How to Form an LLC in New Hampshire
Learn how to form an LLC in New Hampshire: file Form LLC-1, pay the $100–$102 state fee, appoint a registered agent, and file your annual report by April 1 each year. Step-by-step guide from Bizee.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
New Hampshire LLC at a glance
Filing fee: $100 by mail; $102 online via NH QuickStart
Processing time: [PROCESSING_TIME]
State agency: New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division
Annual report due: January 1 – April 1 each year; $100 filing fee
State tax rate: No personal income tax on wages; Business Profits Tax applies to business income
How to form a New Hampshire LLC
To form an LLC in New Hampshire, you file Form LLC-1 (Certificate of Formation) with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, pay a state filing fee of $100 by mail or $102 online, and appoint a registered agent with a physical New Hampshire address. Once approved, your LLC is a legally recognized business entity in the state.
New Hampshire is a straightforward state for LLC formation — no publication requirement, no state income tax on wages, and an online filing portal (NH QuickStart) that makes the process manageable without a lawyer. The steps below walk you through everything from naming your LLC to staying in good standing after formation.
Step 1: Choose and check your LLC name
Your LLC name must be distinguishable from all existing business names on file with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, and it must include the words "Limited Liability Company" or an abbreviation like "LLC" or "L.L.C." Names that imply a purpose not permitted under New Hampshire law are not allowed.
Check availability before you file using the NH QuickStart Business Inquiry tool at quickstart.sos.nh.gov. You can search by business name, business ID, or filing number, and filter results by exact match, starts with, or contains. Running this search early saves you from filing a rejected Certificate of Formation.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Every New Hampshire LLC must have a registered agent — a person or business entity that receives legal notices and service of process on behalf of your LLC. The agent must have a physical street address in New Hampshire (no P.O. boxes) and be available during normal business hours.
You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a New Hampshire street address, but many business owners use a professional registered agent service to keep their personal address off public records and make sure nothing gets missed. Your registered agent's name and address go directly on Form LLC-1.
Step 3: File Form LLC-1 (Certificate of Formation)
Form LLC-1 is the document that officially creates your New Hampshire LLC. You file it with the New Hampshire Secretary of State either online through NH QuickStart or by mail to the Corporation Division.
- LLC name (must include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company")
- Principal office address — the main business address for your LLC
- Registered agent name and New Hampshire street address (no P.O. boxes)
- Signature of the organizer filing the form
Filing online through NH QuickStart costs $102 (the $100 base fee plus a $2 online service fee). Filing by mail costs $100. Online filing is faster and gives you a confirmation immediately. Mail filings go to: New Hampshire Department of State, Corporation Division.
Step 4: Create an operating agreement
New Hampshire doesn't require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the state, but having one is worth the effort. An operating agreement sets out how your LLC is owned, how decisions get made, and how profits are divided among members. Without one, your LLC falls back on New Hampshire's default LLC rules, which may not match how you actually want to run your business.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS. You'll need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. Single-member LLCs with no employees can use a Social Security number instead, but an EIN keeps your personal number off business documents. Apply for an EIN for free at irs.gov/ein — the online application takes about 10 minutes and issues your EIN immediately.
Annual report requirements
New Hampshire LLCs must file an annual report with the Department of State each year between January 1 and April 1. The filing fee is $100. Your first annual report is due in the calendar year after your LLC is formed, within that same January 1 – April 1 window.
Annual reports can be filed through the NH QuickStart portal. Missing the April 1 deadline can put your LLC out of good standing with the state, so mark the date early. Both domestic and foreign LLCs registered in New Hampshire are subject to the same $100 annual report fee.
Professional LLC (PLLC) in New Hampshire
A Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) is a specific LLC structure for licensed professionals — things like attorneys, physicians, accountants, and engineers. In New Hampshire, a PLLC is subject to the same formation process as a standard LLC, but all members must hold the required professional license for the services the PLLC provides. If you're in a licensed profession, talk to a legal professional to confirm whether a PLLC is the right structure for your situation.
Foreign LLC in New Hampshire
If your LLC was formed in another state but is doing business in New Hampshire, you need to register as a foreign LLC with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. This is a separate filing from forming a new LLC — it's a registration that lets your existing business operate legally in the state. You'll still need a New Hampshire registered agent and will be subject to the same annual report requirements as domestic LLCs.
FAQ
The state filing fee is $100 by mail or $102 online through NH QuickStart (the extra $2 is a state online service fee). That's the minimum cost to form a New Hampshire LLC. If you use a registered agent service or a formation platform, those costs are separate from the state fee.
It depends on how you file. Online filings through NH QuickStart are generally processed faster than mail filings. The New Hampshire Secretary of State's office does not publish a guaranteed standard processing time, so check the current turnaround on the QuickStart portal before you file. Expedited options may be available for an additional fee.
No. New Hampshire does not require LLCs to file or maintain an operating agreement. That said, having one is worth it — it documents how your LLC is owned, how profits are split, and how decisions get made. Without one, your LLC defaults to New Hampshire's standard LLC rules, which may not reflect what you and your members actually agreed to.
Your registered agent can be an individual New Hampshire resident or a business entity authorized to do business in New Hampshire. The agent must have a physical street address in New Hampshire — P.O. boxes aren't allowed — and must be available during normal business hours to receive legal documents. You can serve as your own registered agent if you meet those requirements.
New Hampshire LLC annual reports are due between January 1 and April 1 each year. The filing fee is $100. Your first annual report is due in the calendar year after your LLC is formed, within that same window. File through the NH QuickStart portal. Missing the April 1 deadline can put your LLC out of good standing with the state.
A New Hampshire PLLC (Professional Limited Liability Company) is an LLC structure for licensed professionals — attorneys, physicians, accountants, engineers, and similar fields. All members of a PLLC must hold the required professional license for the services the business provides. The formation process mirrors a standard LLC, but the licensing requirement adds a layer of eligibility. Talk to a legal professional if you're unsure whether a PLLC applies to your profession.
Yes. You can file Form LLC-1 directly through the NH QuickStart portal without a lawyer or formation platform. You'll need your LLC name, principal office address, and registered agent information. The state filing fee is $102 online. Many business owners handle this on their own — the process is straightforward if you have your information ready before you start.
No formation service can waive the New Hampshire state filing fee — that $100–$102 goes directly to the state. What "free" typically means is that the formation platform charges $0 for its own service fee, and you pay only the required state fee. That's the model Bizee uses: $0 service fee plus the New Hampshire state fee.
