[0:00] The short answer Dan: The 5 best registered agents in Hawaii in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, HI Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and Hawaii Registered Agent.co. Maya: Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. Hawaii. I'm guessing an agent has to be on the islands? Dan: Physically present, yes. A change of agent is $25, and the annual report is only $12.50 online, so the agent fee is the biggest recurring cost. [0:35] What Hawaii requires Maya: What does the statute say? Dan: Section 428-107 says an LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent in Hawaii, with a business address here. Maya: Who can serve? Dan: An individual who lives in Hawaii, or a domestic or foreign entity authorized to do business in the state. We found no age rule. Maya: Can my own LLC be the agent? Dan: No. The Articles of Organization instructions say the company cannot be its own registered agent. Maya: And what does physically present mean? Dan: The state's FAQ says the agent must be authorized to transact business here and physically present in the state. The filing gives the street address of the agent's place of business, where papers can be delivered. Maya: I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. Dan: Thanks, Maya. Now the five. [1:24] Mainstay Filing Maya: Number one? Dan: Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, the same $149 at renewal. Maya: What's in the plan? Dan: Its Hawaii address goes on the public record instead of yours. Papers served on the company are scanned and uploaded the same business day, no fee, and your first three government mailings a year are scanned free. Maya: Changing over from another agent? Dan: Mainstay files the change. The twenty-five dollar state fee is passed through at cost. Maya: The downside? Dan: Price. Two of the agents below it are $99, so it doesn't win on cost alone. [2:01] Northwest Registered Agent Maya: Number two? Dan: Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. Its page says the price hasn't gone up in twenty years, and up to ten pieces of regular mail a year are scanned free. Maya: And the catch? Dan: You're auto-enrolled in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state fees per filing, until you cancel. Maya: Hawaii's report is cheap, isn't it? Dan: Twelve dollars fifty online. A hundred-dollar service fee on top of that is eight times the state's own charge, so cancel it unless you want it. [2:36] HI Registered Agent.org Maya: Third? Dan: HI Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal. The address used on filings, same-day legal mail scanning and compliance reminders. Maya: What about switching? Dan: Costs just the $25 state fee. The catch is that annual report filing is a separate service. Maya: Compared with Mainstay? Dan: $50 a year less, $150 over three years. [3:02] Bizee Maya: Four. Dan: Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free for the first year with a formation package, then $149 a year, renewed automatically. Maya: What if I formed my Hawaii company on my own? Dan: There's no free year. You pay $149 from the start. Maya: Total over three years with a formation order? Dan: Free plus $149 plus $149 is $298. [3:27] Hawaii Registered Agent.co Maya: And the last? Dan: Hawaii Registered Agent.co, a flat $99. The office address, scanning of legal correspondence and reminders for state filings. Maya: Different from number three? Dan: Not on the listings. Same price, same catch. [3:44] Commercial registered agents Maya: Does Hawaii treat professional agents differently? Dan: Yes. The law distinguishes commercial from noncommercial registered agents. A person becomes a listed commercial agent by filing a listing statement with the state, naming a place of business here. The listing fee is $100. Maya: What changes for me? Dan: A company using a commercial agent only has to state that agent's name on its filing. A noncommercial agent needs a name and address. Maya: Does the agent have to sign anything? Dan: No. Naming the agent is the company's affirmation that the agent agreed. Form X-7 has no agent signature. [4:27] Naming and changing the agent Maya: Where does the agent go at formation? Dan: Article 3 of the Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1. The fee is $50 plus a $1 State Archives fee. Maya: And a change later? Dan: Form X-7, the Statement of Change of Registered Agent by Entity. It's $25, nonrefundable. Maya: Online? Dan: Yes, it's on the state's list of forms you can file online through Hawaii Business Express, or you can file on paper. Maya: Who signs it? Dan: The company, certified by at least one manager of a manager-managed LLC, or one member of a member-managed LLC. Maya: Do the members vote? Dan: No. Interest holders need not approve, and it takes effect when filed. [5:14] If the agent resigns Maya: What if my agent quits? Dan: Form X-9, a Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent, also $25, signed by the agent. It can be filed online. Maya: When is it effective? Dan: On the earlier of the 31st day after filing or the appointment of a new agent. The agent has to promptly tell the company the date. Maya: Do they have to use a special letter? Dan: The instructions say the notice can be a letter, an email or other written form. [5:42] When there's no agent Maya: What if papers can't be served on an agent? Dan: Under section 428-110, service can go to any registered agent, a manager of a manager-managed company, a member of a member-managed one, or a person in charge. If none is found, it can be served by registered or certified mail to the principal office. Maya: And dissolution? Dan: Failing to appoint and maintain an agent is a ground for administrative termination. The director mails notice of the grounds, and if it isn't fixed within sixty days of mailing, the company can be terminated by decree. [6:17] The annual report Maya: What else does Hawaii want every year? Dan: The annual report, due by the end of the calendar quarter you registered in. It's $12.50 online and $15 on paper. Maya: Any help with remembering? Dan: Reports filed online can get free email reminders the following year. Maya: So the real yearly spend? Dan: With Mainstay, $149 plus $12.50 is $161.50. With a $99 agent, $111.50. [6:51] Doing it yourself Maya: Can I just be my own agent? Dan: If you live in Hawaii, yes. The cost is zero. Maya: The tradeoff? Dan: Filings are open to public inspection, and registry information can be viewed in the Business Name Search. So your agent address is findable. Maya: And if I'm often off island? Dan: Then you can't be physically present to receive a process server. A service that scans the same business day covers that. [7:16] Picking one Maya: How should someone in Honolulu or Maui pick? Dan: Three things. Does the price hold next year, is there a real Hawaii address, and who files the $25 change. Maya: And your answer? Dan: Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Hawaii, at $149 a year. [7:36] The five in a row Maya: All five, one more time? Dan: One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, HI Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, Hawaii Registered Agent.co: $99 flat. Maya: The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.