How to form an LLC in Hawaii

This page is for a person who lives in Hawaii, will do the work in Hawaii, and is choosing between remaining a sole proprietor and filing a domestic Hawaii LLC. Compare the structures on LLC vs sole proprietorship.

Short version for 2026: file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) through the official Hawaii Business Express, expect $51 regular ($50 filing fee + $1 State Archives fee), use the Hawaii registered agent, then calendar the annual report ($15 paper / $12.50 online) by the deadline for the registration quarter. Pay what the official portal shows and keep the receipt.

At a glance: Hawaii LLC fees

• Formation: $50 filing fee plus the additional $1 State Archives fee ($51 regular total)
• Recurring state filing: $15 paper / $12.50 online; expedited review is listed separately at $25
• Timing: annual report due by March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 based on the registration quarter; the information sheet lists a $10 late fee per delinquent year online

File in Hawaii if the work is in Hawaii

A domestic Hawaii LLC starts with the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) filed with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. The official filing path is Hawaii Business Express. A company formed somewhere else that transacts business in Hawaii uses a different foreign-registration process; see Foreign LLC and certificate of authority.

Have a distinguishable LLC name, the principal office information, the Hawaii registered agent, and the organizer or authorized signature details required by the current state form. The operating agreement is kept with the company records rather than filed with this formation document unless the state says otherwise.

What to have ready

• A distinguishable LLC name with an allowed identifier. Search the state entity database before filing.
• Principal office and mailing information, plus the information the current Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) form requests.
• Hawaii registered agent with a Hawaii address as required by the state filing path.
• Organizer, payment method, and the published formation fee: $50 filing fee plus the additional $1 State Archives fee ($51 regular total).

File through Hawaii Business Express

Start with the official state page in the Sources section. Select the domestic LLC formation path, enter the entity details, review the current fee total, and save the acceptance. The state’s form and checkout screen control any processor, expedited-review, or other line item not listed here.

After the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) is filed

The state filing creates the entity record. It does not replace separate licensing, tax-account, payroll, or local requirements that may apply to the business. After acceptance, obtain the EIN, keep the acceptance with the company records, and use the state’s current instructions for any follow-on filing.

Annual report — based on the registration quarter

Hawaii’s DCCA information sheet sets the annual-report deadline by registration quarter: March 31 for January–March registrations, June 30 for April–June, September 30 for July–September, and December 31 for October–December. The DCCA fee table lists the annual report at $15; the information sheet lists $12.50 for online filing and a $10 late fee per delinquent year online. A domestic LLC formed in the same year the report is due does not file that year.

Keep the registered-agent and principal-office information current. Cross-state renewals: LLC annual report and annual registration.

Hawaii LLC FAQ

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Hawaii?

Hawaii DCCA lists the domestic Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) at $50, plus a $1 State Archives fee. Expedited service is a separate $25 line. The regular listed total is therefore $51 before any other checkout line.

What recurring report does a Hawaii LLC file?

Yes. Hawaii LLCs file an annual report by the end of the registration quarter: March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31. DCCA lists $15 for the report and its information sheet lists $12.50 online; delinquent online filings add $10 per year delinquent.

Does a Hawaii LLC need a registered agent?

The Form LLC-1 filing asks for registered-agent information under Hawaii’s LLC statute. Use the current DCCA form and the address requirements shown in the filing path. Compare DIY and commercial options: Registered agent basics for a new LLC.

Should I form in Wyoming or Delaware if I live and work in Hawaii?

For a one-state operator who lives and works in Hawaii, home-state filing is the straightforward default. An out-of-state LLC that transacts business in Hawaii may need a separate foreign registration, registered agent, and recurring filing calendar. See Foreign LLC and certificate of authority.

Do I get an EIN before or after filing the Hawaii LLC?

After the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) is accepted. The IRS application is free on IRS.gov. Walkthrough: Get an EIN after the state entity exists.

What this page does not cover

• Professional, series, nonprofit, or specialized LLC filings beyond the standard domestic path.
• Local licenses, sales-tax registration, employer accounts, or industry-specific approvals.
• Foreign qualification beyond the overview linked above.
• Voluntary dissolution or reinstatement; confirm the current state filing path before submitting either.