Hawaii LLC Filing Requirements and Fees

How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC in Hawaii?

Legal business registration — and keeping your business in good standing — involves some necessary expenses. Some of these costs are payable to the HI Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, while others are due to additional state entities or the federal government. Here are some common requirements and fees.

Please note that Hawaii business license and permit fees may need to be paid when you first form your business, on an ongoing schedule or on an ad hoc basis. Find more details below.

Initial Hawaii LLC Fees

You’ll need to file as an LLC with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG) and pay a filing fee when you first form your business. Here are the current Hawaii LLC fees and filing times:

If you choose to have your LLC formed through Incfile, we charge you this fee and forward it to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG) when we file your formation paperwork.

Employer Identification Number

Every LLC in the U.S. should obtain a unique Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. You'll use it when you open a business bank account, file taxes and pay employees. It's available at no cost from the IRS, or Incfile can get an EIN for you.

Foreign LLCs

When you want to do business in a state other than the one where your business is based, you must create a foreign LLC.

Hawaii Foreign LLC Registration

Foreign companies are those which are formed in another state or country. In order to transact business in Hawaii these entities must register with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division’s Office for Certificate of Authority.

The registration must be accompanied by a certificate of good standing or a certificate of existence from the domestic state of formation. Register your out-of-state foreign company online by using Hawaii’s Business Express portal. The filing fee for a Hawaii Foreign LLC is $50 and an additional $25 to get the filing expedited. The state may have additional requirements so contact the Hawaii DCCA, BREG for more information.

Foreign Qualification to Operate in Another State

If you plan to expand your Hawaii LLC into another state, you’ll first need Foreign Qualification or a Certificate of Authority from that state. This is necessary if you'll have a physical presence, employees or banking in that state.

This process will likely entail completing an application and paying a filing fee, but each state has its own requirements. Contact the state government entity that administers business (usually the Secretary of State) for specific instructions.

If you need assistance, Incfile provides complete Foreign Qualification service for all states.

Annual Report Requirements

Most states — including Hawaii — require businesses to file an annual (or other periodic) report with the Secretary of State. When you file your annual report, you’ll need to pay a fee of $15. Here are the Hawaii annual report filing requirements:

Hawaii Business License and Permit Requirements

It’s your responsibility to make sure you have the proper state, federal or local business licenses to operate your business. Some of the associated fees only need to be paid once, while others are ongoing charges.

Permits and licenses vary based on:

Operating Agreements

The state doesn't require you to have a Hawaii LLC Operating Agreement in place.

An Operating Agreement is usually filed along with your Articles of Organization. It is a document that covers how the business will be run, how managers and members are chosen, rights and duties of members and several other key areas.

This document can be extremely helpful in making sure you’re organized and prepared for any future events that may affect your business.

Other Potential Hawaii LLC Fees or Requirements

You may need to pay and meet several other fees and requirements during the life of your Hawaii DBA. These ad hoc fees will only be payable in specific circumstances, as listed below.

Obtaining a Trade Name or DBA

If you want to establish a Hawaii DBA (trade name), you must register a trade name (DBA) with the Hawaii DCCA, BREG and pay a filing fee of $50.

Changing the Registered Agent

Your LLC needs an Hawaii Registered Agent to be appointed when you file your Articles of Organization. You can also switch to a new Registered Agent later for a $25 fee by filing updates online with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG).

Reserving a Name for Your LLC

If you don’t want to form your LLC right away, you can reserve a business name for 120 days with the Hawaii DCCA, BREG, via Hawaii’s Business Express portal and pay a fee of $10. First, perform a Hawaii business search and learn about business name rules to ensure you choose a name that meets state requirements.

Amending Certain Facts About Your LLC

Your business formation documents state certain facts about your Hawaii business at the time it's formed. Over time, these facts may change. If they do, you'll need to file any amendments or corrections with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG) for a filing fee of $25. You can do this yourself or have Incfile file it on your behalf.

Getting a Hawaii Certificate of Good Standing

Some organizations will request that you prove your LLC’s compliance with laws and tax requirements. If you need to prove you have met your commitments, you’ll need a Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Existence from the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, BREG. You can obtain one by ordering a Good Standing Certificate (Certificate of Compliance) from the HI DCCA, BREG, and paying a fee of $5.

The fees listed above detail many of the charges a standard LLC will be required to pay in Hawaii. In some unusual circumstances, there may be other one-off, periodic or ad hoc fees not listed above.

Of course, your LLC will also probably need to pay self-employment, payroll, federal, state and sales taxes. More information about taxes can be found on the Hawaii Business Tax page.