Session 1 · Hawaii
How to Start an LLC in Hawaii (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
This lesson at a glance
Lesson goals
- The official fee and form in Hawaii
- The registered agent requirement
- How to stay in good standing
- The services we recommend
If you would like help with the filing
1. HI Registered Agent.org: best for founders staying in Hawaii
HI Registered Agent.org earns the highest mark because it forms the Hawaii LLC for $199 and covers the agent for year one, after which the agent renews at $99.
It costs less than Mainstay Filing over three years, and three-year cost is 32% of the grade.
The Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report remains on your to-do list every year.
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Then $99 a year
- $199 and the state fee
- Year one of agent service is in the price
Where it loses points
- There is no Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report service
- It charges $99 for the EIN step
2. Hawaii Registered Agent.co: best for another Hawaii choice
Hawaii Registered Agent.co lands in second place, and the reason is clear: it forms the Hawaii LLC for $199 and covers the agent for year one, after which the agent renews at $99.
The Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report remains on your to-do list every year.
On price it is level with HI Registered Agent.org.
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Then $99 a year
- $199 and the state fee
- Year one of agent service is in the price
Where it loses points
- There is no Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report service
- It charges $99 for the EIN step
3. Mainstay Filing: best for skipping the annual report paperwork
Next on the report card comes Mainstay Filing, graded third: one yearly price of $199 does three lesson steps for you: the filing, the registered agent and the annual report.
Three years run $200 higher than HI Registered Agent.org.
You never file the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report yourself; only the $12.50 state fee is added.
What the price covers
- Your formation filing is prepared and submitted
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- State fee billed at cost
Marks in its favor
- No jump at renewal ($199)
- $199 a year pays for filing and agent and report
- It takes care of the EIN application
Where it loses points
- HI Registered Agent.org renews for $100 less
Our Hawaii picks side by side
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HI Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit HI Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Hawaii Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Hawaii Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Starting an LLC in Hawaii, one step at a time
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Step
1Come up with a name
Type the name into the business search at the Hawaii Secretary of State before you file anything, so you do not pick one that is in use.
Keep a second choice in your pocket.
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Step
2Find your registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Hawaii resident, or a business entity formed in Hawaii or authorized to do business there. The LLC cannot be its own agent.
The address has to be a place of business with a street address in Hawaii. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Each of the picks above is able to act as your registered agent.
Where this comes from: The official page is capitol.hawaii.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
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Step
3Decide: do it yourself or hire help
You can file on your own and pay the state $51, or let a service do it for $199 more; the grades are above.
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Step
4Deliver the Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company
When the Hawaii Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LLC-1) together with $51 (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 428-203), the LLC exists.
Where this comes from: The official page is cca.hawaii.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
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Step
5Ask the IRS for an EIN
With the Hawaii approval in hand, ask the IRS for an EIN so the LLC can open accounts in its own name. The EIN application is one of the things Mainstay Filing does for you.
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Step
6Sign an operating agreement
The owners sign an operating agreement covering shares, votes and what happens if someone leaves. It stays in your files and is not filed with the state.
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Step
7Look ahead to year two
Once a year the LLC files the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report and pays $12.50; the due date is last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized. A late filing costs $10 more.
Where this comes from: The official page is files.hawaii.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
The cost of this lesson
| Cost item | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Filing the LLC | To the state | $51 |
| The yearly report | To the state | $12.50 every year |
| If the report is late | To the state | $10 |
| Help from a service | Service | $199 in year one |
| Three years of state fees | To the state | $76 |
How the grade worked out
Tuition over three years decided first place in Hawaii. It is worth 32% of the grade, and the rest comes from homework the price handles, year-two price, fit with the state's lesson plan and pricing a beginner can read.
HI Registered Agent.org totals $397 for three years, leaving $200 in your pocket compared with Mainstay Filing.
Common questions
What will I pay to set up an LLC with Hawaii?
Filing costs $51. Add $199 if a service files it for you.
Which form creates the LLC?
The Hawaii Secretary of State receives the Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LLC-1), the filing that forms the company.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Hawaii require each year?
The yearly task is the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report ($12.50, every year, due last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized).
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes, you may. Pay the state $51 when you file, and remember that the LLC still needs a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
HI Registered Agent.org first, then Hawaii Registered Agent.co and Mainstay Filing; HI Registered Agent.org leads on tuition over three years.
Class references
- Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division release of July is covered in the official page at cca.hawaii.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source is covered in the official page at files.hawaii.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source is covered in the official page at cca.hawaii.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source is covered in the official page at cca.hawaii.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- Hawaii registered agent statute is covered in the official page at capitol.hawaii.gov; our notes follow it as of October 2026.
- On November 13, 2026 we read the pricing page of HI Registered Agent.org
- On November 13, 2026 we read the pricing page of Hawaii Registered Agent.co
- On November 13, 2026 we read the Hawaii service page of Mainstay Filing