Start an LLC by State › Hawaii
Starting an LLC in Hawaii: step by step (2026)
To start an LLC in Hawaii, file the Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (LLC-1) with the Hawaii Secretary of State and pay the $51 state fee. $50 filing fee plus the $1 State Archives fee. Hawaii LLCs file a Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due the last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized, for $12.50. Every Hawaii LLC must keep a registered agent with a Hawaii street address.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
- Prices verified October 2026
How to form an LLC in Hawaii
- Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Hawaii Secretary of State business records.
- Name a registered agent: a Hawaii resident, or a business entity formed in Hawaii or authorized to do business there. The LLC cannot be its own agent.
- File the Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (LLC-1) with the Hawaii Secretary of State and pay $51.
- Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
- Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
- File the yearly report. Hawaii LLCs file a Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due the last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized, for $12.50.
Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Hawaii’s fees.
Hawaii LLC fees and rules
- State filing fee
- $51
$50 filing fee plus the $1 State Archives fee. - Formation document
- Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (LLC-1)
- Filed with
- Hawaii Secretary of State
- Yearly filing
- Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report, every year, $12.50
- Due
- Last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized
- Registered agent
- Required. A Hawaii resident, or a business entity formed in Hawaii or authorized to do business there. The LLC cannot be its own agent.
- Agent address
- The address has to be a place of business with a street address in Hawaii. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
- Filing fee rank
- 11th lowest of 50 (10 states charge less, 39 charge more)
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees
$199 a year plus Hawaii’s $51 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
- Compliance reminders
The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.
Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.
Hawaii compared with nearby states
| State | Filing fee | Yearly filing |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $51 | $12.50 / yr |
| California | $70 | $20 / 2 yrs |
| Washington | $200 | $70 / yr |
| Oregon | $100 | $100 / yr |
Hawaii LLC questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Hawaii?
$51 to the state to file. $50 filing fee plus the $1 State Archives fee. Hawaii LLCs file a Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due the last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized, for $12.50. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.
Does Hawaii require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Hawaii LLCs file a Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due the last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized, for $12.50.
Do I need a registered agent in Hawaii?
Yes. A Hawaii resident, or a business entity formed in Hawaii or authorized to do business there. The LLC cannot be its own agent.
Can I form a Hawaii LLC myself?
Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (LLC-1) directly with the Hawaii Secretary of State and pay the $51 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.
Other formation services
- Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
- ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
- Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
- LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.
Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.
Sources
- Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: cca.hawaii.gov/breg/registration/dllc/, checked October 1, 2026
- Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: cca.hawaii.gov/breg/registration/dllc/fees/, checked October 1, 2026
- Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division release of July 1, 2026 ($12.50 online, $15 on paper; $10 late fee per year delinquent, which supersedes the $100-per-30-days maximum printed on the older Form C5): cca.hawaii.gov/breg/third-quarter-hawaii-annual-business-reports-due-2026/, checked October 1, 2026
- Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source read 2026-10-01: files.hawaii.gov/dcca/breg/registration/forms/c5.pdf, checked October 1, 2026
- Hawaii registered agent statute (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 428-107): www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol08_Ch0401-0429/HRS0425R/HRS_0425R-0004.htm, checked October 20, 2026