Business Name Search in Hawaii

You’ve picked out the perfect name for your Hawaii LLC, and all that’s left to do is make it yours. But before you start an LLC in Hawaii, you need to be sure another business hasn’t already claimed your name.

By conducting a LLC look up in the state, you can confirm that your chosen name is available before moving on to the next steps of the LLC formation process.

Why do you need to do a business entity search when starting an LLC?

Taking the time to do a business entity search is important whenever you’re starting an LLC in Hawaii because if a business is already using your name, you won’t be able to register it yourself. In this sense, doing your research now could save you a lot of stress and hassle down the road.

Hawaii Naming Guidelines

Each state sets its own rules for naming a business, and these rules can differ based on the type of business structure being used. According to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, for example, limited liability companies need to contain the phrase “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC” in the business name itself (“Ltd.” and “Co.” are allowed as abbreviations). Likewise, when registering a business name in Hawaii, you must also make sure that the name you have selected isn’t too similar to any business name that is already registered and/or trademarked.

Business names containing phrases that could cause confusion (such as phrases indicating a government agency or financial institution) may also be rejected, so be careful with words like “bank” or anything that suggests a government connection when naming your business.

Conducting a business name search in Hawaii: your step-by-step guide

You can use the Hawaii Business Express business name search tool, which is offered through the DCCA Business Registration Division (BREG), to determine whether or not your desired business name is available.

When using this tool, start by entering your desired business name exactly as you would spell it. From there, you might also want to check for individual words or phrases to look for similar business names that have already been registered.

1. Check the state database

BREG launched a new online business registration portal on July 6, 2026, so the search screens may look different from older guides. Below are screenshots of the new website. Start from the portal’s business search.

To search for a business name, enter the desired name of your business and run the search. This will bring up a list of results for any business name that matches your search, including details about the status of the business and its filing number.

2. Try different filters and search tips

When searching for a business name, the main thing to keep in mind is that an exact-match search can miss similar names. To ensure the most comprehensive search, search for your full desired name and also for its key words on their own.

3. Review your results

Once you’ve run your search, a list of results will be populated.

You can then review your results and find more details about each business by opening its record. A business record can tell you about:

• The filing number
• Whether the registration is active
• The registered agent
• The business’s filings

Here, you’ll also have access to any other filings that may have been completed by the business, such as an application for a trademark.

For business name searches with multiple results, you may also be able to narrow results by:

• Record type (entity, reservation, etc.)
• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, Partnership, etc.)
• Status (active, expired, merged, etc.)

Fees and More

According to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website, a business name can be reserved for 120 days by paying a $10 filing fee (the $25 expedited filing option is currently suspended). From there, the business itself needs to be registered online through BREG’s online business registration portal.

For manual processing, paperwork and applicable fees should be mailed to:

• Business Registration Division
• P.O. Box 40
• Honolulu, HI 96810

What can you do once you have a name that is available?

Even once you’ve completed the entity search online, you should never assume that your business name is completely your own until you complete your registration and receive direct confirmation from the Business Registration Division itself.

Using Hawaii Business Express to confirm that a business name is available means you should move quickly to either reserve your business name for the next 120 days or go ahead and register your business through the state of Hawaii.

In addition to registering your name and LLC, you may also wish to trademark your business name (which protects your LLC’s intellectual property). You can do this by first searching the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website for existing trademarks. From there, you can complete your application for a trademark online.

Don’t forget, too, to register your website domain. Ideally, you’ll want to register your business name as a domain. You can check availability using our domain registration platform. From there, if your business domain is available, you can purchase it and start growing your web presence by building a website.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to keep in mind as you prepare to form your LLC, but choosing a name is just the beginning. Looking for more guidance in this process? Tailor Brands can help with your LLC formation and much more, so be sure to reach out and get the ball rolling.

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