How Much Does an LLC Cost in New Hampshire (Fees Explained)
Forming an LLC in New Hampshire costs $100 to file the Certificate of Formation by mail, or $102 if you file online through NH QuickStart. No other step is legally required to bring the business into existence.
Most other costs show up later. A recurring Annual Report fee comes due every year. An optional registered agent service can add to that. Two state business taxes may apply too, once the LLC starts earning money.
The list below sorts each fee by its due date. That split makes the one-time charges easy to tell apart from the ones that repeat.
Quick Summary
- The gap between the mail and online filing fees is a standard electronic-handling charge, not a special online fee.
- Two business taxes can still hit a profitable LLC even though the state skips sales and paycheck taxes entirely.
- Filing the Annual Report late adds a flat penalty on top of the base fee.
| Cost Item | Amount | Frequency | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation | $100 mail / $102 online | One-time | Yes |
| Name Reservation | $15 | One-time | No |
| Trade Name (DBA) | $50 mail / $52 online | One-time | No |
| Annual Report | $100 mail / $102 online ($50 late fee) | Every year | Yes |
| Registered Agent Service | $0 self / $80-$300 hired | Every year | Yes (self-serve allowed) |
| New Hampshire business taxes | 7.5% BPT / 0.55% BET (above thresholds) | Every year | If applicable |
| Business Licenses | Varies | Varies | If applicable |
| Certificate of Good Standing | $5 routine / $30 expedited | As needed | No |
| Certified Document Copies | $5 + $1/page (+$25 expedite) | As needed | No |
| Operating Agreement | $0-$1,000+ | One-time | No |
| EIN | $0 | One-time | No |
Cost to Start a New Hampshire LLC
Before an LLC can begin operating, a handful of mandatory fees come due first. Two optional filings are also worth knowing about, depending on how the business plans to operate.
1. New Hampshire LLC Formation Filing Fee ($100 Mail / $102 Online - Mandatory)
Filing a Certificate of Formation with the New Hampshire Secretary of State costs $100 by mail [1]. Filing online through NH QuickStart costs $102, because every electronic filing carries a standard $2 handling charge under state law [2]. Both paths cover the whole LLC cost of getting the entity on record with the state.
Current processing runs up to five business days once a filing is received, based on the state's own posted queue. Paying $25 more buys expedited handling, but only if you or your registered agent can submit it in person at the Concord office.
2. Name Reservation ($15 - Optional)
A $15 name reservation fee holds the chosen name for 120 days ahead of filing. Unlike some states, the hold can be renewed for another 120-day period if the filing isn't ready yet.
Before reserving a name, check that it's actually free. See how to look up an LLC in New Hampshire for the search steps.
3. Trade Name / DBA ($50 Mail / $52 Online - Optional)
New Hampshire calls a DBA a trade name. Registering one costs $50 by mail or $52 online, for the same electronic-filing reason as the formation fee above.
A trade name lets the LLC operate under a name other than its legal one. It's a separate filing from the Certificate of Formation and isn't required to start the business.
Recurring Costs to Keep Your New Hampshire LLC in Good Standing
Once the LLC is approved, a new set of recurring costs kicks in. All four apply to most active LLCs, though the last two only if the business meets certain conditions.
1. Annual Report ($100 Mail / $102 Online - Mandatory)
Every New Hampshire LLC files an Annual Report each year to stay in good standing, at the same mail/online fee split as the initial filing. It's due by April 1 following the year of registration [3].
File after that date and the state adds a $50 late fee and marks the LLC "Not in Good Standing" until the report clears. Two straight years without a report lead to administrative dissolution.
2. Registered Agent Service ($0 Self / $80-$300 Hired - Mandatory to Have, Optional to Hire)
State law requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a physical New Hampshire street address, and a P.O. box doesn't qualify [4]. Going 60 or more days without one can trigger administrative dissolution.
Acting as your own agent is free, so hiring one out is the optional part, not having one at all. Many owners hire a New Hampshire registered agent service instead. Expect $80 to $300 a year for that service, mainly to keep a personal address out of public filings.
3. New Hampshire Business Taxes (Rates Vary - If Applicable)
New Hampshire charges no state sales tax and doesn't tax wage or salary income. That doesn't mean an LLC is tax-free once it starts earning money.
The Business Profits Tax kicks in once an LLC's gross business income tops $109,000, at a flat 7.5% rate. Gross receipts or the enterprise value tax base above $298,000 also trigger a separate Business Enterprise Tax, at a flat 0.55% rate [5]. Small LLCs under both thresholds owe neither tax, and the state itself notes both figures are due for a biennial adjustment.
A 2026 law raises the Business Enterprise Tax threshold to $400,000, but that change doesn't take effect until tax periods starting January 1, 2027.
4. Business Licenses (Varies - If Applicable)
New Hampshire doesn't issue a general statewide business license. Certain industries still need one from the state, such as the Meals and Rooms License for food service and lodging businesses. Local permits can apply on top of that, so check with the city or town where the LLC operates.
Optional New Hampshire LLC Costs Worth Knowing About
None of these four are required to keep a New Hampshire LLC in good standing, but most owners run into at least one of them.
1. Certificate of Good Standing ($5 Routine / $30 Expedited - Optional)
A routine Certificate of Good Standing costs $5 and takes 7 to 14 business days to process. Paying $30 total, which covers the $5 certificate fee plus a $25 expedite charge, gets it processed the same day at the Concord office. Lenders and other states often want to see one before approving a loan or a foreign registration.
2. Certified Document Copies ($5 + $1 Per Page - Optional)
Getting a certified copy of a filed document, such as the Certificate of Formation or a past Annual Report, costs a $5 certification charge plus $1 for each page copied. Adding $25 gets the request expedited.
3. Operating Agreement ($0-$1,000+ - Recommended)
New Hampshire doesn't require an LLC to file an operating agreement with the state, but having one still matters. It settles ownership and exit terms before a dispute makes them urgent, and most banks ask for a copy when a business account gets opened.
The free template linked in the cost table above has no price tag attached. Having a lawyer draft one instead typically costs $100 to $1,000 or more, scaling with the LLC's complexity.
4. Employer Identification Number ($0 - Free From the IRS)
The IRS issues an EIN for free through its online application. It's needed to open a business bank account, hire employees, or file certain taxes.
Multi-member LLCs need one regardless of employee count, since the IRS requires it for any LLC taxed as a partnership. Single-member LLCs only need one once one of those situations comes up. A formation service that bills extra for this step isn't worth paying for.
FAQs
What Happens If I Pay My New Hampshire Business Taxes Late?
Paying New Hampshire business taxes late triggers a RSA 21-J:31 penalty of 5% of the unpaid tax per month (minimum $10), capped at 25% (minimum $50), plus RSA 21-J:28 interest at the Department of Revenue Administration's current rate.
Who Collects New Hampshire's LLC Filing Fees?
The New Hampshire Secretary of State's Corporation Division collects the fees for Certificates of Formation, Annual Reports, trade names, and related filings. The Department of Revenue Administration collects the separate Business Profits Tax and Business Enterprise Tax.
Does New Hampshire Require an LLC Operating Agreement?
No, New Hampshire law doesn't require filing an operating agreement, though banks and lenders often want to see one before opening an account or approving financing. Skipping it carries the biggest risk for multi-member LLCs, since that document is what settles disputes over money or control.
References:
- http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXVIII/304-C/304-C-191.htm
- http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/I/5/5-10-a.htm
- https://sos.nh.gov/corporations-0/business-faqs
- http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXVIII/304-C/304-C-36.htm
- https://www.revenue.nh.gov/taxes-glance/business-taxes
Does anyone know if New Hampshire offers any fee waivers for veterans or minority-owned businesses when setting up an LLC? I’ve seen other states provide these benefits.