- Filing fee
- $51
- Annual Report
- $12.5
- First-year gov. cost
- $71
- Publication
- Not required
The steps, in order
Pick a name Hawaii will accept
Must contain Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., or LLC, and cannot imply government affiliation or use restricted words like Bank without proper licensure.
Search existing Hawaii business names before you commit. Hawaii naming rules in detail.
Appoint a registered agent
Strictly mandates a registered agent with a physical street address within the state; PO boxes are prohibited.
You can serve as your own agent, but your address will be public. Compare Hawaii registered agent options.
File the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1)
Submit it to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division (BREG) through the official filing portal and pay $51. Composed of a $50 base filing fee and a mandatory $1 State Archives preservation fee. Applies uniformly online, by mail, or by fax.
Processing: online 3 to 5 business days; by mail Up to two weeks. Expedite: Suspended in July 2026; standard processing is the only current option..
Write an operating agreement
Highly recommended to outline management structures, but not filed with the DCCA or any other state agency.
Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is free from IRS.gov. You'll need it for a business bank account and, if you hire, for payroll.
Stay in good standing
File the Annual Report ($12.5), due Calendar quarter in which the LLC was originally registered. $10 late penalty per delinquent year Hawaii report deadlines.
Every Hawaii LLC fee
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) | $51 | Composed of a $50 base filing fee and a mandatory $1 State Archives preservation fee. Applies uniformly online, by mail, or by fax. |
| Annual Report | $12.5 | annual, Calendar quarter in which the LLC was originally registered |
| Name reservation (optional) | $10 | 120 days |
| Change of registered agent | $26 | Requires filing Form X-7, which costs $25 plus the $1 archives fee. |
| Amendment | $26 | |
| Certificate of good standing | $7.5 | |
| Application for Certificate of Authority (Form FLLC-1) | $51 | For LLCs formed in another state |
| Articles of Termination (Form LLC-11) | $25 | |
| DBA / assumed name | $51 | state |
How Hawaii compares nationally
- Hawaii's filing fee of $51 is the 9th lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $104).
- Hawaii's first-year government cost of $71 is the 11th lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $125).
- Hawaii's yearly cost after that of $12.5 is the 13th lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $45).
See every state side by side in our LLC cost by state table.
File it yourself or use a service?
Filing directly with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division (BREG) costs $51 and nothing else, but you'll need a registered agent with a Hawaii street address, and that address goes on the public record. A formation service files for you and acts as your agent. Here's what that adds over three years, before Hawaii's own fees:
| Route | Year one with Hawaii fee | 3-year service fees |
|---|---|---|
| File yourself, be your own agent | $51 | $0 |
| Northwest | $90 | $289 |
| Bizee Basic | $51 | $298 |
Bizee vs Northwest, compared · All LLC services ranked
State taxes to plan for
No traditional sales tax, but imposes a General Excise Tax (GET) on gross receipts at a base rate of 4% to 4.5%. High personal income tax rates peak at 11.0%.
What's different about Hawaii
- General Excise Tax (GET) taxes gross business receipts rather than end-consumer sales, requiring almost every LLC to obtain a GET license.
- An across-the-board $1 archives fee applies to nearly every business filing.
More Hawaii LLC guides
Hawaii LLC questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Hawaii?
The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division (BREG) charges $51 to file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1). Counting mandatory first-year items, expect about $71 in government fees (Includes $51 for the Articles of Organization and a mandatory $20 one-time fee for the GET license.).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Hawaii?
Online: 3 to 5 business days. By mail: Up to two weeks. Expedited: Suspended in July 2026; standard processing is the only current option..
Does a Hawaii LLC have to file an annual report?
Yes. Hawaii requires the Annual Report, which costs $12.5, filed annual. Due: Calendar quarter in which the LLC was originally registered. $10 late penalty per delinquent year
Can I be my own registered agent in Hawaii?
Yes. Strictly mandates a registered agent with a physical street address within the state; PO boxes are prohibited. Your agent's address becomes public record.
Does Hawaii require publishing a notice for a new LLC?
No. Hawaii has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs, based on our latest check.
Is an operating agreement required in Hawaii?
Highly recommended to outline management structures, but not filed with the DCCA or any other state agency.
What taxes does a Hawaii LLC pay to the state?
No traditional sales tax, but imposes a General Excise Tax (GET) on gross receipts at a base rate of 4% to 4.5%. High personal income tax rates peak at 11.0%.
Sources and verification
Last checked against official state sources on . States change fees with little notice, so confirm on the filing portal before you pay. How we verify.