How To Start An LLC In New Hampshire 2024?

How To Start An LLC In New Hampshire 1
Starting an LLC in New Hampshire has many benefits. Photo: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

Creating an LLC can be a smart way to protect your assets and enjoy a better taxation status for your business. If you transact in the state of New Hampshire, then it could make sense to file LLC paperwork here.

But how do you create an LLC in New Hampshire? How much does it cost? And are there any ongoing fees or requirements that you should be aware of before continuing?

We’ve put together this guide to answer all of those questions and more. Keep reading to learn everything that you need to know about creating your New Hampshire LLC.

6 Basic Steps To Start An LLC In New Hampshire 2024 

  • Choose a name for your LLC
  • Choose a registered agent
  • File articles of organization
  • Create an LLC operating agreement
  • Obtain an EIN
  • Annual Tax

How To Start An LLC In New Hampshire?

If you’re serious about completing the required internal document and forming a New Hampshire LLC, then the next step is to figure out what you need to do to make that happen. Here are six basic steps you can complete to create your New Hampshire LLC certificate.

Choose A Name For Your LLC In New Hampshire

The first thing you need is a business name.[1] You’ll need to pay attention to each of the following items while selecting your LLC name.

Naming Rules In New Hampshire

First, make sure you follow the New Hampshire LLC naming guidelines. You can review those here. The main requirement is that your official LLC name must have some variation of limited liability company or LLC in it.

Searching Available Name In New Hampshire

You also can’t submit an operating agreement or foreign LLC with a name that someone else is already using. You can search on the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s website to see if anyone else has already gotten a certificate of formation for the name you want.

Choose A Registered Agent In New Hampshire

Next; you’re going to need a registered agent. This is a professional who goes on your operating agreement. It’s their job to be available when someone wants to send official documents to your business, such as service of process or tax documents.

You can be your registered agent if you want to save money and don’t mind taking on this responsibility. But you also have the option of hiring a professional service if you’re okay with spending about $100 to $300 per year to free up your schedule.

File Organizational Paperwork With The State

Now, you’re ready to begin pursuing your certificate of formation. The initial step is to file some organizational paperwork with the state. This details what your company is and how it’s going to be run at the highest level.

Prepare An LLC Operating Agreement

You’ll also need to pay your filing fee and submit an operating agreement in New Hampshire. The filing fee is $100, or $102 if you submit online. Your operating agreement provides more detailed information about how your business will be structured.

Obtain An EIN For Your LLC In New Hampshire 

The next step is to set up an employer identification number.[2] Your employer identification number will be used when owners and employees pay income tax. The good news is that there is no filing fee for this. You can set up an EIN at no cost, in as little as 10 minutes online.

Annual Tax 

Annual Tax
Paying all of your taxes on time is the final step. Photo: G-Stock Studio/Shutterstock

Finally, all that’s left to do is to make sure that you pay all of your taxes on time. The state makes you submit an annual report every year. This costs $100. You’ll also be responsible for New Hampshire state taxes and federal taxes. Ensure you pay all of this on time to avoid fines and penalties that could impact your business.

What Is An LLC?

An LLC is a type of business entity, just like a corporation or sole proprietorship. It’s one way to run a legally valid company in the state of New Hampshire and elsewhere across the United States.

The acronym LLC stands for limited liability company. This name comes from the fact that your liability is limited when running a business with this tax structure.

What Is An LLC In New Hampshire?

When you decide to create an LLC, you need to pick a state to form it in. New Hampshire is one option. If you decide to launch your LLC here, then you’ll have to comply with all of the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s requirements to remain in good standing.

As a general rule of thumb, it typically makes the most sense to create your LLC in the state where you do most of your business. This will help you avoid having to do things like pay for a registered agent in a state where you don’t work.

Requirements To Start An LLC In New Hampshire

There aren’t too many requirements to start an LLC in New Hampshire, but there are some that you should be aware of before beginning this process. Here are two that are important to keep in mind.

Appoint A Registered Agent

First; you’re going to need to have a New Hampshire registered agent. This person will accept important legal and business documents on behalf of your company. You can either fulfill the role yourself or hire a professional service, depending on your goals.

The LLC’s Name Must Be Different From An Existing Business

Additionally, the name that you choose for your new LLC can’t already be taken. The state doesn’t allow duplicates to avoid confusion. We’ve included instructions for choosing a name that complies with all of the state’s guidelines in a later section.

Benefits Of Starting An LLC In New Hampshire

There are a lot of good reasons to start an LLC in New Hampshire. The most common reason that people cite for doing this is splitting their assets from their business assets.

With an LLC, your assets won’t be available for seizure if your business fails. This allows you to run your LLC as you see fit without having to worry as much about putting everything you own at risk.

LLCs also offer some nice taxation benefits and make it easier to be flexible with things like profit-sharing and management structure.

How Much Does An LLC Cost In New Hampshire?

The state charges $100 to file your initial LLC paperwork. After that, you will be responsible for submitting annual reports[3] each year. These cost $100 to file as well. Keep in mind, that when you file this paperwork online, there will be a processing charge of $2.

Top 2 LLC Services In New Hampshire

Top 2 LLC Services In New Hampshire
LLC Sevices can be a great supporter for you. Photo: JG-Stock Studio/Shutterstock
Product ZenBusiness Northwesr Registered Agent
Name ZenBusiness Northwest Registered Agent
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ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is another excellent provider that’s worth looking into. They can help you form an LLC with the New Hampshire Secretary of State – even if you have a foreign LLC. This company can also help with business licenses, business profits tax, business enterprise tax, and setting up a new business bank account.

ZenBusiness also stands out by providing registered agent service and support outside of standard operating hours. This makes them a good fit if you’re looking for help with a certificate of formation and sales tax, and you’d like to be able to talk to someone about it after your business address closes for the night.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest helps both new companies with the entire LLC formation process – from operating agreements to choosing a business name. The company also helps existing businesses with things like business debts, income tax, applying for a business credit card, and local business licenses.

Whether you want to open business bank accounts or you’re looking for a registered agent during regular business hours, this company can help. They regularly receive high reviews and always keep you in good standing with the New Hampshire Secretary of State.

Final Thoughts

Creating a manager-managed LLC is a great way to protect your LLC members and LLC owners. New Hampshire LLCs also have clear guidelines for maintaining the certificate of formation that keeps them in good standing with every government agency, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website and the New Hampshire Secretary of State.

Whether you’re still coming up with a New Hampshire LLC name or you’re ready to fill out your LLC’s operating agreement, we hope our guide will help you take the next step toward your goals – whether you decide to use an LLC formation service and registered agent services or not.

Either way, we wish you the best of luck with your New Hampshire LLC moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What other business entities are there besides an LLC?

If you’re unsure of whether an LLC is right for you, then you can also look into a sole proprietorship, a C corp, and other types of management structure that may be a better fit. There are legal documents at the New Hampshire Department of State Corporation Division that can help you as an individual or business entity.

How long does it take to form a New Hampshire limited liability company?

You can fill out an operating agreement and articles of organization online within a day. After that, you have to submit them to the New Hampshire Secretary of State and the Corporation Division NH Dept. They can take as long as a few weeks to process the documents.

Why would I want to start a New Hampshire LLC?

Starting an LLC in New Hampshire will help split personal and business assets. Your personal assets will all be protected and it could be easier to do things like obtain business licenses and receive a New Hampshire certificate for workers’ compensation insurance at your LLC’s principal office.

Do you need a physical street address for an LLC?

Your LLC needs a physical address to establish legitimacy, credibility, and professionalism. When you’re starting a company, one of the first decisions you need to make is what type of address you will use.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bizreport - Kellan Jansen
Kellan Jansen, BA
Business Writer
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Kellan works with businesses of all sizes to help them achieve their growth goals and has won several awards for his work in the space. He is especially focused on the fields of business finance and the developing cryptocurrency industry, regularly writing about both for audiences across the globe.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Kristina Knight-1
Kristina Knight, Journalist , BA
Content Writer & Editor
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Kristina Knight is a freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience writing on varied topics. Kristina’s focus for the past 10 years has been the small business, online marketing, and banking sectors, however, she keeps things interesting by writing about her experiences as an adoptive mom, parenting, and education issues. Kristina’s work has appeared with BizReport.com, NBC News, Soaps.com, DisasterNewsNetwork, and many more publications.

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  1. Choosing Your Business Name. (n.d.). Available at: https://sos.nh.gov/media/u1ooyxr4/name_avail_guide-nov_2019.pdf.
  2. Irs.gov. (2017). Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online | Internal Revenue Service. [online] Available at: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online‌.
  3. Nh.gov. (2020). NH-SOS – File an Annual Report. [online] Available at: https://sos.nh.gov/corporation-ucc-securities/corporation/file-an-annual-report/‌.
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