Hawaii requires every LLC and foreign LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent with a business address in the state. The agent must be either an individual who lives in Hawaii or a business entity authorized to transact business there. To change agents, you file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent by Entity (Form X-7) with the Business Registration Division (BREG). The fee is $25, plus the $1 State Archives fee, per BREG’s form fee schedule as of October 2026.
BREG moved to a new online system on July 6, 2026, so some older links and bookmarks no longer apply. Our recommended agent for most Hawaii companies is Mainstay Filing at $149 a year.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Registered Agents in Hawaii (2026)
Our ranked picks for registered agent service in Hawaii are below, starting with Mainstay Filing. Each entry lists the yearly price and what the service covers.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Registered agent service with a flat renewal price | $149/year (renews at $149) | Registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost) |
| 2 | HI Registered Agent.org | Hawaii registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Hawaii Registered Agent.co | Hawaii registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Hawaii. It costs $149/year (renews at $149) and covers registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost). The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. HI Registered Agent.org
HI Registered Agent.org is a Hawaii registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Hawaii Registered Agent.co
Hawaii Registered Agent.co is a Hawaii registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Hawaii registered agent summary
| Item | Hawaii (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who can serve | An individual residing in Hawaii, or a domestic or foreign entity authorized to transact business in Hawaii |
| Address | A business address in Hawaii |
| Statement of Change by entity (Form X-7) | $25 + $1 State Archives fee (BREG fee schedule) |
| Statement of Resignation of agent (Form X-9) | $25 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC-1) | $50 + $1 archives fee |
| LLC annual report | $15 (or $12.50 online), due by the end of the quarter you registered in |
| Name reservation (X-1) | $10 |
| Filing office | Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division |
The registered agent’s job in Hawaii
A registered agent is the person or company that accepts service of process and official notices for your business. In Hawaii, the agent’s name and address are part of the company record you can see through BREG’s business search, and that is where anyone suing the company will deliver papers.
Hawaii has a fallback: BREG’s fee schedule lists a $10 fee for service of process on the Director of the Department, which is used when a company cannot be served through its agent. If that happens, you can lose valuable time before the papers reach you.
Hawaii’s registered agent requirements
BREG’s information sheet for domestic LLCs summarizes the rule in section 428-107 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes:
- Each LLC and foreign LLC must have and continuously maintain a registered agent in Hawaii.
- The agent must have a business address in Hawaii.
- The agent must be either an individual residing in Hawaii or a domestic or foreign entity authorized to transact business in Hawaii.
Under HRS § 425R-4, the agent’s place of business must have a Hawaii street address where service of process and notices can be delivered, and an LLC cannot be its own registered agent; a member or manager who lives in Hawaii can serve instead.
Hawaii also follows the Model Registered Agents Act (HRS chapter 425R), which separates commercial registered agents (businesses that file a Commercial Registered Agent Listing Statement, $100) from noncommercial agents such as an owner or a relative. Noncommercial agents who move or change their name file Form X-8, while commercial agents update their information with Form X-14.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in Hawaii?
The Business Registration Division charges $25 for a Statement of Change or Statement of Resignation under the Registered Agents Act, according to its form fee schedule (Rev. 12/2022, still the current schedule in October 2026). BREG also collects a $1.00 State Archives fee on permanent records.
| Form | Purpose | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| X-7 | Statement of Change of Registered Agent by Entity | $25 |
| X-8 | Noncommercial agent changes its own business address or name | $25 |
| X-9 | Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent | $25 |
| X-11 | Commercial Registered Agent Listing Statement | $100 |
BREG’s site notes that expedited handling is currently unavailable during the system transition, so plan for standard processing.
If you file on paper, use the fillable PDF from BREG’s forms page rather than an older copy saved on your computer, and include the card transaction form or a check payable to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. BREG accepts cash, check and credit card payments, and charges $25 for a dishonored check, so double-check the amount before you send it.
Changing your Hawaii registered agent: the process
- Look up your company in the BREG business search and note the exact name and file number.
- Choose a qualifying agent: a Hawaii resident or an entity authorized to do business in Hawaii, with a Hawaii business address.
- File Form X-7, the Statement of Change of Registered Agent by Entity, online through BREG’s business portal or using the PDF on the domestic LLC forms page.
- Pay $25 plus the $1 archives fee by card online, or by check, money order or card with a paper filing.
- Check the record once filed and notify the previous agent.
If your agent resigns instead, the statement of resignation takes effect on the earlier of the 31st day after it is filed or the appointment of a new agent, according to BREG. That gives you about a month to file Form X-7 with a replacement.
Is it smart to be your own registered agent in Hawaii?
Hawaii residents can act as their company’s agent. That is a sensible choice for some owners and a poor one for others.
It suits you if
- You live in Hawaii and work from a fixed business address with regular hours.
- You are comfortable with that address appearing on the public record.
It probably does not if
- You split your year between Hawaii and the mainland or travel between islands for work.
- You live outside Hawaii and own a Hawaii company or rental property LLC.
- Your only Hawaii address is your home.
Owners of Hawaii vacation-rental LLCs who live on the mainland are a common example: they cannot serve as agent themselves and need a Hawaii resident or a commercial agent.
Annual reports and next steps in Hawaii
Hawaii LLC annual reports are due by the last day of the calendar quarter in which the company was registered (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31), starting the year after formation. The fee is $15, or $12.50 online, according to BREG’s LLC information sheet. Late filers pay a $10 late fee per year, the statute allows a penalty of up to $100 for each 30-day period of delinquency, and BREG may administratively terminate an LLC that has not filed for two years.
For the full formation process, see our guide on how to start an LLC in Hawaii, the broader Hawaii business startup guide, and our Hawaii business name search walkthrough.
FAQs
Who can be a registered agent in Hawaii?
Under section 428-107 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, as summarized by BREG, an LLC’s registered agent must be an individual residing in Hawaii or a domestic or foreign entity authorized to transact business in Hawaii. In both cases the agent must have a business address in the state.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in Hawaii?
The Business Registration Division charges $25 to file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent by Entity (Form X-7), plus a $1 State Archives fee, according to its form fee schedule as of October 2026. Expedited handling is currently unavailable during BREG’s system transition.
Can I be my own registered agent in Hawaii?
Yes, if you live in Hawaii and have a business address in the state where you can accept legal papers. Your address becomes part of the public record. Mainland owners of Hawaii LLCs, such as vacation-rental owners, need a Hawaii resident or a commercial registered agent.
When does a Hawaii registered agent’s resignation take effect?
According to BREG, a statement of resignation takes effect on the earlier of the 31st day after it is filed or the appointment of a new registered agent. The resigning agent must promptly notify the company, which should file Form X-7 with a replacement before that date.
When is the Hawaii LLC annual report due?
It is due by the end of the calendar quarter in which the LLC was registered: March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31. No report is due in the year of formation. The fee is $15, or $12.50 when filed online, with a $10 late fee per delinquent year.
What is a commercial registered agent in Hawaii?
Under Hawaii’s Registered Agents Act (HRS chapter 425R), a commercial registered agent is a business that files a Commercial Registered Agent Listing Statement with BREG, which costs $100. Commercial agents update their details with Form X-14, while noncommercial agents use Form X-8.
What is the best registered agent in Hawaii?
Our recommendation is Mainstay Filing at $149 per year, with renewal at the same price and the agent switch handled for you. HI Registered Agent.org is an alternative at a flat $99 per year that includes an in-state street address and online document scans.
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