New Hampshire LLC Filing Fees and Requirements

Filing fee: $100 (paper) / $102 (online via NH QuickStart)

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State agency: New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division

Annual report due: April 1 each year (first report due the calendar year after formation); $100 filing fee

State tax rate: No state income tax on wages; Business Profits Tax and Business Enterprise Tax apply to qualifying businesses

Forming an LLC in New Hampshire starts with filing a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) with the New Hampshire Secretary of State and paying a $100 state fee — or $102 if you file online. Beyond formation, you'll need a registered agent, an annual report filed by April 1 each year, and any business licenses your industry requires.

• Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1): $100 by mail, $102 online
• Registered agent: required — must have a physical New Hampshire street address
• Annual report: $100, due by April 1 each year
• Name reservation (optional): $15 for 120 days
• DBA / trade name registration (if needed): $50, valid for 5 years
• Employer Identification Number (EIN): free from the IRS
• Operating agreement: not required by state law, but strongly recommended

Certificate of Formation

To form a New Hampshire LLC, you file a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division. The state fee is $100 for paper filing or $102 when you file online through the NH QuickStart system — the extra $2 is an electronic processing charge.

The Certificate of Formation must include your LLC's name — which needs to contain "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." — your principal office address, and your registered agent's information. Your LLC name must also be distinguishable from any existing entity on file with the Secretary of State. If you want to lock in a name before filing, New Hampshire lets you reserve it for $15 for 120 days.

Registered agent requirement

Every New Hampshire LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical street address in New Hampshire — P.O. Box addresses don't qualify. The registered agent needs to be available during normal business hours to receive service of process and official state correspondence on behalf of your LLC.

You can serve as your own registered agent if you're a New Hampshire resident with a physical address in the state and you're at least 18 years old. Many business owners use a professional registered agent service instead — it keeps your personal address off public records and ensures someone is always available to receive documents.

Annual report requirement

New Hampshire LLCs — both domestic and foreign — must file an annual report with the Secretary of State by April 1 each year. The filing fee is $100. Your first annual report is due in the calendar year after your LLC is formed, not the same year.

You can file online through the NH QuickStart system (payment by credit card) or prepare the report online and mail it in with a check. The April 1 deadline catches some new business owners off guard — mark it early so you don't miss it.

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS. Every LLC should get one — you'll need it to open a business bank account, file taxes, and hire employees. Applying directly through the IRS at irs.gov/ein is free.

Single-member LLCs with no employees can use a Social Security number in some situations, but an EIN keeps your personal number off business documents and is worth getting regardless.

DBA / trade name registration

If your New Hampshire LLC wants to do business under a name other than its legal name, you need to register a trade name — what most people call a DBA — with the New Hampshire Secretary of State under RSA Chapter 349. The filing fee is $50.

A New Hampshire trade name registration is valid for 5 years. The Secretary of State sends a renewal notice at least 6 months before expiration. You can file online through NH QuickStart or by mailing the Application for Registration of Trade Name form.

Foreign LLC registration

If your LLC was formed in another state but wants to do business in New Hampshire, you need to register as a foreign LLC by filing an Application for Foreign Registration with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. Foreign LLCs are also subject to the same $100 annual report requirement.

Operating agreement

New Hampshire does not require an LLC to have a written operating agreement, and you don't file one with the state. It's an internal document kept with your LLC's records. That said, having one is strongly recommended — without it, your LLC defaults to the state's standard governance rules, which may not reflect how you actually want to run your business.

Business licenses and permits

New Hampshire doesn't have a single statewide general business license, but your LLC may need specific licenses or permits depending on your industry, location, and the type of work you do. Requirements can come from state agencies, your city or county, or federal regulators.

Check with the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office and your local municipality to figure out what applies to your business. A tax professional or legal professional can help you identify industry-specific requirements.