Starting an LLC in New Hampshire

New Hampshire charges $100 to form an LLC. Standard processing takes 5-10 business days. Expedited cuts it to about 24 hours for $25 extra. Here is the full walkthrough — no fluff, just what you actually need to do and what it costs.

What It Costs

• Formation filing (Articles of Organization): $100
• Annual report: $100/year ($102 online), due April 1
• Registered agent: Required — $99/year through us
• Expedited processing: $25 (optional)
• EIN from IRS: Free

Annual maintenance in New Hampshire runs $100 for the report plus $99 for your agent — $199/year total if you use us. Note that NH also has a Business Profits Tax (7.5%) and Business Enterprise Tax (0.5%) that may apply depending on your revenue.

Step 1: Name Your LLC

Must include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." and be distinguishable from existing names on file with the Secretary of State. Search sos.nh.gov to confirm availability before filing.

Step 2: Appoint a Registered Agent

New Hampshire requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. Here is the important part: the LLC itself cannot serve as its own agent. You need a specific person or professional service designated for the role.

If you appoint yourself, your home address goes on the public record and you must be present during business hours. For $99/year, we handle it instead — our address on your filings, same-day document forwarding, and your personal address stays private.

Step 3: File Articles of Organization

Submit to the New Hampshire Secretary of State with the $100 fee. Include:

• LLC name
• Principal office address
• Registered agent name and physical address
• Management structure
• Organizer information

File online at sos.nh.gov for faster processing. Standard takes 5-10 business days. Pay $25 for expedited (approximately 24-hour turnaround).

Step 4: Write an Operating Agreement

Not filed with the state, but essential for your LLC. It defines ownership splits, decision-making processes, profit distribution, and exit procedures. Banks want to see it. Courts rely on it. Without one, NH default rules apply — and those may not match what you intended.

Step 5: Get Your EIN

Free from IRS.gov. Takes about ten minutes. You need it for your business bank account, hiring, and federal tax filings. Never pay a third party for something the IRS gives away.

Step 6: Stay Compliant

After formation, keep your LLC alive by:

• Maintaining a registered agent at all times
• Filing the annual report by April 1 ($100)
• Keeping business and personal finances separated
• Handling state and federal tax obligations

Miss the registered agent requirement or skip the annual report and the state can dissolve your LLC. You lose liability protection until you fix it.

The Registered Agent Piece

Your address appears on the Secretary of State's public database the moment you file. If that is your home, congratulations — it is now publicly searchable. Process servers, marketers, and data aggregators all have access.

We put our New Hampshire address there instead. Documents come to us, we scan them same-day, and your actual address remains private. $99/year for that peace of mind.

Enroll Today — $99/yr