Step 1: Choose a name New Hampshire will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It also has to differ from the names already on the New Hampshire Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in New Hampshire against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $15, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Certificate of Formation names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in New Hampshire who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents New Hampshire companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Formation
File it with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. The fee is $100. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Varies; the office posts the date it has processed through on its QuickStart sign-in page. Faster service: $25 more, in person at the Customer Lobby. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
New Hampshire doesn't require one (RSA 304-C:16, 304-C:40), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free New Hampshire LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once New Hampshire has accepted the Certificate of Formation.
Step 6: File the New Hampshire LLC annual report
Fee: $100; $50 late fee if not filed by April 1. Due: April 1 each year (beginning the year after formation). (Source: Limited liability companies, sos.nh.gov.)
| After formation | New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $100 each year (by April 1) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None due below $109,000 of gross business income (business profits tax, 7.5%) and $298,000 of gross receipts or enterprise value base (business enterprise tax, 0.55%) |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $5 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a New Hampshire certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in New Hampshire
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $100 |
| First year, state fees | $100 |
| Each year after (business profits and enterprise taxes: none due below $109,000 of gross business income and $298,000 of receipts) | $100 |
Over five years, New Hampshire's state fees come to $500. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Limited liability companies, sos.nh.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Trade names, sos.nh.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Form 1 08 2018 (PDF), sos.nh.gov, checked 2026-10-07
gc.nh.gov, checked 2026-10-07
RSA chapter 304-C, gc.nh.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business FAQs, sos.nh.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Business taxes, revenue.nh.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Name avail guide nov 2019 pdf (PDF), sos.nh.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in New Hampshire
- Choose a name New Hampshire will accept and check it against the New Hampshire Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in New Hampshire.
- File the Certificate of Formation with the New Hampshire Secretary of State ($100).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in New Hampshire?
$100 to file the Certificate of Formation. The state's fees come to $100 in the first year and $100 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire Secretary of State gives varies; the office posts the date it has processed through on its QuickStart sign-in page. Faster service: $25 more, in person at the Customer Lobby.
Do I need an operating agreement in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire doesn't require one (RSA 304-C:16, 304-C:40), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in New Hampshire online?
Yes. The New Hampshire Secretary of State takes the Certificate of Formation online, for $100.
When is the New Hampshire LLC annual report due?
April 1 each year (beginning the year after formation).
Does New Hampshire require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. New Hampshire's recurring filing: $100 each year (by April 1).