How to file a DBA in Hawaii
By Bazal Razzaq
Chief Editor
Updated: November 09, 2023
Editorial Note: We earn a commission if you use the services recommended on this page. Commissions do not affect our opinions or recommendations.
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When you register a DBA Hawaii, you are establishing a branding for your business. It would not be incorrect to say that registration of a Hawaii DBA is the best and most important way to grow your business or you can use a trusted ‘Doing Business As’ service.
Trade Name Registration in Hawaii
Registering a trade name in Hawaii is called a DBA in Hawaii.
#1 Start with a DBA Hawaii Name Search
When you are registering your Hawaii DBA or Hawaii trade name, you are declaring to other business owners that the name is in use now. Despite this fact, the trade name is not protected from others.
Moving forward, you must check if your trade name is unique and meets Hawaii’s business name requirements. You can visit the Hawaii Business Express website and search for the DBA name to ensure it is in use or not. You can also search in local phone directories and check the Department of Taxation if the trade name is in use or not.
While naming the DBA Hawaii, the following points shouldn’t be included-
- Words or phrases that relate your business with a government agency like Treasury, State Department, FBI, etc.
- Words or terms without consent from the State Commissioner of Financial Institutions: bank, banker, banking, banc, financial services loan company, credit union, trust company, financial institution, intra pacific bank, international banking corporation, and trust.
- Terms without state approval or certification- certified public accountant, CPA, PA, cooperative, public accountant, escrow, and escrow depository.
We suggest you check if your name is available as a web domain (URL). You may not plan to start a business today but can secure the URL to prevent others from using it. You can use a free business name generator to generate a trade name or create a logo using a free logo generator.
#2 Register Your DBA Hawaii
The Hawaii trade name can be filed online or by mailing the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. To file online, log in to the Hawaii Business Express website, or mail a hard copy of the Application for Registration of Trade Name.
Important sections in the form
- Section 3: It tells us the status of the applicant (Corporation, Partnership, Sole Proprietor, LLC, LLP).
- Section 7: Nature of the business.
Cost of Filing:
$50 Filing Fee
Office Address:
Check Hawaii’s list of Business Action Centers for in-person filing.
Mailing Address:
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Business Registration Division
P.O. Box 40
Honolulu, Hawaii 96810.
Email: breg-doci-filing@dcca.hawaii.gov
Fax: (808) 586-2733.
#3 Manage Hawaii Trade Name
General Questions:
Contact the Business Registration Division: (808) 586-2727.
Renewal of Trade name with the state:
The DBA Hawaii must be renewed every 5 years. It can be renewed online, 6 months before the expiration date.
Change Your Trade Name:
The trade name can be changed by withdrawing the initial trade name and refiling the application.
Withdraw Your Trade Name:
You can withdraw your trade name online.
#4 After Filing the Hawaii DBA
Although filing a ‘Doing Business As’ name marks the beginning of your business journey, you should also consider paying attention to the following steps-
- Create the Business Website:
Every business must have its own website to promote the business. You can use drag-and-drop builders like GoDaddy and Wix to make the job easy for you.
- Make business finances in order:
You must separate your business and personal finances. You can start by opening a business bank account and getting a business credit card if there are irregularities in the cash flow.
- Protect the business:
Just as a Limited Liability Company helps to protect your personal assets during a lawsuit, the business assets also need protection. You must have the right business insurance like “General Liability Insurance” to cover if anything worse happens.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can have multiple DBAs as long as you can create and manage. Every ‘Doing Business As’ includes an additional filing cost and paperwork.
DBAs necessarily don’t need to have a separate EIN as it is not a business entity. The business entity under which the DBA is would have an EIN if it was necessary.
A DBA cannot become a Limited Liability company as it is a trade name used for a business. Sometimes, Sole proprietorships are confused with DBAs but they are not the same.