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Plain CharterLLC questions, short answers.

Answered simply · Hawaii

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Hawaii (2026), Plainly Answered

Our 2026 answer for Hawaii: Mainstay Filing ($199), HI Registered Agent.org ($199) and Hawaii Registered Agent.co ($199), best first. Hawaii takes $51 to register, and the services cost $397 to $497 across three years.

By the Plain Charter editorial team ·

Short version

Registration fee
$51
Home-state document?
Required (60 days or newer)
Ongoing filing
$12.50, annual report
Our picks, in order
Mainstay Filing, HI Registered Agent.org then Hawaii Registered Agent.co

Who we'd hire in Hawaii

Ranked by how we choose: three-year cost first, then what the price covers.
1Best overall

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a second state and a third

$199 plus the $51 state fee; renewal $149

Mainstay Filing leads our list: the registration costs $199 plus state fees, with the registered agent free for year one.

HI Registered Agent.org saves $100 over three years but works in Hawaii only.

There is no registered agent charge in year one; $149 a year follows.

The price covers

  • Your foreign filing
  • Registered agent, included for year one
  • Fifty-state coverage

Upsides

  • $199 plus state fee
  • One price anywhere
  • No agent fee in year one

What to weigh

  • HI Registered Agent.org renews the agent for $50 less
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Local choice

2. HI Registered Agent.org: best for a budget registration

$199 plus the $51 state fee; renewal $99

HI Registered Agent.org ranks second, because the filing costs $199 and the yearly agent renewal is $99.

The price covers

  • Application prepared and sent
  • First agent year

Upsides

  • $199 to register
  • No agent fee in year one
  • $99 a year from year two

What to weigh

  • Home state needs a separate agent
Visit HI Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Local choice

3. Hawaii Registered Agent.co: best for a low agent renewal

$199 plus the $51 state fee; renewal $99

Hawaii Registered Agent.co ranks third, because the filing costs $199 and the yearly agent renewal is $99.

Same published prices as HI Registered Agent.org; pick whichever you prefer.

The price covers

  • Application prepared and sent
  • First agent year

Upsides

  • $99 a year from year two
  • No agent fee in year one
  • $199 to register

What to weigh

  • Home state needs a separate agent
Visit Hawaii Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The picks side by side

#ProviderYear 1Year two onOver three yearsCovers
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497your foreign filing; registered agent, included for year one; Fifty-state coverageVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2HI Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397application prepared and sent; first agent yearVisit HI Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Hawaii Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397application prepared and sent; first agent yearVisit Hawaii Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's published prices, November 12, 2026. State fees come on top and do not change by pick.

The plain answers

Must my LLC register in this state?

Registration comes before doing business in Hawaii for any out-of-state LLC.

Unregistered, the LLC faces no lawsuits as plaintiff (HRS 414-432(a); 428-1008(a)); back fees.

October 2026 · cca.hawaii.gov

How much is foreign registration?

On your own, $51. With a service, add $199.

Three years of state fees, registration included: $76. October 2026 · cca.hawaii.gov

Where is the filing sent?

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division accepts the Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form FLLC-1) from LLCs formed elsewhere.

Add original certificate of existence from the jurisdiction of formation no older than 60 days.

Any ongoing fees?

You keep filing the annual report ($12.50).

When: End of the quarter in which the LLC was registered.

How was the order decided?

Because of what the price takes off your plate: Mainstay Filing does best there, and it counts for 30%.

What we weigh most: three-year cost (35%) and what the price takes off your plate (30%). Three smaller criteria break close calls.

HI Registered Agent.org serves Hawaii only, so your home state would need someone else.

Read our criteria

What Hawaii requires

WhatWhat it isSource
Application fee$51October 2026 · cca.hawaii.gov
Certificate from home stateRequired, 60 daysOctober 2026 · cca.hawaii.gov
Annual report$12.50October 2026 · cca.hawaii.gov
State fees, first three years$76Our sum of the fees above
We add the filing, two years of reports and any minimum tax for the three-year line. Publication and other variable costs are excluded.

A few more questions

Does the home state still need an agent?

The home state rules still apply there. A provider in every state, such as Mainstay Filing, can cover both.

Over three years, what does each charge?

Mainstay Filing $497, HI Registered Agent.org $397 and Hawaii Registered Agent.co $397, state fees extra.

What are the numbers based on?

State fees from Hawaii's official sources, cited next to each figure; service prices from each company's own pricing.

Must I hire anyone?

No, you can file yourself if you meet the rules on this page.

Can someone else file the registration?

Yes, every pick files it, and the state fee does not change.

Who comes first in Hawaii?

First Mainstay Filing, then HI Registered Agent.org and Hawaii Registered Agent.co.

Sources

  1. October 2026: Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division, cca.hawaii.gov
  2. October 2026: Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report, files.hawaii.gov
  3. October 2026: Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, cca.hawaii.gov
  4. October 2026: Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, cca.hawaii.gov
  5. October 2026: Hawaii registered agent statute, capitol.hawaii.gov
  6. October 2026: Hawaii DCCA, foreign LLC registration, cca.hawaii.gov
  7. October 2026: Form FLLC-1, files.hawaii.gov
  8. October 2026: Foreign LLC filing fees, cca.hawaii.gov
  9. October 2026: Hawaii Revised Statutes 428-1003, activities, capitol.hawaii.gov
  10. October 2026: New Hawaii business registration portal, cca.hawaii.gov
  11. November 2026: Hawaii Revised Statutes 414-432, consequences, capitol.hawaii.gov
  12. November 2026: Hawaii Revised Statutes 428-1008, effect, capitol.hawaii.gov
  13. Mainstay Filing: Hawaii service page, read November 12, 2026
  14. HI Registered Agent.org: pricing page, read November 12, 2026
  15. Hawaii Registered Agent.co: pricing page, read November 12, 2026