You should register with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) in order to receive a business license in Hawaii. You can complete this online or in person at a DCCA office. You must submit details about your company, such as its name, address, and kind of operation. You must also submit personal data about yourself, such as your name, phone number, and social security number.
A business license is not the same as a trade name or trademark, which is an important distinction to make. A trademark is a sign, logo, or phrase that distinguishes a good or service, whereas a trade name is the name under which a business conducts its operations. It is conceivable for the same company to use both a trade name and a trademark, but they have different functions.
You must submit a registration form to the DCCA in Hawaii if you want to register a DBA (Doing Business As) under an LLC. This application, known as the Application for Registration of Trade Name, may be submitted in person or online. A $50 filing fee and a five-year expiration date are required for a trade name registration.
The registration of a trademark is a distinct procedure from that of a business license or a trade name. You can submit an application for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) if you wish to safeguard your company name or logo. Depending on the type of trademark and the number of classes you want to register it in, trademark registration costs change. A standard trademark application in Hawaii costs $225 per class.
In conclusion, anyone wishing to open a business in Hawaii must first obtain a business license. It’s crucial to comprehend the distinctions between a company license, trade name, and trademark and, if necessary, register each one separately. Consider speaking with a company attorney or other expert who can walk you through the legal requirements if you need assistance through the procedure.
You can perform a trademark search on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website to find out if your name has already been registered as a trademark. This will enable you to look for any trademarks that may already exist that are similar to your name or company name. To assist you with the search and registration process, you might also think about employing a trademark attorney.
A trade name is something like “Coca-Cola.” The Coca-Cola company conducts business under this name, which is listed as a trademark.