To register a business in New Hampshire, you file formation documents with the Secretary of State’s Corporation Division and pay a $100 filing fee. The exact form depends on your entity type: an LLC files a Certificate of Formation, a corporation files Articles of Incorporation, and a sole proprietor generally files nothing at all unless operating under a trade name. Before you file, you’ll need a compliant business name and a registered agent with a physical New Hampshire address.
Pick Your Business Structure First
The structure you choose decides which form you file, what it costs to maintain, and whether your personal assets are on the line for business debts.
- Sole proprietorship. No formation filing with the Secretary of State. If you operate under any name other than your full legal name, you register a trade name. You remain personally liable for everything the business does.
- Limited liability company. File a Certificate of Formation. An LLC separates personal assets from business debts and gives you flexibility in how the company is managed and taxed.
- Corporation. File Articles of Incorporation. Corporations have directors, officers, and shares of stock, and they suit businesses planning to raise outside investment.
Partnerships, limited partnerships, and professional entities each have their own filing paths. LLCs and corporations cover most new filings.
Choose and Clear a Business Name
Every business name must be distinguishable from every other entity already on file. Search the Secretary of State’s online database before you commit to anything. A name too similar to an existing one will be rejected.
New Hampshire law also requires an entity designator in the name so the public knows what kind of business it’s dealing with. An LLC must include “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.”1New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 304-C:32 – Name Set Forth in Certificate of Formation A corporation must include “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” “Limited,” or an abbreviation like “Corp.,” “Inc.,” or “Ltd.”2New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 293-A:4.01 – Corporate Name
Not ready to file? You can hold your preferred name for 120 days by submitting Form 1 (Application for Reservation of Name) with a $15 fee.3New Hampshire Secretary of State. Business FAQs
Trade Names
If you’ll operate under any name that isn’t your legal entity name or your own personal name, register a trade name with the Secretary of State. This applies to sole proprietors, LLCs, and corporations. File Form TN-1 with a $50 fee.4New Hampshire Secretary of State. Trade Names A sole proprietor named Jane Doe operating as “Granite State Consulting” needs this filing; Jane Doe operating as “Jane Doe” does not.
Appoint a Registered Agent
Every LLC and corporation must designate a registered agent. This is the person or company authorized to accept lawsuits, subpoenas, and official notices for the business. The agent has to be available during normal business hours at a physical street address in New Hampshire. Post office boxes don’t qualify.5New Hampshire Secretary of State. Registered Agents
The agent can be an individual (including yourself), another entity registered in New Hampshire, or a commercial registered agent service. Many owners start by naming themselves and later switch to a service for privacy or coverage. If the agent’s name or address ever changes, update the Secretary of State right away. A stale agent record can mean a lawsuit that never reaches you and a default judgment you never got the chance to fight.
File Your Formation Documents
LLC Certificate of Formation
An LLC files Form LLC-1, the Certificate of Formation.6New Hampshire Secretary of State. Limited Liability Companies The form asks for:
- The business name, including its LLC designator.
- The business purpose. This can be broad, such as “any lawful business,” but must describe lawful activities.
- The registered agent’s full legal name and physical New Hampshire address.
- Whether the LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed.
Corporation Articles of Incorporation
Corporations file Form 11, the Articles of Incorporation.7New Hampshire Department of State. Articles of Incorporation of a NH Corporation In addition to the basics an LLC provides, a corporation must state:
- The total number of authorized shares and their par value, if any.
- The names and addresses of the initial directors.
- The names and addresses of the incorporators.
Check every name and address before you submit. The state builds your business profile from what you write on the form, and errors can delay approval or cause problems in future legal disputes.
Submit the Filing and Pay
You have two ways to get your documents to the Corporation Division: online through the NH QuickStart portal, or by mail to the Secretary of State’s office in Concord.8New Hampshire Secretary of State. File an Annual Report
The filing fee is $100 for both LLCs and corporations. Online filings carry an additional $2 handling charge.6New Hampshire Secretary of State. Limited Liability Companies Online submissions are faster and give you immediate confirmation. Mailed applications can take a few weeks depending on volume.
Need it done today? You can submit in person at the Secretary of State’s Customer Lobby in Concord and pay a $25 expedited service fee for same-day processing.3New Hampshire Secretary of State. Business FAQs That’s worth it when a bank account or contract is waiting on your formation date.
Once the Corporation Division approves your filing, you’ll receive a stamped “Filed” copy. That stamped copy is your official proof that the entity exists under New Hampshire law.
Get Your EIN and Register for State Taxes
After formation, most businesses need a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. You’ll need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal tax returns. The application is free on the IRS website and issues the number immediately.
New Hampshire has no general sales tax and no personal income tax, but it does impose two business-level taxes that surprise many new owners. You register for both through the Department of Revenue Administration.
- The Business Profits Tax (BPT) is 7.5% on net business income. You must file if gross business income exceeds $109,000.9NH Department of Revenue Administration. Business Taxes
- The Business Enterprise Tax (BET) is 0.55% on an enterprise value base (compensation, interest, and dividends paid by the business). You must file if gross receipts or enterprise value base exceeds $298,000.9NH Department of Revenue Administration. Business Taxes
These thresholds are adjusted every two years for inflation, so check the Department of Revenue Administration for current numbers. BET payments can be credited against your BPT liability, so the two taxes partially overlap instead of stacking.9NH Department of Revenue Administration. Business Taxes
Check Local Permits and Licenses
New Hampshire does not issue a general state business license, but that doesn’t mean you’re finished. Local town or city clerks manage zoning permits and municipal licenses tied to what you do and where you do it. A restaurant, a home contractor, and a retail shop each face different requirements. Some trades need specialized permits under health, safety, or environmental rules. Call your municipal clerk before you open.
Registering a Business Formed in Another State
If your business is already formed in another state and you want to operate in New Hampshire, you do not create a new entity. You register as a foreign entity by filing for a Certificate of Authority. The fee is $100 for both foreign corporations and foreign LLCs.10New Hampshire Secretary of State. Domestic and Foreign Corporation Foreign entities appoint a registered agent with a New Hampshire address and file the same annual reports as domestic entities.
A foreign LLC must register under a name that meets New Hampshire’s naming standards. If the home-state name conflicts with an existing New Hampshire entity, you may need to register under an assumed name for use in the state.11New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 304-C:177 – Names of Foreign Limited Liability Companies; Registered Office; Registered Agent
Keep the Registration Alive
Registration is not a one-time event. Every LLC and corporation must file an annual report with the Secretary of State. The filing period ends on April 1 each year for entities formed before the previous December.12New Hampshire Secretary of State. Secretary of State Warns Business Community to Beware of 2026 NH Annual Report Solicitations File through the same NH QuickStart portal used for formation.
Miss April 1 and you’ll pay a $50 late fee that cannot be waived. Keep missing and your entity gets flagged “Not in Good Standing.” After two consecutive years of non-filing, the state administratively dissolves the business, and a dissolved entity loses the authority to transact business in New Hampshire.3New Hampshire Secretary of State. Business FAQs Reinstatement is possible but adds cost and legal uncertainty, especially for contracts signed during the dissolution.