Hawaii LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | Hawaii amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $51 ($50 filing fee plus $1 State Archives fee) |
| Annual report | $12.50 online, $15 on paper |
| When it is due | End of the calendar quarter in which the LLC registered |
| State tax on the LLC | No franchise tax; one-time $20 general excise tax license |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $51 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $12.50 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division and other official Hawaii sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Hawaii?
The Hawaii Business Registration Division charges $50 to file Articles of Organization, plus a $1 State Archives fee, for $51 in total. Hawaii is among the cheapest states to form an LLC in. Expedited processing adds $25.
Before the LLC earns income in Hawaii, it registers with the Department of Taxation for a general excise (GE) tax license. The license costs $20 once and does not renew.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in Hawaii covers the form field by field.
How much does a Hawaii LLC cost every year?
A Hawaii LLC files an annual report for $12.50 online or $15 on paper. No report is due in the year of formation.
The deadline depends on the quarter in which the LLC registered: 31 March, 30 June, 30 September or 31 December. An LLC registered in August files by 30 September each year from the following year.
What does a Hawaii LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a Hawaii LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts Hawaii charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $51 | $51 |
| Year 2 | $12.50 | $159.50 |
| Year 3 | $12.50 | $159.50 |
| Three-year total | $76 | $370 |
The table leaves out the one-time $20 general excise tax license, which applies once the LLC earns income in Hawaii.
Does Hawaii charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Hawaii charges no franchise tax or minimum tax on LLCs. What it does charge is the general excise tax, a tax on gross business receipts rather than profit, which needs the $20 GE license.
Profit from an LLC taxed as a partnership passes through to the members, who pay Hawaii individual income tax on their share. An LLC that elects corporate treatment pays Hawaii corporate income tax.
How much does a registered agent cost in Hawaii?
Every Hawaii LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Hawaii. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
See whether BusinessAnywhere can be your registered agent in Hawaii for the state-specific details.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a Hawaii LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A Hawaii LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other Hawaii LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the Hawaii state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $10 | Optional $25 expedite |
| Expedited filing | $25 for most filings ($10 for certificates) | |
| Certificate of good standing | $5 | Certificate of Good Standing; +$10 expedited |
| Certified copy | $10 certification + $0.25 per page | |
| Amending the articles | $25 | Articles of Amendment |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $50 | Trade name registration, valid five years |
| Changing registered agent | $25 | Statement of Change of Registered Agent |
| Foreign LLC registration | $50 | Application for Certificate of Authority |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $25 | Application for Reinstatement; +$25 expedited |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in Hawaii, and Hawaii does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss a Hawaii LLC deadline?
A late Hawaii annual report carries a $10 late fee for each year it is delinquent, and the statute allows the state to charge more.
After two years without reports, the Director can administratively terminate the LLC. Reinstatement costs $25 plus the missing reports and fees, with an optional $25 expedite.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Hawaii sets out the steps.
How does Hawaii compare with other states?
Hawaii is one of the cheapest states to form and keep an LLC in. Its $51 formation fee is half the $100 national median, and $12.50 a year is among the lowest annual report fees in the country.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $51 | $12.50 | $51 to form, $12.50 annual report online |
| California LLC cost | $70 | $800 | $800 annual tax from year one |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
| Delaware LLC cost | $110 | $400 | $400 flat annual tax due 1 June |
| New Mexico LLC cost | $50 | $0 | No annual report, no franchise tax |
| Montana LLC cost | $35 | $0 | Cheapest formation fee; free annual report if filed by 15 April |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a Hawaii LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your Hawaii LLC for $0 plus the $51 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the Hawaii filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every Hawaii deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in Hawaii first.
Hawaii LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Hawaii?
A Hawaii LLC costs $51 to form, including the $1 State Archives fee. The annual report costs $12.50 online or $15 on paper.
When is the Hawaii LLC annual report due?
By the end of the calendar quarter in which the LLC registered: 31 March, 30 June, 30 September or 31 December. No report is due in the year of formation.
Does a Hawaii LLC need a general excise tax license?
Yes, once it earns income in Hawaii. The GE license costs $20 once and is issued by the Hawaii Department of Taxation.
What is the $1 State Archives fee?
Hawaii adds $1 to filings that become permanent records, which brings the LLC formation fee to $51.
What happens if a Hawaii LLC misses its annual report?
A late report costs a $10 late fee per year delinquent. After two years without reports the LLC can be administratively terminated, and reinstatement costs $25 plus the missing reports.
How much does a Hawaii LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $76 in state fees: $51 to form plus two $12.50 online annual reports. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $370.
Sources
- Hawaii Business Registration Division, domestic LLC registration
- Hawaii Business Registration Division, LLC fees
- Hawaii Business Registration Division, LLC information sheet
- Hawaii Department of Taxation, licensing information
- Official Hawaii source: DBA (assumed or trade name) fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division before you file.
