How to Register a Foreign LLC in New Hampshire

How to Register a Foreign LLC in New Hampshire: Step-by-Step

1. 1

   Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing

   Request a Certificate of Good Standing (also called Certificate of Status or Certificate of Existence) from your LLC's home state Secretary of State office. This document must be dated within 60-90 days of your New Hampshire foreign registration application filing date. Your home state sets the fee and how long this takes, so order it early and check both with the office that issues it.

2. 2

   Appoint a Registered Agent in New Hampshire

   New Hampshire law requires you to designate a New Hampshire registered agent with a physical New Hampshire street address who is available during normal business hours. You can serve as your own registered agent if you've a New Hampshire address, appoint an individual resident of New Hampshire, or hire a professional registered agent service. Professional services charge a yearly fee and ensure reliable service of legal documents.

   Before you compare paid services: in most states the LLC's owner, or another individual who qualifies, may serve as its registered agent themselves, generally subject to that state's rules on keeping a street address in the state and being available there during normal business hours. A paid service is one way to meet the requirement and not the only one. The New Hampshire registered agent requirements set out what New Hampshire itself asks.

   Registered agent services for a foreign LLC in New Hampshire

   Affiliate disclosure: Northwest Registered Agent, Bizee, ZenBusiness and LegalZoom pay us a commission if you sign up through our link, at no extra cost to you. We list only the registered agent services we have an affiliate relationship with, so this is not a survey of the whole market.

   This list is not scored. The four are listed cheapest annual renewal first, and every claim below is about the services listed here rather than the whole market.

   • Northwest Registered Agent$125/yr renewal

     Best for: Privacy-focused owners and anyone who just needs an agent, not a formation bundle

   • Bizee$149/yr renewal

     Best for: A free first year (some visitors are being shown shorter free periods, so confirm at checkout), renewing at $149/yr, if you're comfortable with the BBB caveat

   • ZenBusiness$199/yr renewal

     Best for: First-time founders forming a new LLC who want phone, email and chat support

   • LegalZoom$249/yr renewal

     Best for: Complex structures that want attorney consultations, which come with LegalZoom's $299 formation plan (and, in one version of its plans, the $249 plan) rather than this renewal price

   Note: Bizee holds a C rating from the BBB and is not accredited. BBB's profile carries a live alert describing a pattern of complaints about unexpected charges, difficulty canceling and filing delays, and Bizee has posted a response to it. We flag this so you can make an informed choice.

   Annual renewal is each provider's own standard published rate. Check the current terms at each provider before you buy. The scored ranking, and the formula behind it, is in our full formation services review →

3. 3

   Check Your LLC Name Availability

   Verify your LLC name is available and distinguishable from existing New Hampshire business entities by searching the Secretary of State's business database. New Hampshire requires a distinguishable name for foreign qualification. If your exact LLC name is unavailable, you may register under an assumed name by filing a Trade Name Application with the Secretary of State, which requires an additional filing fee.

4. 4

   File the Application for Certificate of Authority to Transact Business (Foreign LLC)

   Complete and submit the Application for Certificate of Authority to Transact Business form through the New Hampshire Secretary of State website at https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporations/filing-forms/foreign-entities. The application requires your LLC's legal name, home state formation date, principal office address, registered agent information, and details about members or managers. Include the $100 filing fee with your submission. Check the current processing time, and whether a faster paid service is offered, with the state filing office.

5. 5

   Understand Your Ongoing Tax Obligations

   We have not confirmed how New Hampshire's taxes on an LLC apply to one formed in another state, so check with the state's tax agency before you budget. However, your LLC may be subject to New Hampshire's Business Profits Tax if conducting substantial business activities in the state. While New Hampshire has no sales tax or personal income tax, register with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration to determine your specific tax obligations. Consider consulting with a tax advisor familiar with New Hampshire business taxation to ensure compliance with all applicable requirements.

6. 6

   File Your Annual Report / Ongoing Compliance

   New Hampshire requires all foreign LLCs to file an Annual Report by April 1 each year with a $100 fee. New Hampshire charges an LLC formed in New Hampshire a $50 late fee on this report. We have not confirmed that the same amount applies to an LLC formed in another state, so check before the deadline. If a required filing is missed, New Hampshire can end the LLC's authority to do business in the state. We have not confirmed New Hampshire's specific timeline or what it costs to restore that authority. Mark this deadline clearly on your business calendar and consider setting up automatic reminders to avoid penalties.