Hawaii LLC Costs – Complete Breakdown (Apr. 2026)

To create your Hawaii Limited Liability Company (LLC), your first step is to submit your Articles of Organization to the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and pay the $51 filing fee. This is your main one-time LLC formation cost.

Once you’re operational, you must complete your Annual Report filing once a year. This requires you to pay a $13.50 fee for online filings or $16.00 for offline filings. Alongside this, you have several formation and maintenance expenses to consider, such as paying applicable taxes and acquiring your necessary business licenses.

I’ve listed the primary Hawaii LLC fees in the table below. Some are one-time formation fees, while others are ongoing operational costs.

In this article, I will discuss the main Hawaii LLC costs to pay when forming and operating your business. I advise reading each section carefully to fully understand how to budget when running your LLC in Hawaii.

Hawaii LLC Costs Breakdown

1. Choosing Your Desired LLC Name ($0)

The first step when forming your Hawaii LLC is to choose a suitable LLC name. You do NOT need to reserve your business name before filing your LLC formation documents with the DCCA. Therefore, this step costs nothing to complete.

• Your desired name needs to be unique and distinguishable compared to existing state businesses.
• Your name must follow the state’s naming rules and regulations.

I highly recommend using the Business & Documents Search. You can compare your desired LLC name against existing businesses registered in the state.

If you want to learn more about how this search tool works, you can read my guide on the Hawaii Business Name Search. I’ve also discussed the different Hawaii naming requirements and regulations.

2. Appointing An Official Registered Agent ($0–$199 Annually)

Under HRS §428-107, all domestic and foreign LLCs operating in Hawaii must appoint and maintain an official Registered Agent. This is an individual or a business that has the primary job of receiving and processing important state regulatory notices, legal filings, and service of process on behalf of your LLC.

You have two main choices when picking your Hawaii Registered Agent, provided that they meet the requirements. They must be available during normal operating hours and maintain a physical state address.

1. A non-commercial Registered Agent: An individual such as yourself, a trusted friend, or a family member.
2. A commercial third-party Registered Agent service.

If you appoint yourself or another individual, you do NOT need to pay an annual fee. While this may save you money, it creates several issues:

• Identity fraud: Your agent’s personal details (name and address) are put on the Hawaii public record. When acting as your own agent, this exposes your personal information to potential fraud.
• Compliance risks: Your agent needs to be available during normal business hours. If you use an individual whose main job isn’t to act as your agent, you increase the risk of missing important state documents and legal notices.

Generally speaking, hiring a Registered Agent costs around $150 to $199 per year.

Read my guide on the Best Hawaii Registered Agents if you want a detailed comparison of the best agents.

3. Filing Your Articles Of Organization ($51)

Under HRS §428-202, you must file your Articles of Organization with the Hawaii DCCA. Once approved, your business becomes legally recognized as a separate entity in the state.

To complete your formation documents filing, you must pay a one-time fee of $50 filing fee + a $1 archive fee. Once you’ve paid, your filing should be approved in 10-15 business days. If you want faster approval, you can use an expedited processing option for an additional fee.

Read my full guide on the Hawaii Articles Of Organization if you want to learn more about your expedited filing options and your other requirements.

4. Making Your LLC’s Operating Agreement ($0)

An LLC internal Operating Agreement is a crucial internal business document outlining how your LLC should be owned, operated, and managed. It’s an important internal rulebook that establishes the rules when running your company. Alongside this, it explains how everyday decisions will be handled.

As an internal business document, you do NOT need to submit it to the DCCA or any other official government agency. Keep a signed hard copy safely stored with your official business records. Make sure that each member keeps a current signed copy for reference.

Your LLC Operating Agreement should clearly specify your LLC management structure:

1. Member-managed LLCs: All members are responsible for the daily decision-making processes and can bind the LLC in contracts.
2. Manager-managed LLCs: Members appoint one or more managers to handle daily operations and make key business decisions. Other LLC members act as passive investors.

You can download my FREE Hawaii LLC Operating Agreement templates below. Once downloaded, you’re able to tailor them to your business needs. If you need step-by-step customization tips, read my Hawaii Operating Agreement guide.

5. Acquiring Your EIN ($0)

You need to acquire an EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when operating your Hawaii LLC. This is completely FREE to get and is required for many important operational tasks. These include:

• Opening a business bank account.
• Hiring LLC employees.
• Filing your required taxes.

If you need a detailed breakdown on how to obtain your EIN in Hawaii, read my guide on How To Get A Hawaii EIN.

You can obtain your Hawaii EIN using two main methods, both based on your U.S. residency status. I’ve discussed both methods in detail in the following sections.

6. Completing Your Required Tax Registrations ($20)

Every Hawaii LLC conducting business must complete and file Form BB-1 (Business Application) with the Department of Taxation. You do NOT need to pay a registration fee.

However, you do need to register for General Excise Tax when completing your application. This tax is required for every LLC and costs $20.

You have three filing methods to choose from:

• Online: Use the Hawaii Tax Online portal.
• Offline: Complete the BB-1 paper form. 
• File in person: Go to the Hawaii Department of Taxation office.

If you want a detailed explanation of the registration process and filing requirements, read my guide on the Hawaii Tax ID Number.

7. Obtaining Your Mandatory Business Licenses And Permits (Varies)

Because of this, your professional and municipal license costs vary widely. Generally speaking, fees range from $50 to over $1,000. Most licenses require periodic renewal, with fees ranging from $25 to several hundred dollars.

I advise checking your specific licensing requirements and associated costs with your county clerk or local city. You can also speak to the appropriate state regulatory agency to verify your requirements.

Read my guide on the Hawaii Business License Requirements And Permits if you need more details on your licensing requirements.

8. Filing Your Hawaii LLC Annual Report ($13.50 Or $16.00 Per Year)

All LLCs registered in Hawaii must file an Annual Report once a year. Under HRS §428-210, this must be done with the DCCA Business Registration Division (BREG).

The standard Annual Report fees are as follows:

• Online submissions: $12.50 + $1 archived fee = $13.50.
• Offline submissions: $15:00 + $1 archived fee = $16.00.

Both methods have a standard processing time of 6-8 weeks. If you want to speed up your processing time, you can pay an additional $25 for expedited processing.

If you file your Annual Report late, you’ll be charged a $10 late fee. Your Hawaii LLC may be administratively dissolved if you don’t file for 2 years.

Read my full guide on completing your required filings here: Hawaii Annual Report.

9. Managing Your Hawaii LLC Tax Responsibilities (Varies)

After completing your required registration with the Hawaii Department of Taxation, your LLC needs to meet its ongoing tax obligations. These depend on your operating location and business activities.

a. Federal Taxes

At the federal level, your Hawaii LLC may be subject to several tax types:

• Federal income tax: This depends on your LLC’s tax treatment.
• Payroll taxes: This applies to LLC members who run your business.
• Self-employment taxes: This must be paid if your LLC has employees.

b. Hawaii State Taxes

Your state-level Hawaii taxes depend on your business activities and earnings:

• General Excise Tax (GET): The state imposes a GET on your gross receipts from all business activities
• State income tax: LLCs are pass-through entities by default. Your business does NOT pay state income tax. Instead, profits “pass through” to LLC members.
• Employer taxes (if applicable): Your LLC must pay unemployment insurance and withholding tax if it has employees.

c. Local Taxes

Alongside your federal and state-level taxes, you may need to pay local taxes. These are imposed by the cities or counties that you operate in:

• County GET surcharge: Some counties add a local tax to most business activities. This is on top of your general excise tax.
• County transient accommodations tax: Some counties charge an additional local tax. This applies to short-term rentals and hotel stays, increasing your total lodging tax.
• Real property tax: LLCs owning property must pay annual county property taxes based on the property’s assessed value.
• County fuel tax: Businesses using vehicles or machinery must pay county fuel taxes. These vary based on your operating location.

Hawaii LLCs Essential Contact Details

1. Key Contact Information For The BREG

If you have any questions regarding your Articles of Organization or Annual Report filings, I recommend contacting the BREG.

• Phone number: (808) 586-2727.
• Email: [email protected].
• Open hours: 7:45 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday to Friday (except state holidays).
• Address:
  335 Merchant Street
  Second Level, Suite 201
  Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

2. Hawaii Department Of Taxation Contact Information

Contact the Department Of Taxation if you have questions regarding your tax registration process:

• Phone: (808) 587-4242 or Toll-Free: 1-800-222-3229.
• Email: [email protected] (Note: Specific account questions will be answered only via phone or mail).
• Fax: (808) 587-1488.
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:45 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (Neighbor Island hours may vary).

Frequently Asked Questions