Forming an LLC in Hawaii: Requirements, Fees, and Process
Formation runs $199 one time plus Hawaii's $51 state filing fee — we draft and submit your Articles of Organization. Staying compliant afterward takes a Hawaii registered agent, a separate $99/year line item.
A Hawaii LLC exists once the state accepts a single filing: Articles of Organization on Form LLC-1, submitted to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Business Registration Division. No Secretary of State exists in Hawaii; BREG is the office that processes formations. From acceptance forward, the LLC needs a registered agent on file continuously and an annual report each year.
Our $199 Filing Service
$199 covers drafting and submission through BREG, start to finish.
What Hawaii Charges: the $50 Filing Fee Plus the $1 Archives Fee
The filing fee for Form LLC-1 is $50, nonrefundable, under HRS § 428-203. BREG collects a mandatory $1 State Archives preservation fee at payment, making $51 the total collected. Expedited review is optional at $25 more.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Our formation service | $199, one time |
| Hawaii filing fee (to BREG) | $50 plus the $1 Archives fee; $51 collected |
| Registered agent, required continuously | $99/year |
| Annual report | $12.50 online, $15 paper |
Hawaii also levies its General Excise Tax (GET) on business income: 4% statewide, 4.5% on Oahu.
Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LLC-1)
Form LLC-1 carries the caption "Section 428-203, Hawaii Revised Statutes", and that statute's opening line sets the form's contents: "Articles of organization of a limited liability company shall set forth: (1) The name of the company". Required entries run from the company name and principal office through the registered agent's name and Hawaii street address, the management structure (member-managed or manager-managed), and the organizer's signature.
Current fees for the form are published on BREG's domestic LLC fee schedule. Filing runs online through Hawaii Business Express or on paper to BREG; online is the state's preferred channel, and the $25 expedite jumps the standard review queue.
The Formation Sequence
- Clear the name. Include an LLC designator, verify distinguishability in BREG's entity search, and skip restricted terms (bank, insurance, anything implying government) unless licensed for them.
- Lock in a registered agent. Required from day one: a Hawaii street address, business-hours availability, on file without interruption (HRS § 425R-4). Our $99/year service puts our address in the registry instead of yours.
- Submit Form LLC-1 to BREG. Pay the $50 fee; BREG collects $51 once the Archives fee is added. Hawaii Business Express online, or paper by mail.
- Draft the operating agreement. Internal document, never filed with the state. It settles ownership, allocations, authority, and exits; skip it and HRS chapter 428's defaults settle those questions instead.
- Pull the EIN. Free at IRS.gov, issued immediately on completion. Banking and payroll both require it. Never worth paying a middleman.
- Hold the compliance line. Annual report in your assigned quarter every year, agent appointment unbroken, business and personal finances separated. Lapses invite administrative termination and the loss of liability protection until reinstatement.
The Registered Agent Requirement
No Hawaii LLC is exempt. The agent must:
- Keep a street address in Hawaii (a PO box alone fails)
- Be reachable through standard business hours for legal delivery
- Relay state and legal mail fast enough to protect response deadlines
Whatever address is listed becomes a public-registry entry. Our $99/year service keeps that entry pointed at our office rather than your home.
Questions People Ask
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Hawaii?
The state's filing fee is $50, plus the $1 Archives fee, for $51 total collected by BREG. The recurring state obligation afterward is the annual report at $12.50 online or $15 on paper.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Hawaii?
Online filings through Hawaii Business Express enter the review queue immediately, and BREG processes submissions in order. The optional $25 expedited review moves a filing ahead of standard processing when timing matters.
Does Hawaii require an annual report?
Yes, annually, due by the last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized. $12.50 online, $15 paper.
Do I need a registered agent for my Hawaii LLC?
Yes. A Hawaii street address, on file without interruption, for the life of the LLC.
Can I form an LLC in Hawaii if I live in another state?
Yes. Ownership carries no residency requirement. Only the registered agent must be in Hawaii, which is the exact gap our $99/year service fills.
Launch Your Hawaii LLC
Direct filing with BREG is open to anyone, and the state collects the same $50 plus $1 regardless of who submits. The agent obligation applies either way.
Put our details on the formation document and the public record shows our address: $99 annually for the Hawaii address on file, same-day scanning of whatever arrives, and deadline alerts before every filing window.
Want the agent product without the LLC filing? The agent-only plan is $99 annually.
More questions about launching an LLC in Hawaii or our agent service? See the FAQ or contact us throughout the business day.
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Begin coverage today for a year of dependable support — address, scanning, and proactive reminders.