Filed with
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG)
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Hawaii LLC
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG) business filings →The name must contain "Limited Liability Company", "L.L.C." or "LLC" ("Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "Company" "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Hawaii register.
Search the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG) business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Hawaii LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Hawaii, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG) →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG), which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Hawaii operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Hawaii business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Hawaii requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Hawaii sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Hawaii LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Hawaii LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due during the calendar quarter in which the LLC's registration anniversary falls, by the last day of that quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31).
Any business receiving income from activity in Hawaii must hold a General Excise Tax (GET) license from the Department of Taxation and file GET returns
Worth knowing in Hawaii
- Annual Reports can be filed any time during the due quarter, online through the BREG business portal.
- Letters in an LLC name must be letters of the English alphabet.
- Register for a GET license (Form BB-1) before starting business in Hawaii; operating without one carries a penalty.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG) and pay the state fee, act as your Hawaii registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Hawaii?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Hawaii, and file a Articles of Organization with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG). Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Hawaii?
Hawaii charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Hawaii LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Hawaii LLC have to file an annual report?
Hawaii LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due during the calendar quarter in which the LLC's registration anniversary falls, by the last day of that quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31).
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division (BREG) that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Hawaii, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Hawaii?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Hawaii and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
