Register your Hawaii LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay Hawaii’s own $51 state fee.
- Enter your desired LLC name
- Choose your state
- Receive your LLC and free EIN by email
Trusted by Thousands Nationwide
What is an LLC in Hawaii?
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a simple structure for running your business under a professional name. It separates your business from your personal name, and it's the most common way to add a partner, sell the business, or look like a real company instead of a side project.
That separation goes further than the name. If the business owes money or gets sued, your house, car, and personal bank accounts are generally off-limits — as long as you run the LLC properly. It doesn't protect you from something you personally did wrong.
A sole proprietorship skips all of that. You're doing business under your own name or a DBA, and everything stays tied to you personally.
A corporation does the same separation as an LLC, but it's built for a different job: issuing stock and bringing in outside investors. An LLC is simpler to run and cheaper to keep up if that's not you right now. In Hawaii, both cost the same $51 to file — the choice comes down to how you want to run it, not what it costs to start.
Benefits of an LLC in Hawaii
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “Hawaii Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs)
- Get a matching domain like HawaiiCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a Hawaii LLC
Your $51 filing fee is really two things: $50 for your Articles of Organization, plus a $1 State Archives fee Hawaii collects on every permanent business filing — both included when you file here. Hawaii also sells a real expedite option: pay $25 more and your filing moves ahead of the standard queue, something Florida doesn't offer at any price.
Hawaii has no general franchise tax on an LLC or corporation, and no newspaper publication step to file one. It does have its own corporate income tax on top of everything above — 4.4% to 6.4%, based on income — so it isn't a no-tax state the way Florida or Texas is.
Cost to start an LLC in Hawaii
$51 to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — that's it. We don't charge a filing fee on top of it. A Hawaii corporation runs $51 through the same process.
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| Hawaii state filing feespaid to the state — same for everyone | $51 | $51 |
Free EIN with your Hawaii LLC
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is what opens a business bank account and identifies your company to the IRS — it's like a Social Security Number for your LLC. It's included at no extra cost, right alongside your LLC.
LLC vs Corporation in Hawaii
An LLC is simpler and more flexible, and keeps “LLC” in your business name. A corporation is a more formal structure built for issuing stock and outside investment, and keeps “Inc” or “Corp” in the name instead. 97% of our clients choose an LLC.
What is a Sole Proprietor in Hawaii?
A sole proprietorship means you're doing business as an individual. You can register a Trade Name with the state to use a name other than your own. As an individual, you can't add a partner to the business, because everything is tied to your personal name and Social Security Number. If you later want to add partners or sell the business, you'll need to start an LLC or corporation.
File a DBA Under Your LLC
Hawaii calls a DBA a Trade Name. It lets one LLC operate under more than one business name. It's filed with the same Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs that formed your LLC, not the county.
A Trade Name isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: Hawaii Company, LLC dba Hawaii Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in Hawaii
A DBA only gives you another name to use. The LLC is the actual business entity that owns the DBA name and holds all legal rights.
Common Questions
Why start an LLC in Hawaii?
It separates the business from your own name, lets you add or remove owners as the business grows, and reads as a real, established company.
How long does it take to get a Hawaii LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. Hawaii doesn't publish a fixed number of days for standard review, but it does sell a real expedite option — $25 moves your filing ahead of the queue.
What's Hawaii's LLC annual report, and what does it cost?
$15, due by the last day of whichever quarter contains your original registration date — not one fixed date for every LLC. It's a state filing requirement, not a tax. Miss it and the penalty can run up to $100 for every 30 days it's unpaid; miss it for 2 years straight and Hawaii can terminate the LLC.
Do I need an EIN for my Hawaii LLC?
Yes, for a business bank account and for the IRS to recognize your company. It's included free when you file here.
What's a registered agent, and do I need one?
A registered agent is the address Hawaii sends legal mail to. Every LLC needs one, and it's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need an operating agreement?
Hawaii doesn't require one to file, but a bank often asks for one to open your business account. You can add it when you file, or write your own later.
Still deciding on a name?
Try the free name generator — type a word you like, get real available options back, then come straight here to file.
Page updates (1)
- July 6, 2026 — Hawaii's Business Registration Division switched to a new online filing system, replacing the previous portal. Hawaii DCCA →
Sources (6)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against Hawaii's own filing agency and revenue agency — verified September 20, 2026.
- Hawaii DCCA — LLC Fee Schedule — the $50 filing fee, $25 expedite, $15 annual report
- Hawaii DCCA — Domestic Limited Liability Company — the filing agency, the $1 State Archives fee, the filing portal
- Hawaii DCCA — Form LLC-INFO — HRS §428-210 (annual report quarter mechanic), §428-1302 (late penalty), §428-809 (administrative termination)
- Hawaii DCCA — Domestic Profit Corporation Fees — the $50 Articles of Incorporation fee
- Hawaii DCCA — Trade Name Fees — the $50 Trade Name filing fee
- Hawaii Department of Taxation — Tax Facts 37-1 — the General Excise Tax vs. sales tax