New Hampshire LLC vs Wyoming LLC (2026)
Compare New Hampshire LLC vs Wyoming LLC — filing fees, taxes, privacy laws, and annual costs. Find out which state is actually better for your business.
| Factor | New Hampshire | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $100 | $100 |
| Processing Time | 5 day(s) | 1 day(s) |
| Annual Report Fee | $100 | $62 |
| Annual Report Due | April 1 | Anniversary month |
| State Income Tax | No | No |
| Anonymous LLC | No | Yes |
| Publication Requirement | No | No |
| Foreign LLC Cost (if forming out-of-state) | N/A — you're in your home state | ~$100 + registered agent ~$150/yr |
Verdict: New Hampshire wins for most businesses
For most New Hampshire-based small businesses, forming locally in New Hampshire is the better choice due to lower total costs and simpler compliance. Wyoming only makes financial sense if you need anonymous ownership or have specific asset protection requirements that justify the extra foreign registration costs.
Filing Fees & Formation Costs
Both New Hampshire and Wyoming charge $100 to file an LLC, making the initial formation costs identical. However, if you form in Wyoming while operating in New Hampshire, you'll need to register as a foreign LLC in New Hampshire for an additional ~$100 fee. This means Wyoming formation actually costs around $200 upfront for New Hampshire-based businesses. The only time savings with Wyoming's 1-day processing versus New Hampshire's 5 days is rarely worth the extra cost and complexity for local businesses.
Taxes: New Hampshire vs Wyoming
Both New Hampshire and Wyoming have no state income tax on LLCs, making them equally attractive from a state tax perspective. New Hampshire does not impose franchise taxes or minimum taxes on LLCs either. However, forming in Wyoming while operating in New Hampshire doesn't provide any tax advantages since you'll still be subject to New Hampshire's business regulations and any applicable local taxes. Your LLC will be taxed based on where you actually conduct business, not where it's formed.
Privacy & Asset Protection
Wyoming offers anonymous LLC formation, allowing you to keep member names private from public records, while New Hampshire requires member disclosure. Both states provide solid charging order protection for LLCs, protecting your ownership interest from personal creditors. Wyoming's privacy laws are stronger, but for most small business owners, this level of anonymity isn't necessary. If privacy is critical to your business strategy, Wyoming's anonymous formation might justify the extra costs and compliance burden.
Annual Maintenance Costs
New Hampshire LLCs pay $100 annually by April 1st, while Wyoming charges $62 by the anniversary month. However, Wyoming LLCs operating in New Hampshire must also maintain a registered agent in Wyoming (typically $150/year) and file in both states. This brings Wyoming's true annual cost to around $212 versus New Hampshire's $100. Over five years, forming in Wyoming costs an extra $560 in fees alone, not including the administrative burden of dual-state compliance.
When Wyoming Actually Makes Sense
Wyoming formation is worth considering if you need anonymous ownership for privacy protection, have investors who specifically require Wyoming incorporation, or plan to operate in multiple states anyway. It may also make sense for holding companies that own real estate or other assets across state lines. For typical New Hampshire small businesses like restaurants, consulting firms, or local service providers, the extra costs and complexity of Wyoming formation rarely provide meaningful benefits over simply forming locally in New Hampshire.