Do you have the perfect name idea for a new business entity in the state of Hawaii, but you’re not quite ready to form your company?
Hawaii allows you to reserve a business name until you’re prepared for the business formation process, but how does the reservation process work and how long will the state reserve the name for you? In this guide, we’ll run down all the important details of reserving a business name in Hawaii.
Rocket Tip: If you’d rather officially incorporate in Hawaii rather than file the extra paperwork to register a business name, there are many good incorporation services that can do it for you.
How to Reserve a Business Name in Hawaii
The first step is to determine if your desired business name is even available in Hawaii to begin with. You can conduct a “Business Entity & Documents” search right here to determine if your desired business name is available in Hawaii. Once you’ve determined the availability of your desired name, you can begin the process of reserving it with the state.
To reserve your desired name, you will need to file the Application for Reservation of Name with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. This form can be filed by mail or online. In either case, you will need to provide the following information: P.O. Box 40
Honolulu, Hawaii 96810
The Application for Reservation of Name also requires a $10 filing fee. If you filing by mail, you can make the check out to the “Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs,” and mail both the form and the check to the following address:
How Long Is My Business Name Reserved For?
In Hawaii, name reservations last for a period of 120 days. You will need to file your formation paperwork in this time to register your business with this reserved name, otherwise another business could claim the name once the reservation period has ended.
Conclusion
Just because you aren’t ready to form your Hawaii business entity doesn’t mean you can’t lock down your desired business name.
It is extremely easy to apply for a name reservation in Hawaii, and the filing only costs $10, so there is no reason to wait until you form your business to claim your desired name.