Vendor setup
Register a business in Hawaii
The filing office, forms, steps and next stops for registering a business in Hawaii. Every line shows the official page it came from, and the day we read it.
The order to do it in
Choose a business type and get your EIN first. Then file with the state filing office below, and check your city and county before you start work.
Filing office
- Hawaii entities are registered with the DCCA Business Registration Division. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
Forming an LLC
- A Hawaii LLC is formed by Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), filed online, by email, mail or fax. Optional expedited service is available. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- Articles of Organization filing fee: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- State Archives fee, added to every filing: $1 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- Optional expedited service, added: $25 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
Forming a corporation
- A Hawaii profit corporation is formed by Articles of Incorporation (Form DC-1), filed online, by email, mail or fax. Optional expedited service is available. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- Articles of Incorporation filing fee: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- State Archives fee, added to every filing: $1 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- Optional expedited service, added: $25 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
Annual or biennial report
- Hawaii LLCs file annual reports with BREG. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- LLC annual report filing fee: $15 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- Expedited review, added: $25 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
Assumed name (DBA)
- Hawaii registers trade names (DBAs) at the state level with DCCA BREG, on Form T-1. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- Trade name registration: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- State Archives fee: $1 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
- Expedited service, added: $20 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, as of
State tax registration
- Businesses register for a General Excise Tax licence with the Department of Taxation (Hawaii Tax Online, Form BB-1). Hawaii Department of Taxation, as of
- General Excise Tax licence, one-time registration fee: $20 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Hawaii Department of Taxation, as of
State rules for pool, lifeguard and contractor work
These lines point to the state’s own rules. Whether one applies to your work is for the state to say, so confirm with the agency named in each line.
- Hawaii licenses contractors through the DCCA Contractors License Board. Classification C-49a (swimming pool service contractor) covers repair and replacement of pool pumps, filters, heaters and circulation piping, acid washing and repainting, and repairs to tile, coping, plaster and decks. C-49 covers pool construction. Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, as of
City and county licences
City and county licences vary by place. Check with your city hall or county clerk before you start work.
Sources
- Domestic Limited Liability Company Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. As of .
- Domestic Profit Corporations Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. As of .
- Fees, Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, Chapter 428 Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. As of .
- Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. As of .
- Licensing Information Hawaii Department of Taxation. As of .
- Description of Contractor License Classifications Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. As of .
Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.
Last checked