To incorporate in Hawaii, you must submit Articles of Incorporation. You may file electronically (using an online fillable form), by hand delivery, by mail, or by fax. This article provides details on what to include in the Articles of Incorporation, the amount of the incorporation fee, and where to send the incorporation documents and fee.
Information necessary to prepare Articles of Incorporation
Articles of incorporation for profit corporations in Hawaii must contain the following information:
Article I. State the exact corporate name. The name must contain the word Corporation, Incorporated, or Limited, or the abbreviation of one of the words, Corp., Inc., or Ltd.
Article II. State the mailing address (including city, state, and zip code) of the corporation's initial principal office.
Article III. State the name of the corporation's registered agent and the complete street address (including number, street, city, state, and zip code) in the State of Hawaii. A Registered Agent is the person responsible for sending and receiving corporate documents and correspondence, on behalf of the corporation. The agent may be either an individual who resides in this State, a domestic entity, or a foreign entity authorized to transact business in the State of Hawaii, whose place of business is an address in this State to which service of process and other notice and documents being served on or sent to the entity represented by it may be delivered.
If the agent is an entity, list the state or country in which it was incorporated, formed or organized. A domestic corporation cannot be its own agent.
Article IV. State the number of shares the corporation shall have the authority to issue. The form provides for common stock only. If preferred shares are desired, you must prepare your own Articles of Incorporation.
Article V. State the name and complete address (including city, state, and zip code) of each incorporator of the corporation. The incorporator is the individual who is filing the Articles of Incorporation and any other official documents required by the state (his/her duties are completed once the corporation is incorporated). You will be listed as the "Incorporator" on the Articles of Incorporation.
Incorporation Process
To incorporate a business in Hawaii, you must first go to the Business Registration Division website and create an account; then you can proceed with the registration process.
If you don't want to register online, you can download the PDF file with instructions for the Articles of Incorporation (Form DC-1) and prepare the document in printed form.
Incorporation Fees
Articles of incorporation Filing Fee: The fee for filing is $50, with an additional $25 if you want an expedited review.
Contact Information:
Address: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, P.O. Box 40, Honolulu, HI 96810
Phone: (808) 586-2727
For more information on incorporation in Hawaii, and other corporate actions (change of address, dissolution, etc.), see the Hawaii Business Division website.
For more details on how to incorporate a business, you can refer to this article on How to Incorporate a business, which includes information on how to incorporate in every U.S. state.
Disclaimer. The information in this article is not intended to be, nor should it be relied upon, as legal advice. The author makes no claims about the completeness or accuracy of this information; states change regulations. fees, and names of documents and this article may not have the most up to date information regarding incorporation in a specific state. Your situation may be more complex and require additional information for your state.
Some states have several incorporation forms, depending upon the type of corporation. Be sure to read carefully both in this information and on your state's website, to determine the best corporation form for your business.
Before you submit incorporation documents or fees to your state, check your state's Secretary of State (business division) website or consult with your legal advisor.
Information necessary to prepare Articles of Incorporation
Articles of incorporation for profit corporations in Hawaii must contain the following information:
Article I. State the exact corporate name. The name must contain the word Corporation, Incorporated, or Limited, or the abbreviation of one of the words, Corp., Inc., or Ltd.
Article II. State the mailing address (including city, state, and zip code) of the corporation's initial principal office.
Article III. State the name of the corporation's registered agent and the complete street address (including number, street, city, state, and zip code) in the State of Hawaii. A Registered Agent is the person responsible for sending and receiving corporate documents and correspondence, on behalf of the corporation. The agent may be either an individual who resides in this State, a domestic entity, or a foreign entity authorized to transact business in the State of Hawaii, whose place of business is an address in this State to which service of process and other notice and documents being served on or sent to the entity represented by it may be delivered.
If the agent is an entity, list the state or country in which it was incorporated, formed or organized. A domestic corporation cannot be its own agent.
Article IV. State the number of shares the corporation shall have the authority to issue. The form provides for common stock only. If preferred shares are desired, you must prepare your own Articles of Incorporation.
Article V. State the name and complete address (including city, state, and zip code) of each incorporator of the corporation. The incorporator is the individual who is filing the Articles of Incorporation and any other official documents required by the state (his/her duties are completed once the corporation is incorporated). You will be listed as the "Incorporator" on the Articles of Incorporation.
Incorporation Process
To incorporate a business in Hawaii, you must first go to the Business Registration Division website and create an account; then you can proceed with the registration process.
If you don't want to register online, you can download the PDF file with instructions for the Articles of Incorporation (Form DC-1) and prepare the document in printed form.
Incorporation Fees
Articles of incorporation Filing Fee: The fee for filing is $50, with an additional $25 if you want an expedited review.
Contact Information:
Address: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, P.O. Box 40, Honolulu, HI 96810
Phone: (808) 586-2727
For more information on incorporation in Hawaii, and other corporate actions (change of address, dissolution, etc.), see the Hawaii Business Division website.
For more details on how to incorporate a business, you can refer to this article on How to Incorporate a business, which includes information on how to incorporate in every U.S. state.
Disclaimer. The information in this article is not intended to be, nor should it be relied upon, as legal advice. The author makes no claims about the completeness or accuracy of this information; states change regulations. fees, and names of documents and this article may not have the most up to date information regarding incorporation in a specific state. Your situation may be more complex and require additional information for your state.
Some states have several incorporation forms, depending upon the type of corporation. Be sure to read carefully both in this information and on your state's website, to determine the best corporation form for your business.
Before you submit incorporation documents or fees to your state, check your state's Secretary of State (business division) website or consult with your legal advisor.