How much does it cost to start an LLC in New Hampshire?

The New Hampshire Secretary of State charges $100 to file a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1), making New Hampshire a moderately affordable state for LLC formation. You'll also owe a $100 annual report fee due by April 1 each year, bringing your first-year total to $200, about $32 below the national average. For example, if you form your LLC in August 2026, your first $100 annual report is due April 1, 2027, just eight months after formation. Additional costs may include registered agent services and any local or state business license fees depending on your industry. New Hampshire levies no personal income tax on LLC earnings passed through to members, and its former tax on interest and dividend income was repealed for taxable periods beginning after December 31, 2024. The New Hampshire Secretary of State's Form LLC-1 instructions say you'll receive a filed-stamped copy within 30 days of acceptance.

How long does it take to form an LLC in New Hampshire?

The New Hampshire Secretary of State's Form LLC-1 instructions say that if the filing has been accepted, you'll receive a filed-stamped copy within 30 days. That figure is printed on the paper form, no online figure is published, and we could not confirm whether New Hampshire offers paid expedited service. File online where the state offers it. Every state that discusses the difference says online is faster than mail.

Do I need a registered agent for my New Hampshire LLC?

Yes, every New Hampshire LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical address in New Hampshire when filing a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. The registered agent receives legal documents, service of process, and official state correspondence on behalf of your LLC during business hours. For example, if your LLC is served with a legal complaint, the registered agent accepts the documents on your behalf and notifies you, giving you time to respond. You can serve as your own registered agent if you've a New Hampshire street address and are reliably available on business days during business hours. Many founders hire professional registered agent services for a yearly fee to maintain privacy and ensure no notices are missed during travel. Exception: P.O. boxes can't serve as registered agent addresses; a physical street address is required. Update your agent information with the New Hampshire Secretary of State whenever it changes.

Should a New Hampshire LLC have an operating agreement?

This page has not confirmed whether New Hampshire law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement, so it does not answer yes or no. A written agreement signed by every member is worth having either way. An operating agreement defines ownership percentages, management structure, voting rights, profit distribution, and dissolution procedures, critical details that New Hampshire's default LLC statutes handle only in broad, generic terms. For example, a two-member New Hampshire LLC without an operating agreement must rely on state default rules to resolve any ownership dispute, which may not align with what the founders intended when they started the business. Keep the signed agreement with the LLC's records. Exception: LLCs electing S-corp tax treatment must additionally file IRS Form 2553 no later than 2 months and 15 days after the start of the tax year the election is to take effect (or at any time during the tax year before it), a separate federal requirement independent of the operating agreement. Sign your operating agreement before opening a business bank account, as many banks require it.

When is my New Hampshire LLC annual report due?

New Hampshire LLCs must file an annual report with the New Hampshire Secretary of State by April 1 each year, paying a $100 fee. This report updates your LLC's registered agent details, business address, and member or manager information. For example, if you form your LLC in November 2026, your first $100 annual report is due April 1, 2027, just five months after formation. The $100 annual report fee is the same for all New Hampshire LLCs regardless of size or revenue. Failing to file by April 1 can result in late penalties and, eventually, administrative dissolution of your LLC, which can disrupt banking and contracts. Under New Hampshire law, reinstatement relates back to the date the LLC lost its standing, and the LLC carries on as if that had not happened. This page does not have a confirmed New Hampshire rule on whether owners are personally liable for what the business does while it is out of standing, so do not treat the protection as either lost or safe for that period. Exception: LLCs dissolved voluntarily before April 1 aren't required to file the annual report for that year. File your annual report online at sos.nh.gov to maintain good standing and receive instant confirmation.

Can I be my own registered agent in New Hampshire?

Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent for your New Hampshire LLC provided you've a physical New Hampshire street address and are reliably present during normal business hours to accept legal documents and state correspondence. Your name and address will appear on your Certificate of Formation filed with the New Hampshire Secretary of State and become publicly searchable on the state's business database. For example, if you run a home-based business in Concord or Manchester and maintain consistent weekday availability, self-appointment as registered agent is a cost-free option. Many business owners prefer professional registered agent services for a yearly fee to keep their home address off the agent line and to have someone available to accept notices during vacations, travel, or illness. Exception: if you relocate outside New Hampshire, you must immediately update your registered agent information since a New Hampshire address is required at all times. Update your agent information at sos.nh.gov whenever it changes.

How to Start an LLC in New Hampshire: Complete 2026 Guide

Form your New Hampshire LLC quickly with our step-by-step guide.

By Edmond Hui · Last updated: October 2026

Filing an LLC in New Hampshire costs $100 upfront and has an annual report due April 1 ($100). Processing time: Within 30 days (paper). See breakdown below.

New Hampshire's paper Form LLC-1 instructions say you'll receive a filed-stamped copy within 30 days if the filing is accepted

The New Hampshire Secretary of State's paper Form LLC-1 instructions say: "If the filing has been accepted, you will receive a filed-stamped copy within 30 days." No online figure is published, and we could not confirm whether New Hampshire offers paid expedited service, so build slack into any plan that depends on the LLC existing by a fixed date.

Source: MyStateLLC 50-state primary-source processing verification, July 2026

Read this guide for another state:

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Form your LLC with Northwest ($39 + state fee)Includes a year of registered agent service. After year one, registered agent service is $125/yr. That enrolls you by default in annual report filing at $100 plus state fees, charged automatically to your saved payment method and cancellable any time.

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Quick Facts

State filing fee	$100
Processing time	Within 30 days (paper)
Annual report due	April 1
Annual report fee	$100
State income tax	No personal income tax. The LLC itself owes Business Profits Tax at 7.5% above about $109,000 of gross business income, plus Business Enterprise Tax

Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State (verified September 2026)

Step diagram for forming an LLC in New Hampshire, showing the 7 required steps, $100 state filing fee, $100 annual report. — The 7 steps to form an LLC in New Hampshire, with the state's own filing fee and annual report cost. Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State, verified September 2026.

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

1
Choose Your LLC Name
Pick a unique name that ends with 'LLC' or 'Limited Liability Company' and isn't already taken in New Hampshire. Search the Secretary of State's business database to confirm availability before proceeding.
How to search New Hampshire's business entity records →
Pro tip: Reserve your name for 120 days ($15 fee) if you need time to prepare other documents before filing.
2
Designate a Registered Agent
Choose someone with a New Hampshire address to receive legal documents for your LLC. This can be yourself, a friend, or a professional service like ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent.
New Hampshire registered agent rules, costs and options →
Pro tip: A professional registered agent service puts its address, not yours, on the registered agent line of the public filing, and accepts legal papers during business hours.
3
File Certificate of Formation
Submit Form LLC-1 to the New Hampshire Secretary of State with the $100 filing fee. You can file online, by mail, or in person at their Concord office.
What You File in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, the formation document is the Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1), filed with the New Hampshire Department of State, Corporation Division. The state filing fee is $100. We have not confirmed whether New Hampshire accepts the Certificate of Formation online. The state's published processing time: Within 30 days (paper). The form itself requires the LLC's name, the registered agent's name, the registered office address, the organizer's name, whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed and a business purpose. Every line of the Certificate of Formation, field by field →
Processing Times
- Online: No online figure is published; the paper Form LLC-1 instructions say a filed-stamped copy arrives within 30 days if the filing is accepted
- Mail: The same 30-day window applies once a mailed filing is accepted, though mail delivery itself adds time before the clock starts
- Expedited: We could not confirm whether New Hampshire offers paid expedited service
Pro tip: Online filing is fastest and provides immediate confirmation of your submission.
4
Create an Operating Agreement
This page has not confirmed whether New Hampshire law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement. A written agreement signed by every member is worth having either way: it records who owns what share, who makes decisions and how profits are divided. A written agreement helps prevent disputes between members.
New Hampshire LLC operating agreement: what to include →
Pro tip: Even single-member LLCs benefit from an operating agreement to maintain clear business separation from personal activities.
5
Obtain Your EIN
Apply for an Employer Identification Number from the IRS online at irs.gov. Most banks ask for this federal tax ID to open a business bank account, and the IRS requires one if the LLC hires employees, owes certain employment or excise taxes, or is taxed as a partnership or corporation.
How to get your LLC's EIN from the IRS, free →
Pro tip: Apply for your EIN immediately after your LLC is approved - the process is free and takes just minutes online.
6
Open a Business Bank Account
Use your Certificate of Formation and EIN to open a dedicated business bank account. This keeps your business finances separate from personal accounts, which matters for maintaining limited liability protection.
Business bank accounts for New Hampshire LLCs →
Pro tip: Compare business account fees and features across multiple banks - many offer free business checking for LLCs.
7
Get Required Licenses and Permits
Determine what licenses your specific business needs at the federal, state, and local level. Check with New Hampshire's Business License Information Center and your city/town clerk for requirements.
Does your New Hampshire LLC need a business license? →
Pro tip: Start the licensing process early as some permits can take weeks to approve and may be required before you can legally operate.

Watch: How to Start an LLC in New Hampshire (2026): Step-by-Step Guide

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each Secretary of State publishes for forming an LLC, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you what your own filing needs: fees and forms change between our reviews, several occupations cannot use an ordinary LLC at all and must use a professional entity, and your city or county may require a registration of its own. Confirm the current fee and form with the filing office named on this page before you send anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

: The New Hampshire Secretary of State charges $100 to file a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1), making New Hampshire a moderately affordable state for LLC formation. You'll also owe a $100 annual report fee due by April 1 each year, bringing your first-year total to $200, about $32 below the national average. For example, if you form your LLC in August 2026, your first $100 annual report is due April 1, 2027, just eight months after formation. Additional costs may include registered agent services and any local or state business license fees depending on your industry. New Hampshire levies no personal income tax on LLC earnings passed through to members, and its former tax on interest and dividend income was repealed for taxable periods beginning after December 31, 2024. The New Hampshire Secretary of State's Form LLC-1 instructions say you'll receive a filed-stamped copy within 30 days of acceptance.
: The New Hampshire Secretary of State's Form LLC-1 instructions say that if the filing has been accepted, you'll receive a filed-stamped copy within 30 days. That figure is printed on the paper form, no online figure is published, and we could not confirm whether New Hampshire offers paid expedited service. File online where the state offers it. Every state that discusses the difference says online is faster than mail.
: Yes, every New Hampshire LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical address in New Hampshire when filing a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. The registered agent receives legal documents, service of process, and official state correspondence on behalf of your LLC during business hours. For example, if your LLC is served with a legal complaint, the registered agent accepts the documents on your behalf and notifies you, giving you time to respond. You can serve as your own registered agent if you've a New Hampshire street address and are reliably available on business days during business hours. Many founders hire professional registered agent services for a yearly fee to maintain privacy and ensure no notices are missed during travel. Exception: P.O. boxes can't serve as registered agent addresses; a physical street address is required. Update your agent information with the New Hampshire Secretary of State whenever it changes.
: This page has not confirmed whether New Hampshire law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement, so it does not answer yes or no. A written agreement signed by every member is worth having either way. An operating agreement defines ownership percentages, management structure, voting rights, profit distribution, and dissolution procedures, critical details that New Hampshire's default LLC statutes handle only in broad, generic terms. For example, a two-member New Hampshire LLC without an operating agreement must rely on state default rules to resolve any ownership dispute, which may not align with what the founders intended when they started the business. Keep the signed agreement with the LLC's records. Exception: LLCs electing S-corp tax treatment must additionally file IRS Form 2553 no later than 2 months and 15 days after the start of the tax year the election is to take effect (or at any time during the tax year before it), a separate federal requirement independent of the operating agreement. Sign your operating agreement before opening a business bank account, as many banks require it.
: New Hampshire LLCs must file an annual report with the New Hampshire Secretary of State by April 1 each year, paying a $100 fee. This report updates your LLC's registered agent details, business address, and member or manager information. For example, if you form your LLC in November 2026, your first $100 annual report is due April 1, 2027, just five months after formation. The $100 annual report fee is the same for all New Hampshire LLCs regardless of size or revenue. Failing to file by April 1 can result in late penalties and, eventually, administrative dissolution of your LLC, which can disrupt banking and contracts. Under New Hampshire law, reinstatement relates back to the date the LLC lost its standing, and the LLC carries on as if that had not happened. This page does not have a confirmed New Hampshire rule on whether owners are personally liable for what the business does while it is out of standing, so do not treat the protection as either lost or safe for that period. Exception: LLCs dissolved voluntarily before April 1 aren't required to file the annual report for that year. File your annual report online at sos.nh.gov to maintain good standing and receive instant confirmation.
: Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent for your New Hampshire LLC provided you've a physical New Hampshire street address and are reliably present during normal business hours to accept legal documents and state correspondence. Your name and address will appear on your Certificate of Formation filed with the New Hampshire Secretary of State and become publicly searchable on the state's business database. For example, if you run a home-based business in Concord or Manchester and maintain consistent weekday availability, self-appointment as registered agent is a cost-free option. Many business owners prefer professional registered agent services for a yearly fee to keep their home address off the agent line and to have someone available to accept notices during vacations, travel, or illness. Exception: if you relocate outside New Hampshire, you must immediately update your registered agent information since a New Hampshire address is required at all times. Update your agent information at sos.nh.gov whenever it changes.

Sources

5 documents

Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified New Hampshire sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so. Where we hold the citation but no stable public link, the citation is printed on its own rather than pointed at a guessed address.

New Hampshire statute: RSA 304-C:31 (certificate of formation)
New Hampshire statute: RSA 304-C:194 (annual report)
sos.nh.gov/corporations-0New Hampshire Secretary of State: business entity filings
gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXVIII/304-C/304-C-191.htmNew Hampshire LLC filing fees
gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXVIII/304-C/304-C-194.htmNew Hampshire statute: Annual Report

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$39 with Northwest, plus your $100 state fee. Northwest's $39 includes a year of registered agent service.

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Prefer to file directly? File yourself at the Secretary of State → ($100 state fee, no service fee)

Not sure which service is right? Compare formation services →

Edmond Hui · Founder, MyStateLLC

Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.

How we check facts

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose Your LLC Name

Designate a Registered Agent

File Certificate of Formation

What You File in New Hampshire

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain Your EIN

Open a Business Bank Account

Get Required Licenses and Permits