How To Apply For A DBA In Hawaii

A trade name is a Hawaii DBA (doing business as). A Hawaii trade name registration permits a company to operate under a name other than its legal name.

Your personal assets will not be protected if you register a DBA in Hawaii. Forming a formal company structure, such as an LLC or corporation, can provide you with liability protection as well as a business name.

Hawaii Trade Name Registration

It is simple to register a Hawaii trade name, commonly known as a DBA.

A DBA is solely used for branding purposes. A DBA does not safeguard your personal assets in the event that your company is sued. As a result, we highly advise that a DBA be utilised exclusively by a formal company structure such as an LLC or corporation to add new brands to an existing firm.

If you operate an informal company (sole proprietorship or partnership), we highly advise you to create an LLC to keep your business and personal assets distinct. The name of the LLC might be chosen to serve as the business’s brand name.

Learn How to File a DBA in Hawaii in Two Easy Steps:

Begin by doing a Hawaii Trade Name Search.

Create Your Hawaii DBA

A DBA is solely used for branding purposes. To keep your company and personal assets distinct, we propose incorporating an LLC.

Step 1: Conduct a Hawaii Trade Name Search.

When you register your Hawaii trade name, you are effectively informing other company owners that the name is already in use. Your company name is not protected against others using it.

The next stage is to determine if your Hawaii trade name is distinct and fits Hawaii’s company name standards.

To begin, go to the Hawaii Business Express website and search for your new DBA name to see whether it is already in use.

Hawaii also suggests checking local phone directories and the Department of Taxation to discover whether your trade name has already been used.

Review the naming criteria next. In Hawaii, your business name should NOT contain the following words:

Words that may cause confusion between your company and a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).

Without the approval of the State Commissioner of Financial Institutions, the following terms are not permitted to be used: financial institution, bank, banker, banking, banc, savings bank, savings and loan, savings association, financial services loan company, credit union, trust company, intrapacific bank, international banking corporation, and trust.

Without state permission or certification, the following words are used: certified public accountant, public accountant, CPA, PA, cooperative, escrow, and escrow depository.

We suggest that you check to see whether your name is accessible as a web domain (URL). You may not want to launch a company website right now, but you may wish to prevent others from gaining your URL.

Step 2: Create a Hawaii DBA.

Your Hawaii trade name may be registered with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs either online or by mail. You may submit online using the Hawaii Business Express website, or you can fill out a paper copy Application for Trade Name Registration.

The following are some critical portions of the form:

Section 3: Indicate the applicant’s current status (Sole Proprietor, Corporation, Partnership, LLC, LLP).

Section 7: Explain the nature of the company.

A DBA does not provide legal protection for your personal assets if your company is sued. Visit our How to Form an LLC page and choose your state for additional information on forming a limited liability corporation.

Maintain Control of Your Hawaii Trade Name

General Concerns

Please contact the Business Registration Division at (808) 586-2727.

Renew Your Business Name with the State

Every five years, your Hawaii trade name should be renewed. You may renew it online at any moment during the six months before it expires.

Change Your Company Name

You may modify your trade name by withdrawing your original trade name and re-registering.

Remove Your Trade Name

You have the option to cancel your trade name online.