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Hawaii state guide - 6 lessons

How to start an LLC in Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the cheapest states to form an LLC in, with a $50 Articles of Organization filing and a $15 annual report, but it replaces the sales tax most owners expect with the General Excise Tax, a tax on nearly all gross business receipts rather than only retail sales. This guide covers naming, the registered agent, filing Form LLC-1, EIN and GET registration, and the annual report, in the order you will need them.

Hawaii LLC facts at a glance

Hawaii LLC facts at a glance
Official filing agencyHawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division
Formation documentArticles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LLC-1)
State filing fee$50
Filing methodsOnline through Hawaii Business Express, Mail, email, or fax to the Business Registration Division in Honolulu
Typical processing (recent)5-7 business days
Typical expedited processing1-3 business days for an extra $25
Registered agentRequired continuously. Must have a business address in Hawaii and consent to accept service of process on the LLC's behalf
Annual Report$15, due End of anniversary quarter
Late penalty$10 + administrative dissolution
State-level business taxNo franchise tax on LLCs. 4.4%-6.4% corporate income tax if C-Corp elected.
Publication requirementNone
Formation filing fee$50 for Form LLC-1, Articles of Organization, with a $25 expedited review fee available on top
Name reservation$10 to reserve a limited liability company name with the Business Registration Division
Annual Report fee$15 for domestic and foreign LLCs, with a $25 expedited review fee available
General Excise Tax licenseA one-time $20 fee to register with the Department of Taxation before you start doing business

Processing times reflect recent official guidance and change often. Check the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division current processing calendar before you rely on a date.

File it yourself

Hawaii accepts filings directly from business owners. You do not need us, or any other company, to form your LLC. Here is the official portal.

Hawaii Business Express

The Hawaii lessons

  1. 1Name your Hawaii LLCRequired wording, distinguishability, and the $10 name reservation.
  2. 2Appoint your Hawaii registered agentWho qualifies under HRS 428-107, and how the agent connects to the annual report.
  3. 3File the Articles of OrganizationForm LLC-1, the $50 fee, online versus paper filing, and expedited review.
  4. 4Get an EIN and open a bank accountThe free IRS EIN, registering for the General Excise Tax license, and separating funds.
  5. 5Hawaii LLC taxes: the General Excise Tax, not sales taxHow GET differs from sales tax, the state income tax on members, and county surcharges.
  6. 6File the Hawaii Annual ReportThe $15 fee, the anniversary-quarter deadline, and administrative dissolution risk.
Start lesson 1

Related Gullia Filing pages

Or let us file your Hawaii LLC for you

Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LLC-1), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.

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Official sources

Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team, Corporate formation specialists and registered agents