Opening a Private Detective Agency in Hawai

Cost and Time to Start a Private Investigation Company in Hawaii

So you want to start a private investigation company in the State of Hawaii, well, there are many moving parts to getting this accomplished. 

First you must have your private detective license prior to opening a private investigation company.  This requires an application ($100.00 fee) that proves you have at least a high school education, are over 18, have at least four years experience in investigations, successful testing ($50.00 fee), pass a criminal background check including fingerprinting ($17.00 fee), are mentally stable, and complete a personal interview with the Private Detective and Guard Board.  When you have done that you must provide proof of at least a $5,000.00 bond (between $150.00 and $200.00 per year) and pay the yearly state fee of either $108.00 in an odd year, or $208.00 for an even year.  That process took me about nine months to complete.  

After you have your private detective license, you may then apply for a private investigation company license.  That process requires that you register your business name and information ($50.00 fee) with a different section of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.  I chose to create a LLC without any other employees.   

After your business is successfully registered, you may then complete the application for an investigation company.  It is very similar to the original private detective application.  You will need to provide documentation that your business is in good standing in the state ($5.00 fee, or $10.00 expedited). 

You will be notified of the date and time for your board interview if required.  The board meets every other month, or six times a year.  When you have been notified of your acceptance, you will need to submit an additional bond specific for your company (between $150.00 and $200.00 per year), and pay the additional state licensure fees of either $344.00 for an odd year, or $140.00 for an even year.  That process was longer than my original license.

If you want to use a badge in your business, you must choose one that does not resemble either the Hawaii sheriff or police department badges.  A copy of your badge must be submitted for file for each of the police departments.  This too must be approved prior to use by the Private Detective and Guard Board.

Once your licenses have been approved, they will need to be renewed yearly at the end of June.  

Finding professional insurance for a new private detective agency  ran me just under $1,000.00 for the first year.

You will have to evaluate whether you want to have a web presence.  Costs of a website include securing a web domain name, paying for a web host site, creating and updating the website (about $150.00 a year fee). A static website is not going to be easily located in search engines.  Changes and updates are necessary in the current digital world. I hired a great consultant who walked be through this process.  I would be happy to give you his name upon request.  

Other costs for business include a mailbox address (about $450.00 per year), a business phone number (about $360.00 per year)

Those startup costs ran about $3,000.  

Other things to consider are computers, computer programs, security systems, backup systems, internet connectivity or for me about another $3,000.00 business investment.  

Being a small business owner is not for the feint hearted in Hawaii.  In the next few weeks I will share my experiences filing taxes and the process needed to prove your company is tax compliant and eligible to bid for government jobs.