Cleaning Service Permit Requirements in Kailua, HI

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

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

   $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

2. Hawaii Workers' Compensation Insurance

   Hawaii requires most employers to carry workers' compensation insurance for employees. Sole proprietors with no employees are generally exempt, but confirm with state requirements.

   Official government source

   Varies (typically $500–$2,000/year depending on payroll)·Immediate to 1 week

   Varies (typically $500–$2,000/year depending on payroll)

   Immediate to 1 week

1. Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) License

   Kailua is within the City and County of Honolulu, which does not issue a general business license. The near-universal requirement is instead the State of Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) license from the Department of Taxation, a one-time registration rather than an annual renewal. GET itself is charged on gross business income at 4% plus a 0.5% Oahu county surcharge and is remitted periodically.

   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

   $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

2. Home Occupation Compliance and DCCA Trade Name Registration

   A cleaning service run from a home in Kailua must meet the home occupation standards in Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance; the city issues no separate home occupation permit for a compliant use. If the business trades under a name other than the owner's, the trade name is registered with the State DCCA Business Registration Division — Hawaii has no county clerk and no county-level DBA filing.

   Official government source

   No city permit or fee for a compliant home occupation; trade name registration is a separate DCCA Business Registration Division filing·No city application; trade name registrations filed with DCCA are processed within about one week

   No city permit or fee for a compliant home occupation; trade name registration is a separate DCCA Business Registration Division filing

   No city application; trade name registrations filed with DCCA are processed within about one week

Official Sources

• City and County of Honolulu — Permits and Licenses
• Hawaii Department of Taxation — General Excise Tax License

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