Vendor setup
Register a business in New Hampshire
The filing office, forms, steps and next stops for registering a business in New Hampshire. Every line shows the official page it came from, and the day we read it.
The order to do it in
Choose a business type and get your EIN first. Then file with the state filing office below, and check your city and county before you start work.
Filing office
- New Hampshire business entities are filed with the Secretary of State, Corporation Division. New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division, as of
Forming an LLC
- A New Hampshire LLC is formed by filing a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) with the Secretary of State. New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division, as of
- Certificate of Formation filing fee (RSA 304-C:191): $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire General Court, as of
- Handling charge on fees paid electronically (RSA 5:10-a), added: $2 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division, as of
Forming a corporation
- A New Hampshire business corporation files Form 11, Articles of Incorporation, with the Secretary of State. New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division, as of
- Articles of Incorporation filing fee (RSA 293-A:1.22): $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire General Court, as of
- Handling charge on fees paid electronically, added: $2 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division, as of
Annual or biennial report
- New Hampshire LLCs file annual reports between January 1 and April 1 (RSA 304-C:191). New Hampshire General Court, as of
- New Hampshire corporations file annual reports between January 1 and April 1. A corporation formed between December 1 and April 1 skips that year’s report. New Hampshire General Court, as of
- LLC annual report filing fee (RSA 304-C:191): $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire General Court, as of
- LLC late fee, added: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire General Court, as of
- Corporation annual report filing fee (RSA 293-A): $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire General Court, as of
- Corporation late fee, added: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire General Court, as of
- Handling charge when paid online, added: $2 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division, as of
Assumed name (DBA)
- Sole proprietors doing business under a name other than their own, and partnerships, trusts and associations, register a trade name with the Secretary of State for a five-year term. Corporations and LLCs are outside this chapter (RSA 349). New Hampshire General Court, as of
- Trade name registration: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire General Court, as of
- Trade name renewal: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire General Court, as of
State tax registration
- Every business operating in New Hampshire registers with the Secretary of State. Depending on the business, it may also need a tax operator’s licence from the Department of Revenue Administration. New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, as of
State rules for pool, lifeguard and contractor work
These lines point to the state’s own rules. Whether one applies to your work is for the state to say, so confirm with the agency named in each line.
- Every public bathing facility needs a one-time NHDES registration (no fee) and an annual self-certification, and must operate under a certified pool operator. That operator may be a contracted vendor and must visit at least weekly. Private residential pools are exempt. New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, as of
- Annual self-certification, per facility: $250 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, as of
- Annual self-certification, the most one owner pays: $1,500 (as of Oct 6, 2026) New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, as of
City and county licences
City and county licences vary by place. Check with your city hall or county clerk before you start work.
Sources
- Limited Liability Companies New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division. As of .
- State of New Hampshire Certificate of Formation New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division. As of .
- RSA 304-C:191 Fees New Hampshire General Court. As of .
- Domestic and Foreign Corporation New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division. As of .
- RSA Chapter 293-A, New Hampshire Business Corporation Act New Hampshire General Court. As of .
- RSA Chapter 349 Trade Names New Hampshire General Court. As of .
- Registering a New Business New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration. As of .
- Public Pools and Spas New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. As of .
Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.
Last checked