Hawaii LLC Cost

What does it cost to start a business in Hawaii? That’s a great question to ask. Your overall Hawaii LLC cost may encompass additional fees. Here are some of them.

Hawaii LLC Filing Fee –$51

Submitting your Articles of Organization involves a one-time filing fee of $51

Registered Agent Fee – Varies

You can be your own registered agent in Hawaii, but it isn’t recommended. A registered agent has to be available during all normal business hours. Most owners don’t want to be tied to the office this way, and it could really cut into vacation and sick days as well. A registered agent should be factored into your average cost to start a business in Hawaii. We can help you find a registered agent that meets all the necessary requirements with our Hawaii Registered Agent Service.

Annual Report Fee – $12.50 – $15

Hawaii requires annual reports. It’s due by the end of the calendar quarter in which your limited liability company was originally formed. Your Hawaii LLC cost for submitting your Annual Report is $12.50 if filed online or $15 by mail or in person. We can also file it for you using our Hawaii Annual Report Service.

There are a number of factors that can go into your final Hawaii LLC cost. Here are some of the other fees that could apply.

Business Licenses and Permits

Varies: Depending on the industry you’re in and your location, your company may require specific business licenses and permits to operate legally. These could be at the federal, state, or local levels. Each permit or license has a different fee which should be factored into the cost to start a business in Hawaii.

Determining which licenses, permits, and registrations you need can be time-consuming, and you already have a lot of things to do. Together with our partners at Avalara, we can provide a Business License Report that gives you a rundown of everything you need.

Hawaii LLC Name Reservation

$10: Choosing your business name is an important task. It would be awful to choose the perfect name just to have someone register the name before you get the chance.

Doing Business As (DBA)

$50: If you choose to go by a name that isn’t your official LLC name, you’ll need to file a DBA. In Hawaii, this is called a “registered trade name.” Though this is an additional Hawaii LLC fee, it could certainly be worth it when considering the best name to use.

Certificate of Good Standing

$7.50: A Certificate of Good Standing is often required by your business bank and lending institutions to verify that your company is fully compliant with all state business requirements.

Certified Document Copies

$10: You can obtain certified copies of all your Hawaii business documents through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Foreign LLC Registration

$50: If you have an LLC registered in another state but would like to do business in Hawaii, you’ll need to register as a foreign LLC in Hawaii.

Starting at $0 plus state fees, we can form your Hawaii LLC for you in just minutes. No LegalZoom promo code required: Pay just $0 plus filing fees for fast LLC formation in Hawaii. 

There are penalties for filing your limited liability company business documents late. Paying your filing fees is an important part of business compliance. Lack of compliance could prevent you from being able to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing.

Failure to pay the filing fee for your Articles of Organization could result in denial of your limited liability company application. Your business could still operate as a sole proprietorship or general partnership but would lack the personnel protections and tax advantages of a registered LLC. 

Your Hawaii LLC filing fee is paid to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Hawaii LLC cost is one of the few things that’s relatively cheaper on the island than on the mainland. The largest filing fee you’ll incur is your Articles of Organization one-time fee of $51. There’s a chance that your business licenses or permits may be more expensive than this, but those are unique to your industry and location.

If filing your documents online, have your credit card ready. Credit cards can also accompany email and fax filings. The Hawaii government accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, or JCB. Paper filings will need to use the Business Registration Division Credit Card Transaction Form.

Make checks payable to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for the exact amount required for your specific document.