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Northwest Registered Agent charges $225 (plus state fee) for LLC filing services. That said, Northwest’s personalized customer support is a feature that could make their prices worth paying for some entrepreneurs.
Overall, Northwest does have some points in its favor. However, keep in mind that it charges $225 (plus your state’s required fee) for its LLC filing services.
Want to learn more? See this Northwest LLC review.
LegalZoom is one of the biggest names in the industry, with millions of customers served and frequent advertising efforts. LegalZoom provides an LLC filing package for free (plus the state’s fee).
LegalZoom is a huge company, so while it offers extended support hours, the quality of its customer support may vary a bit from representative to representative.
Want to learn more? See this LegalZoom LLC review.
Incfile/Bizee offers LLC formations for free, as long as you pay your state’s fee. Incfile and ZenBusiness have some similar characteristics, but there are also some significant differences that set the two apart.
If you’re looking for a cheap LLC formation service in Hawaii and ZenBusiness doesn’t feel right for some reason, Incfile/Bizee could be worth a closer look.
Want to learn more? See this Incfile/Bizee LLC review.
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*Processing times are based on receiving complete information. ZenBusiness processing times do not include Secretary of State processing times, which can vary.**SPECIAL OFFER – Get Starter for $0 plus state fees. Includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/yr.† ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
Technically speaking, you don’t have to use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. These services are incredibly helpful, but you can save money by completing the process yourself.
You can read our complete guide to DIY an LLC setup in Hawaii, but here’s a quick look at the process:
Every LLC in Hawaii needs a name that’s memorable and gives potential clients a good idea of what goods or services are available. The name also needs to be unique — both for legal reasons and so your business stands out from the competition.
As we’ve mentioned in this guide, every LLC needs an agent who can accept service of process on your behalf. In most states, you can act as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical address in the state. That said, we generally recommend that you appoint someone else (like an online service) to act as your agent.
This document, once filled out and filed, officially forms your business in the state of Hawaii. You’ll need to provide some important information, including your contact information, your business address, signatures for your LLC’s members, and more. Hawaii has a $50 filing fee.
Setting up the LLC is as easy as 1-2-3; it’s the maintenance requirements that are a bit more complicated:
If you have employees, you’ll need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. Then there are state-specific taxes, too. Hawaii has a pretty wide range of income taxes. The corporate rates fall between 4.4% and 6.4%, but the individual rates fall between 1 and 11%. Hawaii does not have a sales tax, though; instead, there’s a general excise tax. Most businesses will pay 4% for this tax. You can learn more about these and other miscellaneous taxes at the Hawaii Department of Taxation.
There’s no general state business license in Hawaii, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need to get professional licenses, such as those offered by the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.
Even single-member LLCs should create a “master document” that sets out how the business will operate, both now and in the future.
Each year, your LLC will need to file an annual report to update the state about the standing of your business. Hawaii has a $15 filing fee for this report.
Every business with employees needs to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and a commercial vehicle policy for company-owned vehicles. You may also want to get a general business liability policy, too.
You should sign up for a business bank account so you can write checks and make purchases in the name of the business instead of pulling from your personal accounts (a legal no-no).
This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. For more detailed guidance, we recommend contacting an attorney or checking out the full Hawaii LLC Formation Guide.
LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnership vs LLC, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes. For more a more in-depth description see: What is an LLC?
In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are quite a few other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a Hawaii business. You cannot form an LLC in Hawaii without filing the Articles of Organization, the document that officially registers your business within the state. Hawaii charges a simple $50 fee for this filing.
Your LLC will need to file an Annual Report each year. This form is pretty simple, but it keeps the state aware of some basic but vital information about your business, such as your address and registered agent information. This filing costs $15 to submit each year. Read more about Hawaii costs – Hawaii LLC costs.
FAQ's
Where Can I Get More Information About Forming LLCs in Hawaii?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Hawaii. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
How Can I Search Hawaii’s Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming a Hawaii LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the Business Registration Division’s business search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Hawaii, check out Hawaii business search on the topic.
Where Can I Find the Hawaii Articles of Organization?
You can fill out the Hawaii Articles of Organization on the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website.
What Are Hawaii’s Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements?
All LLCs operating in the state of Hawaii are required to submit an annual report to the Business Registration Division. It’s due by the end of your registration quarter each year, and it costs $15.
Where Can I Learn More About the Hawaii LLC Licensing and Permitting Requirements?
Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with Hawaii state law. For more information about general excise tax business licenses and more in this state, check out Hawaii’s “Starting a Business” guide. Looking for info about professional licensing? Take a look at the state’s Professional Licensing page.
How Quickly Does Hawaii Process LLC Formations?
It’s difficult to determine how long it takes the state of Hawaii to form an LLC. The state provides no guidelines for turnaround times on its website, and repeated efforts to contact the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs via phone were unsuccessful. Skimming various LLC formation service websites presents estimates ranging from just a few days all the way up to a month-plus. In general, you should form your LLC well in advance to ensure that the state processes your documents in time for you to start conducting business.
Which Company Provides the Best Hawaii Registered Agent Service?
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to Hawaii registered agents.
How Can I Dissolve My Hawaii LLC?
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to Hawaii LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
What if I Need to Expand a Business From Another State to Hawaii?
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Hawaii. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in Hawaii for more information.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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