How to search and claim an LLC name in New Hampshire
- Search New Hampshire's official entity records at no cost, leaving “LLC” off the name.
- Make sure the name ends with one of New Hampshire's accepted endings, such as “Limited Liability Company” or “L.L.C.”
- Hold the name with a $15 reservation for 120 days if you need time before filing.
- File the Certificate of Formation with the New Hampshire Secretary of State (Corporation Division) for $100.
- Note the recurring report so the LLC stays in good standing: $100 each year (by April 1).
What a New Hampshire LLC name must include
New Hampshire accepts these endings for a limited liability company:
- Limited Liability Company
- L.L.C.
Only two LLC endings could be confirmed on New Hampshire's official pages: “limited liability company” and “L.L.C.”. Other abbreviations, including “LLC”, may be accepted, but we couldn't confirm them, so “L.L.C.” is the safe choice until you check with the Corporation Division. No restricted-word list could be confirmed either.
How New Hampshire decides two names are the same
The Corporation Division looks at its own records: your LLC's name has to be distinguishable from, and not identical to, the name of any entity that's incorporated, formed, authorized or registered in New Hampshire (RSA 304-C:32).
Where the rules are written. RSA 304-C:32 (LLC name); RSA 304-C:191 (fees); RSA 349 (trade names).
Searching for an LLC name in New Hampshire
Search for free through NH QuickStart, the Secretary of State's online system, which also takes reservations, formation filings and certificate orders. New Hampshire's state sites refused direct reading while we researched, so the facts here come from search listings of the official pages.
Open the official New Hampshire entity search
Leave the ending off when you search, so every version of the name shows up, then compare each result word by word. If one matches apart from spacing, punctuation or a plural, change a real word in your name.
Holding the name: New Hampshire LLC name reservation
Holding an LLC name for 120 days costs $15. File the Application for Reservation of Name (Form 1) or use QuickStart online.
File a New Hampshire name reservation
Forming the LLC in New Hampshire
The Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) costs $100 and can be filed through QuickStart. Form LLC-1 is the paper version; QuickStart takes the same filing online.
File the Certificate of Formation online
From the year after formation, the LLC owes an annual report every April 1: $100, plus a $50 late fee if it misses the date. No franchise tax applies at the Secretary of State; New Hampshire's business profits and enterprise taxes weren't covered by our research. No newspaper notice is needed. A Certificate of Good Standing costs $5 through QuickStart.
When the LLC trades under another name
An LLC trading under another name registers it with the Secretary of State as a trade name, using Form TN-1; the fee is $50. Trade names are a statewide registration under RSA 349, so there's no county filing to make.
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
- 304 c mrg, gc.nh.gov, checked 2026-10-07
These are the official pages behind every fact above. If one of them now says something different, it's right and this page is out of date.
A few were read from search results, not the page itself, because the site refused direct requests; treat the facts they back as provisional until the New Hampshire Secretary of State (Corporation Division) confirms them.
Common questions
Can two LLCs in New Hampshire have the same name?
No. New Hampshire accepts a new LLC name only if it can be told apart from every name on its record.
How long can I hold an LLC name in New Hampshire?
120 days, for $15.
Does a new New Hampshire LLC have to publish a notice?
No. New Hampshire has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs.
How much is the New Hampshire LLC filing fee?
$100, paid when you file the Certificate of Formation.