Quick answer

Quick Answer

To start a New Hampshire LLC, you must file a Certificate of Formation with the New Hampshire Secretary of State and pay a $100 filing fee. You must appoint a registered agent with a physical street address in New Hampshire. Every year, your LLC must file an Annual Report by April 1, which costs $100. New Hampshire has no state sales tax and no personal income tax on pass-through LLC profits; however, businesses with high revenue must pay the state's unique Business Profits Tax (BPT) and Business Enterprise Tax (BET).

New Hampshire LLC filing fee

The state filing fee for your Certificate of Formation is $100. New Hampshire encourages business owners to file online using the NH QuickStart portal. Online filings are very efficient and typically processed within 1 to 3 business days.

Step 1: Choose a name

Your LLC's name must be unique and distinguishable from other business entities registered in New Hampshire. State law also requires the name to include a proper LLC designator, such as "Limited Liability Company" or "LLC". You can search the NH QuickStart business database to check if your desired name is available.

Step 2: Appoint a registered agent

Every New Hampshire LLC is legally required to have a registered agent. This is an individual or authorized business entity responsible for receiving service of process, lawsuits, and official state correspondence on behalf of the LLC. The agent must have a physical street address in New Hampshire (P.O. Boxes are not permitted) and must be available during normal business hours.

Step 3: File formation documents

Your business is officially created when you file the Certificate of Formation with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. You must provide your LLC's name, its principal office address, its purpose, the name and address of your registered agent, and whether it is member-managed or manager-managed. The fee is $100.

Step 4: Create an operating agreement

New Hampshire law does not require you to file an operating agreement with the state. However, drafting an operating agreement is highly recommended. It serves as the internal rulebook for your LLC, establishing ownership percentages, voting rights, and how profits are split. Additionally, almost all banks will require a copy of your operating agreement to open a business checking account.

Step 5: Get an EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a free 9-digit tax ID assigned by the IRS. It functions like a social security number for your business. You will need an EIN to hire employees, open a business bank account, and file federal tax returns. You can apply for an EIN online directly through the IRS website.

Step 6: Register for state taxes if needed

New Hampshire is an incredibly tax-friendly state for consumers, boasting 0% state sales tax. For income tax, the state does not charge personal income tax on LLC pass-through profits. However, businesses exceeding certain financial thresholds must pay the Business Profits Tax (BPT) at around 7.5% and/or the Business Enterprise Tax (BET) at around 0.55%. Very small LLCs generally fall below the minimum thresholds and owe nothing.

Step 7: File annual reports and stay compliant

Every New Hampshire LLC must file an Annual Report to maintain its active status with the Secretary of State. The report updates the state on your current address and management information. It is due every year by April 1, starting the calendar year after your LLC was formed. The filing fee is $100. If you fail to file, your LLC will be administratively dissolved.

New Hampshire LLC Cost

Fee Type Amount
Formation fee $100
Registered agent estimate $39 - $150 / year
Annual report fee $100 / year
Franchise tax $0 (None)
Publication fee if applicable $0 (None)
WHEN THIS MAY NOT APPLY

If you do not live in New Hampshire, do not operate from New Hampshire, and do not have a specific New Hampshire-related reason for forming there, a New Hampshire LLC may not be the best default choice. You may still need to register the LLC as a foreign LLC in the state where you actually operate, which can create duplicate filing fees, registered agent costs, and annual compliance requirements.

New Hampshire currently charges $100 to form a domestic LLC. Annual reports are currently $100. For many purely online businesses, it is usually worth comparing your home state with commonly used business-friendly states such as Wyoming, which charges $100 to form an LLC and has a $60 minimum annual license tax, before choosing New Hampshire.

Should you form your LLC in New Hampshire?

A New Hampshire LLC usually makes sense if you live in New Hampshire, operate your business from New Hampshire, or have a clear legal or tax reason to use New Hampshire. If you live and operate somewhere else, forming in New Hampshire may create extra registered agent costs, foreign qualification requirements, and duplicate compliance obligations. New Hampshire may appeal to some owners, but compare it with Wyoming, Delaware, Nevada, and your home state in our guide to the best state for an online business LLC. For a comprehensive overview of starting a business, visit our LLC formation hub.

Situation Is a New Hampshire LLC usually a good fit?
You live in New Hampshire Usually yes
Your business operates in New Hampshire Usually yes
You want privacy Depends on state rules
You live in another state Usually only if you have a specific reason
You are a non-US resident Depends on banking, taxes, and compliance needs

New Hampshire LLC vs Wyoming LLC

For non-resident business owners, Wyoming is generally superior to New Hampshire. Both states offer 0% personal state income tax, but Wyoming does not have complex business taxes like the NH BPT or BET. Wyoming is also slightly cheaper to maintain ($60 minimum/year vs NH's $100/year). Furthermore, Wyoming offers strong statutory anonymity, keeping LLC owner names off public registries. New Hampshire provides no such privacy protections. If you operate a brick-and-mortar business inside New Hampshire, you must register a New Hampshire LLC. If you run a purely online business, Wyoming is the better option.