product liability insurance, officer and directors, errors and omissions insurance).
- Obtain property insurance and consider purchasing business interruption insurance and “key man” insurance.
- Determine if you will be able to hire independent contractors instead of employees, based upon your business plan. Click here to learn more.
- Determine if you will be outsourcing certain business functions such as staffing agencies and bookkeeping.