How to Form an LLC in New Hampshire
A flat $99 buys one year of registered agent service in New Hampshire — the registered office, same-day scanning of court papers, and reminders before state deadlines.
Forming a New Hampshire LLC comes down to one state filing plus the infrastructure around it: a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) submitted to the New Hampshire Secretary of State, a registered agent to receive legal documents, an operating agreement for the owners, an EIN from the IRS, and an annual report every year thereafter. This page covers each step, the exact fees, and the parts we take off your plate.
Get Your New Hampshire LLC — $199
The full filing service is $199. We prepare the Certificate of Formation, submit it to the New Hampshire Secretary of State, and track the filing through approval.
What a New Hampshire LLC Is (and Why People Form One)
A limited liability company separates business obligations from personal assets while leaving taxation simple. In New Hampshire the structure serves consultants, landlords, trades businesses, and single-owner operations alike, largely because ongoing paperwork amounts to one annual filing and a registered agent designation.
The Numbers for New Hampshire LLC Formation
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (New Hampshire Secretary of State) | $100 one-time ($102 filed online) |
| Registered agent (required for every New Hampshire LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report | $100/year |
$199 pays for our filing service only; the state filing fee goes to the New Hampshire Secretary of State. New Hampshire specifics worth noting: the annual report is due by April 1 each year at $100 ($102 paid online), with a $50 late penalty after the deadline. The state also administers a Business Profits Tax and a Business Enterprise Tax separately; a tax professional can confirm whether they apply to your LLC.
The New Hampshire LLC Filing Fee: $100
The fee statute, RSA 304-C:191, is direct: "Upon the receipt for filing of a certificate of formation under RSA 304-C:31, a fee in the amount of $100." That $100 is the complete statutory charge for a paper filing. File online instead and RSA 5:10-a adds a $2 electronic payment handling charge, which is why the QuickStart checkout shows $102. Both figures are correct; they describe two filing channels for the same document.
The Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1)
New Hampshire does not use the term Articles of Organization. The official formation document is the Certificate of Formation of a New Hampshire Limited Liability Company, Form LLC-1, filed under RSA 304-C:31. The form identifies the company and its registered agent, and its instructions require a street or physical New Hampshire address for the registered office; a filing that lists an out-of-state address will not be processed.
How to Form Your New Hampshire LLC, Step by Step
- Choose a name that satisfies New Hampshire's rules: it must carry an LLC designator (LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company) and be distinguishable from entities already on file. Run it through the state's business name search before committing to signage or domains.
- Designate a registered agent under RSA 304-C:36. The agent needs a physical New Hampshire street address identical to the registered office, with availability during business hours. Our service fills the role for $99 per year and keeps your own address off the filing.
- File the Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) with the New Hampshire Secretary of State: $102 online through the QuickStart portal, or $100 on paper. The state does not publish a guaranteed processing timeline; online submissions generally move through the queue faster than mail.
- Adopt an operating agreement. New Hampshire does not file or review it, but it is the document that governs ownership percentages, distributions, management authority, and member exits. Without one, statutory defaults control, and they were not written with your company in mind.
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS at IRS.gov. The application is free and the number issues immediately online; there is no reason to pay a third party for it.
- Maintain the entity: keep a registered agent on file continuously, file the annual report between January 1 and April 1 each year ($100), keep business finances separate from personal ones, and stay current on federal and state taxes.
Falling behind on compliance can end in administrative dissolution by the Secretary of State, which suspends the liability protection the LLC exists to provide.
We'll handle the formation for $199, start to finish.
Why the Registered Agent Rule Matters
New Hampshire requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent without interruption. The agent's street address and the registered office must be identical, post office boxes cannot fill the requirement, and someone must be present during business hours to accept legal service. Documents delivered there, including lawsuits and state notices, carry deadlines; a dependable agent is what keeps those deadlines visible.
Owners may list themselves when they meet the residency and address requirements, at the price of a permanently public address. Our $99 per year service takes the public-record slot instead.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Hampshire?
The state charges $100 for the Certificate of Formation, or $102 when the fee is paid online through QuickStart. Our optional filing service adds $199. After formation, budget for the $100 annual report each year and a registered agent.
How long does it take to form an LLC in New Hampshire?
The state does not publish a guaranteed turnaround. Online QuickStart filings are generally processed faster than mailed paperwork.
Does New Hampshire require an annual report?
Yes. Every LLC files between January 1 and April 1 each year. The fee is $100, and filing after April 1 adds a $50 late penalty.
Do I need a registered agent for my New Hampshire LLC?
Yes. The designation is required at formation and must be maintained for as long as the LLC exists.
Can I form an LLC in New Hampshire if I live in another state?
Yes. Owners need not live in New Hampshire. The registered office, however, must be a New Hampshire street address, which is exactly what our $99 per year service supplies.
File Your New Hampshire LLC With Our Help
You can file directly with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, paying the $100 fee ($102 online) yourself; the registered agent requirement applies either way. Or hand us the whole filing: your Certificate of Formation carries our New Hampshire address, legal and state mail is scanned to your portal the day it arrives (general mail gets the same free scan for your first three pieces a year), and we flag every compliance date in advance.
Want the RA service without the LLC formation? Our registered agent service is priced at $99 yearly.
Got other questions about New Hampshire LLCs or our registered agent product? The FAQ covers most of it; otherwise contact us.
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