Lesson 2 · Hawaii
Registered Agent in Hawaii (2026): a 6-Step Lesson and the 3 Best Agents
Key facts
By the end you will know
- What Hawaii requires of a registered agent
- The address and eligibility rules
- How to put the agent on record
- How the graded agents compare
The Hawaii services we recommend
1. HI Registered Agent.org: best for a low yearly agent price
We would start a new founder with HI Registered Agent.org: $99 a year buys a Hawaii agent with an office in the state.
Cost decides this one: across three years it totals less than Mainstay Filing.
What the price covers
- A Hawaii street address
- Served documents posted online
Marks in its favor
- $99 yearly
- A smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
Where it loses points
- Hawaii only; any other state needs its own agent
- No help with the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report
2. Mainstay Filing: best for one agent for every state
For number 2 we picked Mainstay Filing: a flat yearly price of $149 no matter which state the LLC is in.
Over three years it costs $150 more than HI Registered Agent.org, and cost makes up 32% of the grade.
What the price covers
- An in-state office address
- A same-business-day scan of each served paper comes at no charge
- Government mail scanned free, three pieces a year
- Also works for nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs
Marks in its favor
- Goes with you to any state
- $149 a year
Where it loses points
- Costs $50 more each year
- Reports are not filed on this plan
3. Hawaii Registered Agent.co: best for another Hawaii choice
Next on the report card comes Hawaii Registered Agent.co, graded third: $99 a year buys a Hawaii agent with an office in the state.
On price it is level with HI Registered Agent.org.
What the price covers
- A Hawaii street address
- Served documents posted online
Marks in its favor
- A smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
- $99 yearly
Where it loses points
- Hawaii only; any other state needs its own agent
- No help with the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report
The 3 graded picks compared
| # | Service | Annual price | Renewal price | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HI Registered Agent.org | $99 | $99/yr | $297 | Visit HI Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $149 | $149/yr | $447 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Hawaii Registered Agent.co | $99 | $99/yr | $297 | Visit Hawaii Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
How to set up your Hawaii agent
-
Step
1Begin with the legal requirement
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Where this comes from: The official page is capitol.hawaii.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
-
Step
2See who is allowed to act
A Hawaii resident, or a business entity formed in Hawaii or authorized to do business there. The LLC cannot be its own agent. Authority: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 428-107.
-
Step
3Get the address right
The address has to be a place of business with a street address in Hawaii. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Hiring a service keeps your own address off the public record.
-
Step
4Settle who will be the agent
Naming yourself is allowed for those who meet the rules, and the graded agents cost $99 to $149 annually.
-
Step
5Name the agent in the filing
The Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LLC-1) asks for the agent's name and address, and the Hawaii Secretary of State also accepts change filings for LLCs that switch agents.
Where this comes from: The official page is cca.hawaii.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
-
Step
6Keep the details up to date
Hawaii sees your agent's details through the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report ($12.50, every year, due last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized), and the state's letters about it go to your registered agent.
Where this comes from: The official page is files.hawaii.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
What the agent costs in Hawaii
| Item | Paid to | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hiring an agent | Service | $99 to $149 a year |
| From year two | Service | $99 to $149 a year |
| State report | State | $12.50 every year |
Why this order
won on tuition over three years (32% of the grade), with right behind.
Over years one to three, HI Registered Agent.org costs $297 and Mainstay Filing costs $150 more.
Questions students ask
Must a Hawaii LLC have a registered agent?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Can I be my own registered agent?
The answer is yes when you satisfy the eligibility and address rules laid out in steps 2 and 3.
Can I change my registered agent later?
Yes. Switching means a change filing with the Hawaii Secretary of State (see step 5).
What does a registered agent cost in Hawaii?
Expect $99 to $149 a year.
What does the LLC pay the state each year?
$12.50 every year for the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report.
Which registered agent would you choose?
HI Registered Agent.org: $99 a year with no jump at renewal, for an LLC that stays in Hawaii. Then come Mainstay Filing and Hawaii Registered Agent.co.
Class references
- Class reference on Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division release of July: cca.hawaii.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: files.hawaii.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source: cca.hawaii.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source: cca.hawaii.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Hawaii registered agent statute: capitol.hawaii.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- HI Registered Agent.org pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing Hawaii service page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- Hawaii Registered Agent.co pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026