Register Your Hawaii Foreign Corporation
If you want to do business in a new state, you’ll need to register as a foreign corporation. To register a foreign corporation in Hawaii, you must file a Hawaii Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Corporation with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. You can submit this document by mail, email, fax, in person, or online. The Certificate of Authority for a foreign Hawaii corporation costs $50 (+ $1 for the state archive preservation fee) to file.
Are you the DIY type? We offer a full guide that takes you through the process of registering your out-of-state business in Hawaii. You can also skip the work and have us do it for you.
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GET STARTEDHow to Register as a Foreign Corporation in Hawaii
Getting the state’s permission to do business legally within Hawaii as an out-of-state corporation is called foreign qualification. The process informs the Secretary of State that you plan on doing business within the state.
You won’t be creating a whole new business by registering your foreign company. So there’s no need to file new formation paperwork with the state.
Here’s everything you need to do to conduct business as a foreign corporation in Hawaii.
1. Designate a Registered Agent
A Hawaii registered agent will accept important legal mail, including potential lawsuits, on your business’s behalf. You can hire a registered agent service to do this job or appoint another individual that is based in Hawaii. Your registered agent should be available during regular business hours. Northwest has reliable registered agent service in Hawaii that can be there when you need and notify you of all important mail.
2. Start your Business Identity
Once your business is legal in the new state, you’ll want to be ready to connect with customers. Forming your business identity, or the way you present yourself to your potential clients, can help.
Now’s a prime opportunity to start a business website or get a custom business email address.
Your business should have a way to market itself in a new, well, market. Consider getting phone service that has the local area code or a local business address to use on documents where possible.
3. Get Certificate of Good Standing
You’ll need to attach an original certificate of good standing from your company’s original state of registration. A certificate of good standing (sometimes called a certificate of existence) is a form from the Secretary of State stating your business is in good standing and not dissolved or in debt with the state. Your certificate of good standing can not be older than 60 days.
4. Submit Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Corporation
To submit your Hawaii Application for Certificate of Authority, you’ll need to include the following information:
- Corporation name
- Certificate of good standing
- State of company origin
- Original formation date
- Mailing address of principal office
- Registered agent address and name
- Names and addresses of directors and officers
Online:
Mail:
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Hawaii Business Registration Division
P.O. Box 40
Honolulu, HI 96810
In Person:
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Hawaii Business Registration Division
335 Merchant Street, Room 201
Honolulu, HI 96813
Email:
Fax:
(808) 586-2733
Hawaii accepts applications online, by mail, fax, email, or in person. Processing times depend on your method of filing.
- Online Processing: Hawaii will process online filings in 3-5 business days.
- In Person Processing: Hand delivering a paper application will take 3-5 business days to be processed.
- Mail/Email/Fax Processing: The state will process your application for registration in about 7-10 business days. Factor in additional time for mail.
- Expedited Processing: An additional $25 cuts online and in person filings down to 24-hours. Mail, fax, or email filings will take 2-3 business days (add time for mailing).
5. Receive Hawaii Certificate of Authority
As soon as your application is processed and approved, you’ll be issued a Hawaii Certificate of Authority. You’re now legally able to do business within the state. You’ll need to pay corporate taxes and annual reports like any other Hawaii corporations.
6. File Hawaii Reports & Taxes
Your foreign corporation will now have Hawaii taxes and reports to file independent of the ones you file in your home state.
- Income Tax: Hawaii corporations pay tiered income tax. Companies that make under $25,000 are taxed at 4.4%. Bringing in income greater than $25,000 but less than $100,000? You’ll be taxed at 5.4%. All businesses making $100,000 or more are taxed at 6.4%.
- Annual Report: The Hawaii Annual Report is just what it sounds like: a report you file yearly with the Secretary of State. The annual report asks for any updates to your company’s principal address, number of authorized shares and total shares of stock, the nature of the business, and the names and addresses of your registered agent, officers and directors.
- General Excise Tax (GET): Hawaii has a gross receipts tax called the General Excise Tax (GET) that taxes businesses at 4% for most products and services. Counties are able to add a surcharge to this, making the average rate 4.413%.
Northwest Can Register Your Hawaii Foreign Corporation
If doing things on your own sounds overwhelming, boring, or generally like not a good use of your time, we’re ready to help. Our foreign qualification package is $225 + Hawaii fees. This includes:
- Registering your business as a Hawaii Foreign Corporation. We’ll file your paperwork and let you know when it’s approved.
- Serving as your business’ Hawaii Registered Agent. We can be your RA in as many states as you want to expand into.
- Launching your business identity. We’ll get you a digital presence, including a business email address, phone service, and mail forwarding. Plus, we’ll put together a custom website with a domain, web hosting, and security in place. These will all be free for 90 days. After that, most services are $9/month.
- Sending reminders for your Hawaii annual report. We can even file this for you. We’ll send you a reminder about the report 90 days before they’re due, and you can either have us file for you or opt out of the service.
Hawaii Foreign Corporation FAQs
To update your Hawaii Certificate of Authority, submit a Correction form and pay the $25 filing fee.
Hawaii’s state statutes don’t really pin down what the state defines as doing business. However, if your LLC plans to own or lease property in Hawaii, hire local employees, bid on contracts there, or offer professional and retail services to people in Hawaii, you’ll need to register your corporation as a Hawaii foreign corporation.
For more information, check out our resource on what it means to do business in another state.
No.
The application must be signed by at least one officer of the corporation in Hawaii.
The application must be typed or in black ink only.
County filing or publication is not necessary, unless specifically required by the county in which your registered agent resides.
Yes we can! Our foreign qualification package is $225 + state fees. There’s also options you can select if you need a business domain, website, or email.