How to search Hawaii records
- Search Hawaii Business Express by name or file number; trade names, trademarks and partnerships appear in the same results.
- Order a Certificate of Good Standing from the same page if a bank or landlord asks for proof.
- Read the "Annual Filings" tab for the year last filed.
Open the official Hawaii search
Hawaii SOS, corporation and LLC search
Hawaii Secretary of State Business Search
Hawaii does not keep its business register in a Secretary of State office. People who type "Hawaii Secretary of State business search" are looking for the Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division and its Business Entity Search (Hawaii Business Express). It is free to search by name or file number, and the step-by-step instructions above walk through it.
Hawaii Entity Search
An entity search of the Hawaii business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Hawaii expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Hawaii Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "Hawaii company lookup" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Hawaii LLC Search
Run the Hawaii LLC search with the exact name, then note the file number. Forming a Hawaii LLC costs $50 and the annual report is $15. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Business Name Search Hawaii
A business name search Hawaii shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Hawaii lets you hold a name for 120 days for $20. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
DCCA Business Name Search
Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs runs the Business Registration Division, so a DCCA business name search covers corporations, LLCs and partnerships as well as trade names and trademarks. For other checks, see the business verification checklist.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs runs the register
Hawaii places business registration in the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. Its Hawaii Business Express search covers entities, trade names, trademarks and partnerships in one place, and certificates of good standing can be ordered from the same record.
Hawaii filing facts
| Record number | File number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $50. Articles of Organization plus a $1 state archives fee. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $15, yearly |
| Due | By the end of the quarter containing the registration anniversary |
| Name reservation | $20 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 808-586-2727 |
What a Hawaii LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $50 | $0 | $50 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $15 | $15 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $15 | $15 |
| Three-year state total | $80 | ||
Quarter-based reports and the GET license
Hawaii's annual report costs only $15, but its due date follows the calendar quarter of the registration anniversary rather than a single month, so two companies formed weeks apart can have different deadlines. Separately, nearly every business needs a General Excise Tax license from the Department of Taxation, and Hawaii cross-checks that license against entity records, so an out-of-state company working in Hawaii is expected to register as a foreign entity. Trade names registered with the state can block an identical entity name in practice, so search them before you file; see claiming a business name.
Doing business in Hawaii from the mainland
An out-of-state LLC that sells or works in Hawaii registers as a foreign entity with the Business Registration Division and obtains a General Excise Tax license. Hawaii's GET applies to gross receipts, not profit, and applies to many services as well as goods. The $15 annual report keeps the registration active, and a certificate of good standing can be ordered online the same day.
How Hawaii compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $50 | $15 | Yearly | $20 |
| Alaska | $250 | $100 | Every 2 years | $25 |
| California | $70 | $810 | Every 2 years | $10 |
| Washington | $200 | $60 | Yearly | $30 |
Before you rely on a Hawaii result
- Hawaii registers trade names with the state, and they block identical entity names in practice.
- Foreign entities must register before transacting business, and the state actively cross-checks with the General Excise Tax license.
Bulk Hawaii business data
Sold by the state. Current data sold through a vendor FTP; a free open-data copy is a 2022 snapshot.
Searching beyond Hawaii
Registries next to Hawaii: Alaska business search, California business search, Washington business search.
Hawaii business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Hawaii?
The state filing fee is $50. Articles of Organization plus a $1 state archives fee. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $15 a year in state fees.
When is the Hawaii annual report due?
Hawaii calls it the annual report. It costs $15, it is filed yearly, and it is due By the end of the quarter containing the registration anniversary.
Can I reserve a business name in Hawaii?
Yes. A name reservation costs $20 and holds the name for 120 days.
When is the Hawaii annual report due?
By the end of the calendar quarter that contains your registration anniversary. The fee is $15.
Is the Hawaii business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Entity Search (Hawaii Business Express) costs nothing. The Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Hawaii?
The Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division. Its business line is 808-586-2727, and its free search is the Business Entity Search (Hawaii Business Express).
What number identifies a business in Hawaii?
Hawaii assigns each entity a file number. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Hawaii businesses?
Only by buying it. Current data sold through a vendor FTP; a free open-data copy is a 2022 snapshot.
Sources
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