Hawaii Collection Agency License Guide

In the state of Hawaii, any agency that collects (or attempts to collect) monetary or any other form of debt must first obtain a collection agency license.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) regulates the licensing process. The DCCA is organized into 10 separate divisions, with the Professional and Vocational Licensing (PLV) division overseeing the registration of new Collection Agencies.

Collection agencies licensed in other states can apply for designation as an exempt out-of-state agency. However, such agencies must not have locations within the state of Hawaii, and work only with clients who have no business presence in the state. More information is available in the HRS Chapter 443B.

General information about the licensing process is available on the PLV Collection Agencies page. To access the new Collection Agency License application form (and related documents), go to the Application Form subsection.

• Collection Agency License application form available here.

Note: If the application form was recently updated, the direct link may have expired. In this case, please refer to the PLV page to find the most recent form.

General contractor license applications are available online via the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors:

• Social Security Number: used to verify your identity.
• Proof of Business Registration: required for LLC, LLP, partnerships, and corporations. More info available on the Business Registration Division (BREG) page.
  • Entities that have been registered for less than 12 months must attach a copy of the document filed with BREG.
  • Entities that have been registered for more than 12 months must attach a current "Certificate of Good Standing" or "Certificate of Qualification" available via BREG.
• Trade Name: If you intend on using a trade name, you must attach a copy of "Application for Registration of Trade Name" available through BREG.
• Answer All Disclosure Questions: If you answered “Yes” to any questions, you’ll also need to attach relevant documents. Complete list of required documentation is available in the application form.

Note : Should you require assistance with any of the steps related to business registration, you can receive help by contacting the Business Registration Division (BREG) directly:

1130 North Nimitz Highway
Second Level, Suite A-220
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Phone: (808) 586-2545
Fax: (808) 586-2544

All collection agencies must file and maintain a surety bond. Note that each branch office must also be bonded.

• Bond amount: $25,000
  • Each additional office: $15,000

All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable

Your total amount of fees will be determined based on your registration date:

• If registering between July 1st of an even-numbered year to June 30th of an odd-numbered year (e.g. 07.01.2018 to 06.30.2019):
  • Application fee: $25
  • Registration fee: $68
  • ½ Renewal fee: $68
  • Compliance Resolution Fund: $148
    • Total: $309
• If registering between July 1st of an odd-numbered year to June 30th of an even-numbered year (e.g. 07.01.2019 to 06.30.2020):
  • Application fee: $25
  • Registration fee: $68
  • Compliance Resolution Fund: $74
    • Total: $167

There are two options to submit your application and other required documents.

Mail All Required Documentation to:
Collection Agencies
DCCA, PVL, Licensing Branch
P. O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801

Deliver to Office Location at:
335 Merchant St.
Room 301
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-3000

If you need any assistance with the application process, you can contact the DCCA Consumer Resource Center at (808) 587-3295 or (808) 587-4272.