Pet Sitting Business Permit Requirements in Hilo, HI

Complete permit and license guide for starting a pet sitting business in Hilo, Hawaii County, Hawaii.

Verified 2026-09-06 4 stops $100–$500 est. 1–4 weeks
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Hawaii

1 stop

  1. Hawaii Department of Taxation — General Excise Tax (GET) License

    Hawaii has no sales tax. Instead the state levies a General Excise Tax on the gross income of the business itself, and unlike a sales tax it reaches services, commissions and rent as well as goods. Every business must register for a GET licence with the Department of Taxation on Form BB-1 before doing business. The rate is 4% statewide, rising to 4.5% on Oahu because of the 0.5% county surcharge, and it is owed on gross income whether or not it is passed on to the customer.

    Official government source

    $20 one-time registration fee (Form BB-1)Hawaii Tax ID issued immediately in person, in about 5–7 days online via Hawaii Tax Online, or 4–6 weeks by mail

City of Hilo / Hawaii County

2 stops

  1. Hawaii State General Excise Tax (GET) License

    Hawaii County does not issue a general county business license. Every business operating in Hilo must obtain a State of Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) license, a one-time $20 filing with the Dept. of Taxation. Specific business types may need separate state or county permits.

    Official government source

    $20 one-time (State GET license; no general county business license exists)Same day–1 week via Hawaii Tax Online

  2. No County Kennel Permit — Zoning and GET License Only

    Hawaii County has no "Animal Services" department and issues no kennel or animal boarding permit; animal control and sheltering on Hawaii Island are contracted to the nonprofit Hawaii Island Humane Society, which does not license businesses. Boarding pets overnight is a zoning question for the County of Hawaii Planning Department — whether the district and the property allow that use — rather than a licence. The business itself needs only the statewide General Excise Tax licence.

    Official government source

    $20 one-time registration fee (Form BB-1) — no county kennel or animal boarding permit fee existsHawaii Tax ID issued immediately in person, in about 5–7 days online via Hawaii Tax Online, or 4–6 weeks by mail

Terminus

Open for business — est. $100–$500 · 1–4 weeks

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Official Sources

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