A DBA (Doing Business As) registration must be requested if you are beginning a business in Hawaii and intend to use a name other than your own. An instruction manual for submitting a DBA in Hawaii is provided below:
Step 1: Pick a Name
You must first select a name for your company that is not already registered in Hawaii before applying for a DBA. By performing a search on the Hawaii Business Express website, you can determine whether the name you have in mind is available.
Step 2: Complete the Application
After deciding on a name, submit an Application for Registration of Trade Name to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) in order to register a DBA. The application is accessible online at the DCCA website or in person at the department’s Honolulu office.
Step 3: Pay the cost
The $50 filing cost for a DBA registration in Hawaii must be made out to the State Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs on a check or money order. The application must be completed and submitted with the appropriate fee.
Step 4: Publish the Notice
Following the submission of your DBA registration application, you must publish a notice of your registration in a newspaper with a wide readership in the county where your company is based. For three weeks in a row, the notice must be published once each week.
The DCCA must issue you a Certificate of Trade Name Registration following the publication of the notice, which is the fifth step. The certificate will serve as evidence that you have permission to use the trade name of your choice.
In Hawaii, there is a tax on commercial activities called the general excise tax (GET). Regardless of whether they are based in Hawaii or not, all companies that conduct business there are obligated to pay GET. The tax, which is now set at 4.5 percent, is based on the company’s gross income.
In Hawaii, how do I cancel my GE license? By sending a written request to the Hawaii Department of Taxation, you can cancel your general excise tax (GET) license if you no longer require it in Hawaii. Your company name, GET license number, and the cause for cancellation should all be included in the request. Before your license can be revoked, you must also submit a final GET return and settle any outstanding tax debts.