How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Honolulu, HI?
Population: 350,964 | Cost of living: 192.5% | Sales tax: 4.5% | Min wage: $14.00
Startup Costs by Industry in Honolulu
| Industry | Estimated Startup Cost | National Average | Local Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Firm | $26,000 - $109,000 | $15,000 - $60,000 | +80% |
| Acupuncture Practice | $15,000 - $86,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +44% |
| Affiliate Marketing Business | $3,000 - $19,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +300% |
| After-School Program | $29,000 - $174,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +69% |
| AI Consulting Business | $10,000 - $69,000 | $2,000 - $50,000 | +52% |
| Airbnb Rental Business | $14,000 - $70,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +40% |
| Amazon FBA Business | $10,000 - $85,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +73% |
| App Development | $25,000 - $167,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +67% |
| Aquaponics Farm | $23,000 - $171,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +14% |
| Arcade & Gaming Center | $126,000 - $763,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +48% |
| ATM Business | $5,000 - $56,000 | $3,000 - $30,000 | +85% |
| Auto Detailing | $11,000 - $74,000 | $5,000 - $75,000 | +6% |
| Auto Repair Shop | $73,000 - $399,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +35% |
| Axe Throwing Venue | $64,000 - $355,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +68% |
| Bakery | $76,000 - $324,000 | $60,000 - $250,000 | +29% |
| Bar | $117,000 - $483,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | +20% |
| Barbershop | $56,000 - $212,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | +34% |
| Beauty Supply Store | $42,000 - $199,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +34% |
| Bed & Breakfast | $190,000 - $937,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +88% |
| Beekeeping Business | $14,000 - $64,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +30% |
| Bike Shop | $42,000 - $263,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +33% |
| Auto Body Shop | $69,000 - $391,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +31% |
| Bookkeeping Service | $3,000 - $18,000 | $2,000 - $10,000 | +75% |
| Bookstore | $58,000 - $256,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +31% |
| Boutique | $61,000 - $317,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +26% |
| Bowling Alley | $600,000 - $3,937,000 | $500,000 - $3,000,000 | +30% |
| Brewery | $335,000 - $1,868,000 | $250,000 - $1,500,000 | +26% |
| Campground | $164,000 - $1,706,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +70% |
| Candy Shop | $31,000 - $150,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +51% |
| Car Rental Business | $63,000 - $566,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +14% |
| Car Wash | $114,000 - $649,000 | $75,000 - $500,000 | +33% |
| Carpentry Business | $24,000 - $127,000 | $15,000 - $75,000 | +68% |
| Carpet Cleaning Business | $8,000 - $49,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +63% |
| Catering Business | $34,000 - $173,000 | $20,000 - $125,000 | +43% |
| Chiropractic | $116,000 - $418,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | +19% |
| Christmas Tree Farm | $37,000 - $235,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +127% |
| Cleaning Service | $9,000 - $59,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +24% |
| Clothing Store | $35,000 - $199,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +34% |
| Coding Bootcamp | $15,000 - $137,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +38% |
| Coffee Roastery | $29,000 - $350,000 | $20,000 - $300,000 | +18% |
| Coffee Shop | $82,000 - $327,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | +8% |
| Computer Repair Business | $8,000 - $49,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +63% |
| Concrete Business | $35,000 - $188,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +24% |
| Construction Company | $78,000 - $644,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +31% |
| Consulting Business | $14,000 - $87,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +84% |
| Convenience Store | $71,000 - $457,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +32% |
| Courier & Delivery Service | $10,000 - $64,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +35% |
| Coworking Space | $136,000 - $646,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +30% |
| Cybersecurity Firm | $15,000 - $137,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +38% |
| Dance Studio | $43,000 - $208,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +39% |
| Daycare | $70,000 - $294,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +4% |
| Demolition Company | $72,000 - $325,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +32% |
| Dental Practice | $383,000 - $966,000 | $350,000 - $750,000 | +23% |
| Digital Marketing | $13,000 - $91,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +89% |
| Distillery | $137,000 - $1,254,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +26% |
| Dog Daycare | $63,000 - $492,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +42% |
| Dog Grooming Business | $16,000 - $95,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +85% |
| Dog Training Business | $5,000 - $39,000 | $2,000 - $20,000 | +100% |
| Dog Walking Business | $4,000 - $15,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +245% |
| Donut Shop | $71,000 - $334,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +35% |
| Driving School | $31,000 - $140,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +37% |
| Drone Business | $6,000 - $47,000 | $3,000 - $50,000 | Avg |
| Dropshipping Business | $4,000 - $25,000 | $500 - $10,000 | +176% |
| Electrical | $22,000 - $112,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +17% |
| Embroidery & Custom Apparel | $15,000 - $74,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +48% |
| Escape Room | $78,000 - $502,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +66% |
| Etsy Shop | $3,000 - $16,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +245% |
| Event Planning Business | $11,000 - $51,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +77% |
| Excavation Business | $97,000 - $439,000 | $80,000 - $350,000 | +25% |
| Farm | $62,000 - $831,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +62% |
| Fast Food Franchise | $214,000 - $3,710,000 | $100,000 - $2,500,000 | +51% |
| Fencing Business | $15,000 - $74,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +48% |
| Financial Advisory Practice | $15,000 - $74,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +48% |
| Fitness Studio | $69,000 - $391,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +31% |
| Flooring Business | $16,000 - $88,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +49% |
| Flower Shop | $43,000 - $224,000 | $30,000 - $175,000 | +30% |
| Food Delivery Service | $22,000 - $119,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +66% |
| Food Truck | $72,000 - $261,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +33% |
| Franchise Business | $44,000 - $1,891,000 | $20,000 - $1,000,000 | +90% |
| Garage Door Business | $15,000 - $74,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +48% |
| Gas Station | $339,000 - $2,559,000 | $250,000 - $2,000,000 | +29% |
| General Contractor | $39,000 - $249,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +25% |
| Ghost Kitchen | $31,000 - $150,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +51% |
| Gift Shop | $43,000 - $210,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +41% |
| Glamping Business | $28,000 - $263,000 | $20,000 - $200,000 | +32% |
| Graphic Design Business | $8,000 - $34,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +83% |
| Greenhouse Business | $33,000 - $253,000 | $30,000 - $200,000 | +24% |
| Grocery Store | $159,000 - $2,136,000 | $80,000 - $2,000,000 | +10% |
| Gym | $116,000 - $579,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +26% |
| Hair Salon | $77,000 - $285,000 | $60,000 - $200,000 | +39% |
| Handyman | $12,000 - $59,000 | $5,000 - $40,000 | +58% |
| Home Health Care Agency | $71,000 - $499,000 | $40,000 - $350,000 | +46% |
| Home Inspection Business | $8,000 - $38,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +53% |
| Hostel | $69,000 - $391,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +31% |
| Hotel | $829,000 - $8,255,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +65% |
| HVAC | $32,000 - $160,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +13% |
| Ice Cream Shop | $68,000 - $354,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +21% |
| Insurance Agency | $32,000 - $135,000 | $20,000 - $80,000 | +67% |
| Interior Design Business | $8,000 - $49,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +63% |
| IT Services | $22,000 - $125,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +28% |
| Jewelry Store | $69,000 - $327,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +32% |
| Juice Bar | $54,000 - $252,000 | $40,000 - $200,000 | +28% |
| Junk Removal Business | $8,000 - $74,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +49% |
| Landscaping | $17,000 - $95,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +24% |
| Language School | $15,000 - $105,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +41% |
| Laundromat | $191,000 - $1,098,000 | $200,000 - $1,000,000 | +7% |
| Lavender Farm | $28,000 - $137,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +38% |
| Law Firm | $65,000 - $302,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +47% |
| Liquor Store | $137,000 - $518,000 | $100,000 - $400,000 | +31% |
| Locksmith Business | $8,000 - $49,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +63% |
| Managed IT Services | $15,000 - $105,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +41% |
| Manufacturing Business | $89,000 - $1,472,000 | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | +49% |
| Marketing Agency | $25,000 - $143,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +98% |
| Martial Arts Studio | $41,000 - $205,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +37% |
| Masonry Business | $22,000 - $112,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +41% |
| Massage Therapy Practice | $8,000 - $74,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +49% |
| Meal Prep Business | $25,000 - $121,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +27% |
| Med Spa | $253,000 - $745,000 | $250,000 - $600,000 | +17% |
| Medical Practice | $150,000 - $873,000 | $70,000 - $500,000 | +79% |
| Microgreens Farm | $3,000 - $22,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Mini Golf Course | $130,000 - $765,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | +49% |
| Mobile Mechanic | $9,000 - $60,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +25% |
| Moving Company | $32,000 - $160,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +13% |
| Mushroom Farm | $16,000 - $123,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +54% |
| Music School | $37,000 - $184,000 | $25,000 - $120,000 | +52% |
| Nail Salon | $50,000 - $196,000 | $40,000 - $150,000 | +29% |
| Notary Business | $2,000 - $15,000 | $1,000 - $5,000 | +183% |
| Plant Nursery | $40,000 - $241,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +61% |
| Oil Change Shop | $61,000 - $332,000 | $40,000 - $250,000 | +36% |
| Online Coaching Business | $5,000 - $31,000 | $1,000 - $10,000 | +227% |
| Online Store | $5,000 - $49,000 | $2,000 - $30,000 | +69% |
| Painting | $13,000 - $67,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +45% |
| Pawn Shop | $69,000 - $263,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +33% |
| Personal Training | $18,000 - $134,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +38% |
| Pest Control | $20,000 - $98,000 | $10,000 - $75,000 | +39% |
| Pet Boarding Facility | $82,000 - $775,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 | +56% |
| Pet Sitting Business | $4,000 - $14,000 | $500 - $5,000 | +227% |
| Pet Store | $73,000 - $382,000 | $60,000 - $300,000 | +26% |
| Pharmacy | $384,000 - $1,989,000 | $250,000 - $1,700,000 | +22% |
| Phone Repair Shop | $15,000 - $74,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +48% |
| Photography Business | $13,000 - $101,000 | $10,000 - $50,000 | +90% |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | $69,000 - $391,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +31% |
| Pilates Studio | $42,000 - $199,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +34% |
| Pizza Shop | $104,000 - $395,000 | $75,000 - $300,000 | +33% |
| Plumbing | $20,000 - $109,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +12% |
| Podcast Studio | $25,000 - $124,000 | $15,000 - $80,000 | +57% |
| Pool Construction Business | $69,000 - $391,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +31% |
| Pool Cleaning & Service | $8,000 - $42,000 | $5,000 - $25,000 | +67% |
| Preschool | $105,000 - $417,000 | $80,000 - $300,000 | +37% |
| Pressure Washing Business | $4,000 - $26,000 | $3,000 - $20,000 | +30% |
| Print-on-Demand Business | $4,000 - $21,000 | $500 - $8,000 | +194% |
| Printing Business | $62,000 - $312,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +25% |
| Property Management Company | $9,000 - $55,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +16% |
| Real Estate Agency | $42,000 - $179,000 | $25,000 - $100,000 | +77% |
| Real Estate Investment Business | $47,000 - $961,000 | $20,000 - $500,000 | +94% |
| Recording Studio | $59,000 - $278,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +35% |
| Restaurant | $113,000 - $448,000 | $75,000 - $250,000 | +73% |
| Retail Store | $51,000 - $310,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +20% |
| Roofing | $32,000 - $173,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +21% |
| SaaS Company | $35,000 - $251,000 | $25,000 - $200,000 | +27% |
| Security Company | $21,000 - $134,000 | $10,000 - $100,000 | +41% |
| Self-Storage Facility | $663,000 - $8,361,000 | $500,000 - $5,000,000 | +64% |
| Senior Care Facility | $173,000 - $1,859,000 | $100,000 - $1,500,000 | +27% |
| SEO Agency | $14,000 - $92,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +93% |
| Sign Shop | $28,000 - $137,000 | $20,000 - $100,000 | +38% |
| Smoke Shop | $42,000 - $199,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +34% |
| Solar Installation Business | $69,000 - $391,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +31% |
| Spa | $116,000 - $446,000 | $100,000 - $350,000 | +25% |
| Staffing Agency | $56,000 - $244,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +67% |
| Subscription Box Business | $10,000 - $71,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +47% |
| Swim School | $69,000 - $391,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +31% |
| Tanning Salon | $69,000 - $327,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +32% |
| Tattoo Shop | $42,000 - $199,000 | $30,000 - $150,000 | +34% |
| Tax Preparation Business | $13,000 - $74,000 | $8,000 - $40,000 | +81% |
| Tech Startup | $31,000 - $247,000 | $20,000 - $150,000 | +64% |
| Thrift Store | $31,000 - $173,000 | $20,000 - $120,000 | +46% |
| Tire Shop | $74,000 - $363,000 | $50,000 - $250,000 | +46% |
| Tour Company | $17,000 - $105,000 | $10,000 - $80,000 | +36% |
| Towing Company | $69,000 - $357,000 | $50,000 - $300,000 | +22% |
| Trampoline Park | $521,000 - $2,421,000 | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | +18% |
| Travel Agency | $11,000 - $60,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +103% |
| Tree Service | $22,000 - $137,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +38% |
| Trucking Company | $26,000 - $328,000 | $15,000 - $400,000 | -15% |
| Tutoring Business | $5,000 - $27,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +88% |
| Used Car Dealer | $64,000 - $427,000 | $50,000 - $350,000 | +23% |
| Vape Shop | $39,000 - $190,000 | $25,000 - $150,000 | +31% |
| Vending Machine Business | $8,000 - $75,000 | $5,000 - $50,000 | +51% |
| Veterinary Clinic | $442,000 - $2,871,000 | $300,000 - $2,000,000 | +44% |
| Videography Business | $17,000 - $79,000 | $10,000 - $60,000 | +37% |
| Virtual Assistant Business | $2,000 - $13,000 | $500 - $3,000 | +329% |
| Waste Management Business | $42,000 - $485,000 | $30,000 - $500,000 | -1% |
| Web Design Business | $6,000 - $35,000 | $3,000 - $25,000 | +46% |
| Wedding Planning Business | $11,000 - $48,000 | $5,000 - $30,000 | +69% |
| Welding Business | $26,000 - $152,000 | $15,000 - $100,000 | +55% |
| Window Cleaning Business | $3,000 - $22,000 | $2,000 - $15,000 | +47% |
| Winery | $110,000 - $1,449,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | +42% |
| Yoga Studio | $66,000 - $262,000 | $50,000 - $200,000 | +31% |
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Local Market Factors in Honolulu
192.5%
Cost of Living Index
$30-$75
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)
1.3x
Labor Rate Index
4.5%
Sales Tax Rate
Local Permit Fees in Honolulu
| Permit | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Business License | $100 - $400 |
| Food Service Permit | $300 - $700 |
| Liquor License | $2,000 - $8,000 |
| General Contractor License | $150 - $400 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $50 - $150 |
About Starting a Business in Honolulu
Honolulu is the most expensive major U.S. city to start a business, with commercial rents and labor costs significantly above the national average. However, the tourism-driven economy creates strong and consistent demand for hospitality, food, and service businesses year-round.
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