It is no surprise that the state of Hawaii is considered nothing less than a paradise. It is the perfect destination for a vacation all because of its natural beauty and wonderful climate. Almost all businesses in the US have a dream of venturing into Hawaii. Do you know the important factors for naming your business in Hawaii? Well, the most efficient way is to conduct a Hawaii business entity search. Our articles will explain everything about business entity search and what could your next step is after selecting a perfect name.
We recommend new startups and small to medium businesses to create a limited liability company in Hawaii. Forming an LLC in Hawaii is very cost-effective and easy to manage compared to other types of businesses (corporation, cooperative, etc). Also, an LLC has many tax benefits like avoiding double taxation.
Hawaii Business Entity Search
While setting up your new business in Hawaii, you need to be more careful while selecting a name for it. Your business name should be clean, presentable, and unique. A business entity search helps you check for the business name availability in the state. This is very important as you cannot choose a name that is already registered by another active business in the state. That’s why doing a Hawaii business entity search will help you pick a name for your business that is distinguishable from other entities in the state. Also, there are some more guidelines for naming your LLC in Hawaii. These are as follows.
Hawaii LLC Naming Guidelines
- Your Hawaii LLC must include the phrase limited liability company or its short forms LLC or L.L.C.
- The name cannot include words that confuse your LLC with a state or federal government agency. For example, Hawaii Police, FBI, state department, etc.
- The LLC name should not imply that the business is illegal to carry out.
- The name should not have words of other types of entities like a corporation, cooperative, sole proprietorship, etc.
- Lastly, your Hawaii LLC name must be different from other businesses in the state. This also includes the Hawaii reserved names. You can make sure of this by doing a Hawaii business entity search on the Hawaii Secretary of State business search portal.
Hawaii Business Entity Search Method
Now we know the importance of selecting a name for your business through business entity search. So let’s see how to perform a business entity search in Hawaii? The Hawaii SOS allows you to conduct a business name search in the following way.
1) Search By Business Name
First, go to the Hawaii SOS business search page.
Here, you can find any business in the state and learn more about it by searching its name in the “Business Name” search box.
You can also search your desired business name and check whether the name is already used by another registered business in the state.
The result page will showcase all the registered businesses that are using that searched term in their business name along with their business status (active, rejected, etc) and the file number. See the image below.
2) Search By Agent Name
On the Hawaii SOS business search page, you will find a link for the agent search on the right side. Click on it. The Agent Name search page will look like this,
Here, you can search the name of any registered agent individual/service and see the businesses that are registered with that specific agent.
Reserve Your Hawaii LLC Name
After selecting a name if you don’t want to register the business immediately, then the Hawaii SOS allows you to reserve it for 120 days. This is a great way to secure the name until you are ready. To reserve your Hawaii LLC name, file the Name Reservation Application. The filing fee for a business name reservation in Hawaii is $10. The trademark will be valid for
Register Your Hawaii LLC Name
If you’re able to find a suitable business name by doing a Hawaii business entity search, then it’s time to register your business with the SOS and make the name yours. This can be done by filing the Articles of Organization. The cost of filing the Hawaii Articles of Organization is $50. It will take about 1-2 weeks for the approval of your LLC in Hawaii. Registering your LLC name is not a different process. Forming your LLC also includes registering your LLC name.
Domain And Trademark
Along with your business name, your domain name also requires similar attention. It is advisable to select a domain name that is exactly related to your business name. This will help customers to find your business easily. Additionally, you can also protect your name, logo, slogan, etc. by filing a trademark. It will be of great help at the time expanding your business to another state. The cost of filing a Hawaii Trademark is $50.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can perform a Hawaii business entity search on the Hawaii Secretary of State business search page and check for name availability.
It can take about 1-2 weeks for the approval of a Hawaii LLC. There is also an expedited 2-3 days processing option which requires an additional $25.
An Articles of Organization officially forms your LLC in Hawai. The filing fee of the Hawaii Articles of Organization is $50.
Yes. The Hawaii SOS allows you to reserve a business name for 120 days.
The filing fee for a business name reservation in Hawaii is $10. 1. How do I know if a business name is available to use in Hawaii?
2. How long does it take for the approval of an LLC in Hawaii?
3. What is the cost of forming an LLC in Hawaii?
4. Can I reserve a business name in Hawaii?
5. What’s the cost of filing a business name reservation in Hawaii?