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Starting a Small Business in Hawaii

Welcome to the Small Business Startup Hawaii Franchise Directory! Here, you’ll find everything you need to begin your journey to business ownership in The Aloha State. If you’re considering starting a small business in Hawaii, read on for an overview of the state economy. Afterward, explore business opportunities and franchises for sale with our Hawaii Franchise Search Tool.

Hawaii Industry Trends

If an industry is performing well, business opportunities within it are often worth exploring. Begin your market research with this list of the Hawaii economy’s most prominent industries in 2022. Afterward, take your research one step further by investigating niche markets and B2B opportunities within one of these top revenue-generating industries.

Tourism (Revenue: $218.7 billion)
Hotels & Motels (Revenue: $11.1 billion)
Public Schools (Revenue: $9.2 billion)
Health & Medical Insurance (Revenue: $5.5 billion)
Hospitals (Revenue: $5.2 billion)
New Car Dealers (Revenue: $4.7 billion)
Commercial Banking (Revenue: $4.7 billion)
Supermarkets & Grocery Stores (Revenue: $4.2 billion)
Warehouse Clubs & Supercenters (Revenue: $3.5 billion)
Specialist Doctors (Revenue: $33 billion)

Hawaii Sector Statistics

When starting a small business in Hawaii, gross domestic product (GDP) is another tool entrepreneurs can use to make investment decisions. Generally, a steadily rising GDP means that people are spending more money and creating more jobs.

The three sectors that contributed most to Hawaii’s GDP in 2022 were Real Estate, Rentals & Leasing; Healthcare & Social Assistance; and Retail Trade. Combined, these three sectors represented 42.8% of the state’s GDP. In 2022, the sectors that contributed most to Hawaii’s GDP included:

Real Estate & Rental and Leasing (Value: $12.9 billion* | Annual growth: -0.7%)
Healthcare & Social Assistance (Value: $6.2 billion* | Annual growth: 2.4%)
Retail Trade (Value: $5.2 billion* | Annual growth: -2.3%)
Accommodation & Food Services (Value: $4.4 billion* | Annual growth: -28.1%)
Construction (Value: $3.9 billion* | Annual growth: -0.6%)
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (Value: $3.7 billion* | Annual growth: 2.7%)
Finance & Insurance (Value: $3.2 billion* | Annual growth: 6.4%)
Information (Value: $2.7 billion* | Annual growth: 8.7%)
Wholesale Trade (Value: $2.4 billion* | Annual growth: -0.7%)
Administration, Business Support & Waste Management Services (Value: $2.3 billion* | Annual growth: -0.2%)
Transportation & Warehousing (Value: $2.2 billion* | Annual growth: -11.2%)
Manufacturing (Value: $1.5 billion* | Annual growth: -2.0%)
Other Services (except Public Administration) (Value: $1.4 billion* | Annual growth: -3.9%)
Utilities (Value: $1.4 billion* | Annual growth: -3.8%)
Management of Companies and Enterprises (Value: $1.2 billion* | Annual growth: -0.3%)

*Approximately

Hawaii Population Statistics

A growing population often means greater demand and a steady flow of new customers. If you are undecided about the location of your new business, start by investigating population statistics. Afterward, take your research a step further by exploring population demographics. Doing so lets you decide whether a location is a good match for your target market.

In 2022, counties with the highest populations in Hawaii included:

Honolulu (Population: 948,600 | Annual growth rate*: -0.8%)
Hawaii (Population: 205,400 | Annual growth rate*: 0.5%)
Kauai (Population: 71,700 | Annual growth rate*: -0.1%)

*From 2017 to 2022.

Hawaii Business Opportunities

We hope this snapshot of the Hawaii economy helps as you investigate business opportunities in The Aloha State! Starting a small business in Hawaii is an exciting journey, and we know you’re probably eager to start. But remember, take your time to explore all your options. While you’ll always have the “opportunity” to start your own business, sometimes, it makes more sense to invest in an opportunity that already exists. These are called “Franchise Opportunities,” and they offer several benefits, including the recognition of a well-established brand and a proven track record of success.

To learn more, start by exploring franchise opportunities in Hawaii below!

Explore Opportunities and Insights

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Mr. Electric

Mr. Electric, a Neighborly company, is the nation's leading residential and commercial electrical services franchise. With us, business ownership is shockingly simple

$65,000 Min Cash Required

DoodyCalls - Pet Waste Management

With over 25 years of experience and 100+ locations across the United States, DoodyCalls offers the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to start a rewarding business in the pet industry

$50,000 Min Cash Required

Aire Serv

Aire Serv, a Neighborly company, is the nation's leading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services franchise. With us, you'll stay cool while your business heats up

$50,000 Min Cash Required

beem Light Sauna

beem Light Sauna is an innovative health and wellness franchise that is the go-to spot for holistic, science-backed light therapy solutions. At beem, we provide infrared sauna, red light, and chromotherapy services to help improve our members mental and physical well-being. Investing in a beem Light Sauna franchise not only aligns with the rise in holistic healing but also positions you at the forefront of the booming wellness industry.

$50,000 Min Cash Required

CartCapital - Subscription Based E-Commerce Store

Did you know you could partner with a company to build out your entire e-commerce store, from product research to inventory acquisition to marketing? Yep You can easily make 6-7 figures in passive income when we build your e-commerce empire and money-making machine from the ground up All it takes is an upfront investment, and our team will do the rest. By this time next year, you could be sitting on a 7 figure empire. Request more information now

$30,000 Min Cash Required

Proper Ecom

We build and manage Amazon stores for you. You bring the startup capital. We set up your store, add high-demand products, and handle everythinglistings, shipping, customer support, and growth. You own the store and keep the profits. We run the business behind the scenes for you.

Starting a Small Business in Hawaii