Hawaii

Foreign registration · Form LLC-5

Hawaii LLC Foreign Registration in California

To do business in California, an LLC formed in Hawaii registers there on Form LLC-5, with $70 in state fees. California also asks for Hawaii's Good Standing Certificate ($5), no older than 180 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Entities using your Hawaii records and act as your agent for service of process there for the first year.

Hawaii vs California: the paperwork

	Hawaii formed here	California registering here
Document	Hawaii Good Standing Certificate	Form LLC-5
State fee	$5	$70 at order
How it is handled	Hawaii: online	Filed with California
Paid expedite		24-hour $350, same-day $750
Office	Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division	California Secretary of State, Business Entities
Official page	cca.hawaii.gov	sos.ca.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 180 days
Yearly filing	Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report (Form C5), $12.50, every year	Statement of Information (Form LLC-12), $20, every two years
Due	Last day of the quarter in which the LLC was organized (Q1 organized -> Mar 31	Last day of the LLC's registration-anniversary month, biennially
Late yearly filing	$100 late fee	$250 late fee
Agent	Your Hawaii registered agent	Our California agent for service of process

How Hawaii companies register with California

Order the Hawaii certificate
The Good Standing Certificate ($5) is ordered from Hawaii separately; it is not part of our California order. California accepts it within 180 days of Hawaii's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form LLC-5
It names us as your California agent for service of process, with your Hawaii name and formation date and the certificate attached. The Hawaii certificate comes first; then the California filing goes in. After approval, your Hawaii LLC is registered with California.

First-year cost, Hawaii to California

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$70
Good Standing Certificate, paid to Hawaii	$5
Our service, with a year of California agent for service of process service	$199
First-year total, Hawaii certificate included	$274

California's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Will your Hawaii name work for California?

California accepts your Hawaii name if it includes limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. If the Hawaii name already ends in LLC, it meets the rule. If California's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the Hawaii company. California can hold a name for 60 days for $10 before you file.

Agents: California and Hawaii

California calls it an agent for service of process; Hawaii says registered agent. Your current registered agent stays for Hawaii; ours takes California's papers and notices.

Yearly filings: California and Hawaii

Hawaii wants the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report (Form C5) every year ($12.50); California wants the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) every two years ($20). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Hawaii to California

A corporation formed in Hawaii files Form S&DC-S/N with California ($100 in state fees). After that come Hawaii's Annual Report ($15) and California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550) ($25). See the corporation filing.

Registering a California company in Hawaii

An LLC formed in California that registers with Hawaii files Form FLLC-1 with $51 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5) dated within 60 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Hawaii to California

Does my Hawaii company need to register in California?

Yes, once a Hawaii business operates there; California law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does the California registration cost?

$269 at checkout plus $5 to Hawaii for the Good Standing Certificate, $274 in all (checkout is $70 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Hawaii's certificate of good standing?

Yes: California wants it ($5), no more than 180 days old at filing.

How long does the California registration take?

California's online processing takes 5 days or less, once Hawaii's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: 24-hour $350, same-day $750.

What are the yearly costs for Hawaii and California?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Hawaii's report ($12.50) and California's report ($20, every two years).

What if I don't register with California?

A Hawaii company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does California require a registered agent?

Yes: the Hawaii registered agent stays, and ours covers California for year one.

Will California accept my Hawaii name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Hawaii name at home. California names must include limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC.

Can I form a new California LLC instead?

Yes, but Hawaii keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20), and the original keeps Hawaii's yearly report.

How do I withdraw from California later?

Hawaii companies leave by filing Form LLC-4/7 (no state fee); until then, California's report stays due alongside Hawaii's filings.

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