All LLCs are required to perform a Hawaii Secretary of State business search in order to meet certain naming standards before incorporating an LLC.

 

The purpose of our guide is to teach you how to find your desired LLC name and make sure that it is available for you to use in your state. Along with adhering to the Hawaii Secretary of State’s standards, it is important to guarantee that the entity name you choose is solely utilized by your firm.

1. Discover the Guidelines to Name Your LLC

Before completing your Hawaii business name search, we suggest that you double-check that your LLC name follows the state’s guidelines.

 

The first and most vital step of forming your LLC is to come up with a unique business entity name. Make sure that you select a name that meets the requirements for naming a limited liability company in Hawaii.

 

In brief, the naming requirements go as follows:

  • In the name of your entity, you must use the abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.) or "limited liability company."
  • It is crucial to avoid causing misunderstandings between your LLC and governmental organizations such as the Treasury when naming your firm.
  • If you want to include restricted terms in your company name, such as Bank or Attorney, you may be needed to submit additional paperwork or hire the services of a licensed professional, such as a lawyer.

Before submitting your name reservation request, we suggest you perform a Hawaii LLC name check using the Hawaii LLC Name Search

 

To perform an effective Hawaii LLC lookup, enter the desired name, omitting identifiers such as “LLC.” Thus, this will showcase all the local businesses holding similar names as the one you opt to use.

What To Do If Your Preferred Name Is Unavailable

So you searched the Hawaii Company Entity Records and the Hawaii Secretary of State’s business database, and there it was: your fictitious name was already in use. So, what are you going to do now?

 

If you register your LLC in Hawaii, your sole option is to develop new legal names. It is critical to remember that your name should not look to be too similar to the one you previously chose. After you’ve selected an LLC name that fits the Secretary of State’s requirements, reserve it as soon as possible.

 

For foreign business organizations, the procedure may become more challenging.

 

While your LLC may be already known by its name in other states, you may be unable to use it in Hawaii due to name availability. As a result, you’ll need to come up with a “fictitious name,” or one that you can only use in the state.

 

3. Choose a Web Domain Name

Another aspect to take into account before forming an LLC is finding a domain name that matches your chosen business name. This is a small but critical step. You must guarantee that potential customers may quickly find your firm through a simple search.

 

You may also search the list of available domain names on popular domain registrars such as GoDaddy for a URL that compliments your chosen LLC name.

 

Find a Domain Now

Powered by GoDaddy.com

4. Reserve Your LLC Name in Hawaii

All business inquiries are administered  by Hawaii’s Secretary of State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division. Business names can be reserved for a period of 120 days.

 

You must complete an application online or by mail to reserve a company name. To file an application online, you must first create an account with the Business Registration Division.

 

You must pay a filing fee while reserving your name. Make checks payable to the “Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.”

 

Best LLC services

Best LLC services are those with a great value/price ratio that provide the maximum amount of services, high-quality work and won’t cost you a fortune. Here are some of them that we would recommend, as we researched and reviewed each one in detail and can vouch for them.

  • Best LLC services
  • Additional Considerations

    While reserving an LLC name is simple, there are additional factors that should be taken into account while coming up with your company name. Our team suggests that you conduct a Trademark and Social Media search before finalizing your LLC name to determine whether it is accessible for usage online. Thus, this step will assist you in making sure that you are eligible to use your desired company name.

    Trademark Search

    Before registering your business name and associated slogans or emblems, conduct a trademark search to avoid potentially costly lawsuits. Finding out that another entity has trademarked your desired company name does not immediately exclude you from using it.

     

    However, it is critical to understand who is using the name, what sector they are in, and where they are situated in order to avoid unwittingly infringing on anyone’s intellectual property rights.

     

    The steps are as follows:

     

    1. Conduct a Hawaii trademark search to determine whether your company’s name or any related slogans, logos, or other identifiers are already in use by another company in your state.
    2. Search the electronic records of the United States Patent and Trademark Office for any federally registered trademarks linked with your business name.

     

    Social Media Search

    While finding a web domain name that matches your business name is vital, it is equally important to ensure that it is available on all social media platforms. You may search for your company’s name on all major social networks and use a tool like Namecheckr to scan the name across all platforms simultaneously.

    Conclusion

    The first and most important step in forming an LLC in Hawaii is deciding on a name. You may proceed as long as the name is acceptable and distinguishable from the other business entities in the state.

     

    After conducting a Hawaii Business Entity Search and deciding on an LLC name, you may want to choose a domain name that matches it to help your clients find your company online.

     

    You may distinguish yourself from the competition by completing the Hawaii LLC name reservation form. Securing your chosen business entity name might help you with the following stages in establishing your company in Hawaii.

    How to form an LLC in Hawaii?
    1. Choose your Hawaii LLC name. The LLC name you choose must comply with the Secretary of State’s naming rules and regulations.
    2. Choose a registered agent. All businesses must assign an agent who administers the serving of process. You can choose a person or an organization that is willing to take responsibility for legal papers on behalf of your LLC.
    3. File Articles of Organization. The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division accepts Articles of Organization For Limited Liability Company for the formation of an LLC.
    4. Prepare an Operating Agreement. This is a document that outlines how the LLC will function, how it will be administered, and each employee’s rights and responsibilities.
    5. Get an EIN. An EIN is a nine-digit number provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to businesses to assist them to be identified for taxation purposes.
    6. Submit annual reports. All Hawaii LLCs must file an annual report with the Business Registration Division and pay a $15 registration fee. The report can be filed online, or you can print and send the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report form (Form C5).
    How to name an LLC?

    In order to meet the Secretary of State’s naming requirements, the name of your LLC must include:

     

    • Limited Liability Company

     

    • LLC

     

    • L.L.C.

     

    Your company’s name must not include terms that suggest that it was founded for a reason other than that stated in its articles of incorporation.

    How to change an LLC name in Hawaii?

    Use the Articles of Amendment to Change Limited Liability Company Name if you want to change the name of your LLC. You can submit the appropriate form by mail, fax, or in person. Businesses in Hawaii are required to use black ink on their paperwork. Include a minimum of $25 for the filing fee.

    How should I know if an LLC name is available?

    The simplest option to check your Hawaii LLC name availability is to use the search option on the Hawaii company registration website.

    How much does it cost to create an LLC in Hawaii?
    • The Articles of Organization must be filed with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division for a fee of $50.

     

    • The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division will charge you $10 to reserve your LLC name.
    Should I renew my LLC name?

    Hawaii doesn’t require LLCs to renew their name, but it is highly recommended in case it doesn’t match the product or services you offer.

    Is it necessary to have a DBA name?

    There is no obligation in Hawaii for a business to establish a DBA in order to utilize an alternate name in commerce. Despite the fact that a DBA is not required, it may be beneficial in a variety of ways.

    What's Next?

    Now that you have your entity name, it's time to take the next steps to establish your Hawaii LLC. Check out our full guide on how to form an LLC in Hawaii, where we can guide you every step of the way.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *