How to Register a Foreign LLC in Hawaii (2026): 5 Steps and the 3 Best Services
Here is the 2026 answer for registering a foreign LLC in Hawaii: Hawaii Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and HI Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked in that order. Registering takes 5 steps below, with $51 paid to the state.
Company prices as published on November 12, 2026. Add Hawaii's $51 registration fee to each row.
The Hawaii registration, in order
Step1
Step 1: Decide whether Hawaii registration is needed
The rule: an LLC from another state registers before doing business in Hawaii. What happens if you skip it: The courts stay closed to its own claims until it registers (HRS 414-432(a); 428-1008(a)). Contracts it already signed stay valid (HRS 414-432(e); 428-1008(b)). Back fees are owed on top.
Include original certificate of existence from the jurisdiction of formation, dated within 60 days.
TipTime the order so the certificate is fresh at filing.
Step3
Step 3: Choose the Hawaii registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a place of business with a street address in Hawaii. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Step 4: Send in the Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Limited Liability Company
The Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form FLLC-1) goes to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division with $51.
Expect the annual report and its $12.50 fee (end of the quarter in which the LLC was registered).
The cost of this lesson
Step
Who you pay
Amount
Registering the LLC
State office
$51
Annual report
State office
$12.50
Service fees (optional)
The service
$199 in year one
State fees, years one to three
State office
$76
The state rows are official figures; the service row uses each company's published price. The three-year total leaves service fees out.
How we ranked the Hawaii picks
Lesson note: first place in Hawaii came down to three-year cost, worth 30% of the grade.
Hawaii Registered Agent.co wins the cost grade: $397 for three years against $100 more with Mainstay Filing.
Questions students ask
What does it cost to register a foreign LLC in Hawaii?
$51 to the state. Add $199 for a service.
Which form do I file to register?
You submit the Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form FLLC-1) to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division.
Do I need a certificate from my home state?
Yes: original certificate of existence from the jurisdiction of formation, issued within 60 days of filing.
What if the LLC does business there without registering?
The courts stay closed to its own claims until it registers (HRS 414-432(a); 428-1008(a)). Contracts it already signed stay valid (HRS 414-432(e); 428-1008(b)). Back fees are owed on top.
What is due after registering?
Step 5 covers it: the annual report for $12.50.
Which service should handle the registration?
Hawaii Registered Agent.co: registration for $199 plus state fees, agent included for year one. After it, Mainstay Filing and HI Registered Agent.org.