How to Start an LLC in Hawaii (2026)

Q: How much does it cost to start an LLC in Hawaii?

The Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1, cost $50 plus a $1 state archives fee, so $51 in total, with optional expedited review at $25 more. Your EIN is free from the IRS. The annual report is $12.50 online or $15 by mail, which is among the lowest recurring fees anywhere.

Q: When is the Hawaii annual report due?

In the calendar quarter that matches your registration date, and you can file any time within that quarter. The quarters are January to March, April to June, July to September, and October to December. Registering in May puts you in the second-quarter group every year.

Q: What is the Hawaii general excise tax and does my LLC owe it?

The general excise tax is Hawaii's tax on business activity, and unlike a normal sales tax it applies to almost all business income, including services. Most Hawaii businesses need a GET licence from the Department of Taxation and file GET returns. It is a separate registration from your LLC, and it matters more to your budget than the filing fees do.

Q: Is Hawaii cheap for an LLC?

On state filing fees, yes: $51 to form and $12.50 a year is at the low end nationally. The real costs of doing business in Hawaii are elsewhere, mainly the general excise tax and the cost of operating in the islands. Do not let the low filing fee stand in for a budget.

Last updated: August 28, 2026

To start a Hawaii LLC, file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for $50 plus a $1 state archives fee, name a registered agent in Hawaii, and get a free EIN. The annual report is $12.50 filed online ($15 by mail) and is due in the calendar quarter that matches your registration date. Do not forget the general excise tax licence.

Quick note: we're operators, not attorneys or accountants. This is general educational info, not legal or tax advice. Hawaii's general excise tax applies to almost all business income, so register for it before you invoice anyone.

Hawaii is one of the cheapest states in the country for filing fees and one of the more demanding on tax, because the general excise tax reaches almost every kind of business income. Here is the whole process in plain English, written for people starting something real like a courier route.

Your deadline is a quarter, not a date Hawaii ties your annual report to the quarter in which your LLC was registered. First quarter is January to March, second is April to June, third is July to September, and fourth is October to December. You can file any time during your quarter. Register in May and your report is due in the April to June window every year. Check your registration date, because guessing gets you a late filing.

How to start a Hawaii LLC in 6 steps

Name it, appoint a Hawaii registered agent, file Form LLC-1 ($51 all in), write an operating agreement, get a free EIN and a GET licence, then file the $12.50 annual report in your quarter.

Name your Hawaii LLC

The name must be distinguishable from other Hawaii entities and include an LLC designator. Search it in the Hawaii business search before you file, and grab the matching domain while you are there.

Appoint a Hawaii registered agent

You need a registered agent with a Hawaii address who can accept legal papers during business hours. You can be your own if you live in the islands, or use a service to keep your home address off the public record. Northwest includes agent service free the first year with their $39 filing.

File the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1)

File Form LLC-1 with the Business Registration Division of the DCCA. The fee is $50 plus a $1 state archives fee, so $51 in total, and expedited review is an extra $25. Hawaii Business Express handles it online.

Write an operating agreement

Hawaii does not require one, but write it anyway. It sets out ownership, management, and who can sign, it backs your liability protection, and banks usually ask for it at account opening. A simple template covers a single-owner courier business.

Get a free EIN, then a GET licence

Your EIN is free at irs.gov and takes about ten minutes. Then register with the Hawaii Department of Taxation for a general excise tax (GET) licence. Hawaii's GET applies to almost all business income rather than just retail sales, so this is not optional for a service business.

File the annual report in your quarter

Hawaii requires an annual business report, $12.50 filed online or $15 by mail, due in the calendar quarter matching your registration date. It is one of the lowest annual fees in the country, and filing online is both cheaper and instant.

Hawaii LLC cost breakdown

$51 to form and $12.50 a year. On filing fees alone, Hawaii is one of the cheapest states in the country.

Item	Cost	Required?
Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1)	$50	Yes
State archives fee	$1	Yes
Expedited review	+$25	Optional
EIN	Free from the IRS	Yes (free)
Registered agent service	$0 (yourself) to $300/yr	No
Annual report (online)	$12.50 per year	Yes
Annual report (by mail)	$15 per year	Alternative
General excise tax licence	Separate, via the Department of Taxation	Yes for most businesses

Hawaii figures as of August 2026, from the DCCA Business Registration Division domestic LLC fees and annual report guidance. The general excise tax is separate and handled by the Department of Taxation. Confirm before filing.

Rather have it filed for you? Northwest will form your Hawaii LLC for $39 + the $51 state fee and act as your registered agent the first year, keeping your home address off the public record. See the $39 formation service → Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Setting up to run courier routes in Hawaii?

The LLC is step one. Our course covers the rest: insurance and certifications, the business bank account, and how to find routes and win contracts with Hawaii clinics, labs, and hospitals.

Start Your 7-Day Free Trial

Then $29/month. Cancel anytime.

Hawaii LLC FAQs

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

Form LLC-1 costs $50 plus a $1 archives fee, so $51. Your EIN is free. The annual report is $12.50 online.

When is the Hawaii annual report due?

In the calendar quarter matching your registration date, any time within that quarter. Register in May and you file in the April to June window each year.

What is the Hawaii general excise tax and does my LLC owe it?

It is Hawaii's tax on almost all business income, including services. Most businesses need a GET licence from the Department of Taxation, separate from the LLC filing.

Is Hawaii cheap for an LLC?

On filing fees yes, at $51 to form and $12.50 a year. The general excise tax and operating costs matter far more to your budget.

← Back to How to Start an LLC (main guide)