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ZenBusiness |
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Visit ZenBusiness |
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Northwest Registered Agent |
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Visit Northwest |
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Harbor Compliance |
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Visit Harbor Compliance |
Hawaii’s beautiful landscape and laid-back atmosphere offer a great place to live and start a business. For Hawaii entrepreneurs who are looking to set up a business in The Aloha State, one of the many choices you’ll make is to name a registered agent.
A registered agent is a person or company who will receive official paperwork on behalf of your company. The registered agent could be the owner, but it can also be another trustworthy person or company.
Selecting a registered agent is part of setting up a Hawaii LLC. To help those who are new to the business world, we’ve created this guide to shed some light on how to set up an LLC in Hawaii and how a registered agent plays a role in the business.
What is a Hawaii registered agent?
A Hawaii registered agent is a person or company who’s willing to receive official documents for the company. These documents could be tax notices or documents that are served during a lawsuit.
Read more: What is a registered agent?
How does an owner select a registered agent in Hawaii?
The registered agent is selected and listed on the LLC formation document, the Articles of Organization. Once selected, the person or company listed serves as the registered agent until the contact is changed formally by submitting changes to the state.
Who can be a registered agent in Hawaii?
A registered agent can be the owner, a trusted friend, an employee, or another company – that includes a registered agent service. A registered agent service is a company that receives documentation on your behalf, for a fee.
In Hawaii, the person or company must have a physical street address in Hawaii and be available during normal business hours. An individual serving as a registered agent must be at least 18 years old.
Can I be my own registered agent in Hawaii?
Yes, owners can be their own registered agents. In many cases, serving as your own registered agent is the easiest and cheapest option. However, there are other choices.
Why would a company choose to work with a registered agent service?
A company owner may decide to work with a registered agent service, which is a professional service that accepts documents on behalf of your company. For a fee, a registered agent service will accept and sign for documents and notify business owners when they arrive.
There are advantages to using a registered agent service, which includes:
- Convenience. In some cases, owners find registered agent services more convenient than filling the role themselves. The registered agent service is open during regular business hours and always has someone on staff to accept documents, which, for some owners, is worth paying for.
- Peace of mind. A professional service is reliable, which gives owners peace of mind knowing that nothing is missed, misplaced, or overlooked. If documents arrive, they’re accepted and the owner is notified.
- Privacy. Some of the paperwork that registered agents receive isn’t something you’d want your employees or customers to know about. If your company is sued, for example, it’s best that the paperwork is served to an off-sight registered agent.
Read more: Best Registered Agent Services
How much does a registered agent service cost in Hawaii?
The cost of a registered agent depends on what kind of services a business owner wants. A registered agent service that offers basic features, like mail forwarding, can cost about $50 a year.
For more features, like same-day document scans, enhanced notifications, or annual report reminders, the fees increase. A registered agent service that offers all the bells and whistles costs upwards of $150-300 a year.
List of Hawaii registered agent services
To find a registered agent service in Hawaii, entrepreneurs can run a quick Google search. To give entrepreneurs an idea of the service and prices that are out there, here are a few options:
- ZenBusiness is fairly new to the market, but it’s grown a strong following. Business owners love the affordable rates for a registered agent service, which are as low as $99 per year. The company also offers worry-free compliance to help business owners file the necessary reports on time.
- Northwest Registered Agent is one of the most recognized names in the registered agent business. The company has decades of experience and local offices scattered across the U.S. to serve small businesses like yours. The cost for a registered agent service is comparable to others. Business owners can also take advantage of additional services like report filing.
- Harbor Compliance is a great fit for organizations that register in multiple states and for those who don’t want to pay excessive service fees. With their network and electronic document delivery, they help ensure your business never misses a legal notification.
Hawaii registered agent FAQs
Do I really need a registered agent in Hawaii?
Yes. The State of Hawaii requires all companies that are formed to list a registered agent. The LLC formation paperwork will ask for the registered agent’s name and address. The address must be a physical street address, not a P.O. box.
Can a company change its registered agent?
Yes. To change a registered agent, a company owner can file a “change form” with the state. The form is called a Statement of Change of Registered Agent by Entity. It’s filed with the Business Registration Division and costs $25.
In some states, the term statutory agent is used as opposed to a registered agent. The name ‘service of process’ agent is also used. All of these titles mean the same thing. The name varies by state.
What’s a commercial registered agent?
A commercial agent or a commercial registered agent refers to a registered agent service or a professional company that a business owner pays to serve as its registered agent. A non-commercial agent is a person, like an owner or an employee, who serves as the registered agent.