Step 1: Choose a name Hawaii will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Hawaii Business Registration Division's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Hawaii against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $10, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Hawaii who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Hawaii companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Hawaii Business Registration Division. The fee is $50. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Faster service: not available while the Division moves to its new online portal (since July 6, 2026). (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Hawaii doesn't require one (HRS § 428-103(a)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Hawaii LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Hawaii has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Hawaii LLC annual report
Fee: $15 paper; $12.50 online; $10 late fee online; penalty up to $100 for failure to file. Due: By the end of the calendar quarter in which the LLC was registered (Mar 31, Jun 30, Sep 30 or Dec 31) each year; not required in the year of formation. (Source: LLC info 3 2023 (PDF), cca.hawaii.gov.)
| After formation | Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $12.50 online each year ($15 on paper) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $5 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Hawaii certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Hawaii
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $50 |
| First year, state fees | $50 |
| Each year after | $12.50 |
Over five years, Hawaii's state fees come to $100. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Fees, cca.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Dllc, cca.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Fees, cca.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-07
LLC information sheet (March 2023) (PDF), cca.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-07
FAQs, cca.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-07
HRS § 428-105, capitol.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-07
cca.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Hrs section 428 105 5 administrative order of abatement for infringement of limited liablity company name uniform limited liability act (PDF), cca.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Breg, cca.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Business registration portal, hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Hawaii
- Choose a name Hawaii will accept and check it against the Hawaii Business Registration Division's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Hawaii.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Hawaii Business Registration Division ($50).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Hawaii?
$50 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $50 in the first year and $12.50 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Hawaii?
The Hawaii Business Registration Division doesn't post a standard time. Faster service: not available while the Division moves to its new online portal (since July 6, 2026).
Do I need an operating agreement in Hawaii?
Hawaii doesn't require one (HRS § 428-103(a)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Hawaii online?
Yes. The Hawaii Business Registration Division takes the Articles of Organization online, for $50.
When is the Hawaii LLC annual report due?
By the end of the calendar quarter in which the LLC was registered (Mar 31, Jun 30, Sep 30 or Dec 31) each year; not required in the year of formation.
Does Hawaii require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Hawaii's recurring filing: $12.50 online each year ($15 on paper).