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Why Form a Limited Liability Company (LLC)?

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Forming an LLC in New Hampshire

One of the smallest states in the country, New Hampshire is located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. New Hampshire does not have state or sales taxes, making it a relaxed financial environment to start a business. Popular industries include agriculture, real estate, professional services, manufacturing and healthcare.

For most business owners, the fastest and easiest way to start a business in New Hampshire is by creating a New Hampshire LLC. A limited liability company (LLC) is a type of business entity that’s ideal for startups and small- to medium-sized businesses. You get the advantages and protections of larger New Hampshire corporations, but with much simpler rules and regulations.

Briefly, the benefits of starting a New Hampshire LLC include:

  • Separating and limiting your personal liability from your business liability and debts
  • Quick and simple filing, management, compliance, regulation and administration of your New Hampshire LLC
  • Easy tax filing and potential advantages for your tax treatment

Learn more about the benefits of the LLC business structure here.

Six Quick Steps to Forming Your New Hampshire LLC

This guide has plenty of information on how to form your New Hampshire LLC, but you can break down the basics of forming a business in NH into just a few simple steps.

STEP 1: Gather Information for Your Members

First, you need to gather basic information about your LLC, including the names and addresses of the managers or members. The LLC members are typically the people who own and run the business. They are also the ones who can take profits out of the business to pay themselves.

STEP 2: Choose a Unique Business Name for Your New Hampshire LLC

You will need a distinctive and original name for your LLC that’s not used by any other business in NH. To find out if another company is using your chosen business name, carry out a business entity name search on the NH Secretary of State website.

There are a few rules you’ll need to follow when choosing an LLC name. You can find out more in our guide to naming your New Hampshire LLC.

Learn about New Hampshire LLC business naming rules.

STEP 3: Provide an Official Address for Your NH LLC

Every New Hampshire LLC must have a designated street address. That could be your home address (if you’re running the company from your residence), your company’s office building or any physical address of your preference. The address must be inside the state of New Hampshire, but it cannot be a P.O. Box.

STEP 4: Assign a New Hampshire Registered Agent

Every NH LLC must have a “Registered Agent.” This is an official position; the Registered Agent is someone who receives official legal and tax correspondence and has responsibility for filing reports with the New Hampshire Secretary of State.

This position can be filled by you, another manager in the business or a dedicated Registered Agent service. Your Registered Agent must have a physical street address in New Hampshire and must be present to receive important documents for your company during business hours.

At Incfile, all of our packages include a New Hampshire Registered Agent service that is free for the first year and just $119 per year afterward. We also have a dashboard where you can log in and easily view any document your Registered Agent has received on your behalf.

Learn more about New Hampshire Registered Agents.

STEP 5: Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service

You will need an EIN to identify your business with the IRS. You use this number when filing and paying taxes or when submitting payroll information and payments for your employees. You can obtain one directly from the IRS, or we can get one for you as part of the New Hampshire LLC business formation process.

STEP 6: File Articles of Organization with the New Hampshire Secretary of State

Once you've gathered all the information for your LLC, you’ll need to file a formal document with the NH Secretary of State. This document is known as your “Articles of Organization,” and filing the document creates your New Hampshire LLC. Here’s what is typically included:

  • Your business name and address
  • Details of your Registered Agent
  • Names of managers or members of the LLC at the time of filing
  • Addresses of managers or members of the LLC at the time of filing
  • Name of the incorporator

You can file your New Hampshire Articles of Organization online, mail in a form or have Incfile do it on your behalf. There is a fee to file and start an LLC in New Hampshire, but you only need to file your Articles of Organization once.

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Review Information from the New Hampshire Secretary of State

The NH Secretary of State has plenty of information on forming and running a business in New Hampshire.

These are all the basic steps for forming an LLC in New Hampshire. You’ll find other useful information below.

Special Types of New Hampshire LLCs

A regular New Hampshire LLC is suitable for most business needs, but you also have a few other options to incorporate a special type of LLC.

Professional New Hampshire LLCs

Some states, including New Hampshire, allow certain occupations to form “Professional LLCs.” These types of businesses typically have special requirements and licensing. Here are the occupations that the NH Secretary of State allows to form professional LLCs:

  • Public Accountant
  • Architect
  • Attorney
  • Chiropractor
  • Doctor of Dentistry
  • Professional Engineer
  • Naturopath
  • Nurse
  • Optometrist
  • Osteopathic Physician or Surgeon
  • Pharmacist
  • Physician, Surgeon or Doctor of Medicine
  • Physician Assistant
  • Physical Therapist
  • Podiatric Physician
  • Psychologist
  • Real Estate Principal Broker, Associate Broker or Sales Agent
  • Clinical or Certified Social Worker
  • Mental Health Therapist
  • Veterinarian
  • Real Estate Appraiser

Form a Foreign LLC in New Hampshire

If your business is already operating in another state and expanding to New Hampshire, you’ll need to form a foreign LLC.

More information on New Hampshire filing and licensing requirements here

What to Do After Forming Your New Hampshire LLC

Want to know your next steps after creating a new LLC in New Hampshire? We’ve got you covered. Here’s our guide to understanding your ongoing requirements, setting up new bank accounts, protecting your business name, getting accounting in place and more.

Other Information in This Guide

You’ll find plenty more insight and guidance on the other pages of this guide, including:

Naming Your New Hampshire LLC

How to search the New Hampshire business registry of the Secretary of State and find the right name. Includes information on naming rules, fictitious names, reserving a New Hampshire LLC name and more.

New Hampshire Registered Agents for LLCs

How to appoint a Registered Agent to your new LLC or change to a different Registered Agent. Includes information on Registered Agent rules and searching forNew Hampshire Registered Agents.

Fees and Requirements for New Hampshire LLCs

How to understand the various fees you’ll need to pay and the requirements you’ll need to meet for both federal and New Hampshire rules. Includes details of Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), New Hampshire and federal business licenses, annual reports and more.

Federal, State, Sales and Other Taxes for Your New Hampshire LLC

How to understand the various taxes you will need to pay to the federal and New Hampshire government. Includes details of federal taxes like income and self-employment, and New Hampshire taxes like sales tax and income tax.

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What are the fees and requirements to form a business in New Hampshire?

Filing Time and Price

The state charges this amount to file a new business entity. This fee goes directly to the Secretary of State.

State Fee State Filing Time Expedited Filing Time
$102 15 Business Days 5 Business Days

Compliance Requirements

This report is mandatory and must be filed within the specified time frame in order for the entity to remain in good standing with the state. Failure to file this report can lead to the company being revoked or administratively dissolved.

Annual Report

Frequency: Annually

Due Date: April 1st

Filing Fee: $102

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