Field notes on the money questions every trade business owner has — profit, cash, job costing, and building something worth keeping.
Hawaii GET isn't a sales tax — it's a tax on your gross receipts, every dollar, before expenses. Here's exactly how to calculate what you owe, which rate applies, and why charging 4.712% matters.
Most Hawaii business owners treat financial records as a tax chore. They're actually the foundation that determines whether you can get a loan, survive a DOR audit, and sell for what your business is actually worth.
Most cash flow guides were written for the mainland. They don't account for GET tax, import costs, or tourism seasonality. This one does — built specifically for Hawaii small business owners.
Every generic monthly bookkeeping checklist misses what actually matters in Hawaii — GET filing deadlines, state withholding, and the tax obligations that run up penalties quietly. Here's the complete checklist built for Hawaii.
Most Hawaii business owners frame this as a choice. It isn't. A bookkeeper and an accountant do different things — and Hawaii's tax code means getting this wrong costs real money. Here's exactly what each role covers and when your business needs which.
Most Hawaii businesses assume they qualify for a GET exemption. Most don't — at least not the way they think. Hawaii has nearly 60 general excise tax exemptions, and the state found $196.5M in improperly claimed ones in 2021. Here's how to get it right.
Hawaii's GET isn't a sales tax — it's a tax on every dollar your business earns, before expenses. Most owners get this wrong and lose margin every month. Here's how GET actually works, what rate you pay, and how to stay compliant.
