Hawaii business entity search and name check

What the Hawaii search covers

Businesses registered with BREG: domestic and out-of-state corporations, nonprofits, LLCs and partnerships. BREG also registers trade names, trademarks and service marks. We couldn't confirm whether the new portal's search includes inactive records or trade names.

BREG says name-search results are for information only and are not a final decision on whether a name is available.

Each record has a File Number. Search by number on the Hawaii Business Express.

How to read Hawaii results

Hawaii does not publish definitions for its status labels in one place. We show the official wording exactly as the registry gives it.

A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.

Hawaii business name rules

An LLC name must include one of: limited liability company, L.L.C., LLC, Ltd. (for 'limited'), Co. (for 'company').

An LLC name can't be the same as, or substantially identical to, the name of an existing domestic or out-of-state entity, a reserved name, or any trade name, trademark or service mark registered in Hawaii. (HRS 428-105(b)) Source: capitol.hawaii.gov

Hawaii doesn’t publish a list of the differences it ignores, so our check treats only capitalization and punctuation as insignificant and flags other close names as similar for you to judge.

Using a similar name with consent

Yes. The director may allow a substantially identical name if the owner of the existing name consents in writing and you add one or more words to make your name distinguishable, or if you have a certified final court judgment (HRS 428-105(c)). A name holder can also ask for an administrative order against an infringing name; an entity that ignores the order for 60 days may be dissolved or have its registration cancelled (HRS 428-105.5).

Reserving a name in Hawaii

Hawaii lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $10.

File a Reservation of Limited Liability Company Name with BREG online through Hawaii Business Express.

Hawaii name reservation Source: cca.hawaii.gov

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only Business Registration Division can.

Forming an LLC in Hawaii

Document

Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1)

State filing fee

$50
Nonrefundable. The fee schedule lists an optional $25 expedited review, but BREG says expediting isn't offered on the new portal for now. A certified copy is an extra $10 plus $0.25 a page, plus a $1 State Archives fee.

File online

Business Registration Division filing

Processing

Expedited handling isn't currently available on the new portal (BREG notice, 2026).

Registered agent

You need a registered agent, an individual or an entity, with a street address of a place of business in Hawaii. An LLC can't act as its own registered agent (HRS 428-107, 425R-4).

Out-of-state LLC registering here

$50 (Application for Certificate of Authority (foreign LLC))

Fees change. Confirm them on the official Hawaii fee schedule before you file.

Keeping a Hawaii LLC in good standing

Annual Report: $15. Due every year during the calendar quarter set by your registration date; you can file any time in that quarter. Late fee: $10. Source: cca.hawaii.gov

BREG charges no franchise tax. General Excise Tax licensing is handled by the Department of Taxation and isn't covered here.

The fee schedule lists the annual report at $15, while BREG announcements say it's $12.50 when an LLC, profit corporation or LLP files online. The late fee is $10 for each year the report is overdue. Reinstating an administratively terminated LLC costs $25.

Proof of status: Certificate of Good Standing (Certificate of Compliance) ($5). Source: cca.hawaii.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

Trade names, trademarks and service marks are registered statewide with BREG under HRS chapter 482, for a $50 application fee. A registered trade name also blocks substantially identical LLC names. Source: cca.hawaii.gov

Good to know about Hawaii

• Business registration moved to a new portal, hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov, on July 6, 2026. Old hbe.ehawaii.gov search links now just redirect to its home page. Source: cca.hawaii.gov
• An LLC name can be blocked by a trade name, trademark or service mark registered in Hawaii, not only by another entity's name. Source: capitol.hawaii.gov
• With the existing holder's written consent, you can use a substantially identical name if you add words that distinguish it. Source: capitol.hawaii.gov
• State costs are low: $50 to file LLC Articles of Organization and $15 for the annual report ($12.50 online, per BREG). Source: cca.hawaii.gov
• Annual reports are due in the calendar quarter of your registration date, not on one statewide deadline. Source: cca.hawaii.gov
• Trade names (DBAs) are registered statewide with BREG, not with counties. Source: cca.hawaii.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official Hawaii sources on October 30, 2026. Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only Business Registration Division can change an official record.