Selling a cheeseburger in paradise can easily take up to eight licenses and permits. Although ever-relaxed Hawaii is less regulated than many other western states, it has a number of its own island-state-specific ways. Foreigners looking to set-up shop should take special care thoroughly research their operational licenses.
In Hawaii, governments at all levels – federal, state, county and city – need supplies and services. Governments do a significant amount of business with the private sector and can be fantastic clients and customers to businesses in many industries. Any business can apply to do business with any governmental body through a vendor registration process.