State hub · New Hampshire
New Hampshire LLC true cost (2026)
New Hampshire state side: $100 formation filing, $100 for Annual Report in the 3-year model, ~$400 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #36 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
New Hampshire state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is New Hampshire Secretary of State – Corporation Division. Filings go through quickstart.sos.nh.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $100 | Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) $100; electronic filings add $2 handling charge (RSA 5:10-a) — base $100 used. |
| Annual Report | $100 | Report fee $100; late fee $50 after April 1. Online adds $2 handling. Entities formed Dec 1–Apr 1 may be exempt from that first-year report per SOS guidance. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $400 | Formation $100 + 3× annual report $100 = $400 (excludes $2 electronic handling charges and late fees). |
When New Hampshire actually bills you
New Hampshire's recurring filing is due Annually by April 1 (window typically opens January 1) — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What New Hampshire charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $100 | $100 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report | $100 | $200 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report | $100 | $300 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report | $100 | $400 |
Provider + New Hampshire state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the New Hampshire state subtotal of $400.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $689 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $897 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $698 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $1,147 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How New Hampshire ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, New Hampshire sits at #36 — the 36th cheapest three-year state charter — at $400 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $365 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $120 above the $280 median, and $2,110 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, New Hampshire lands in the pricier half of the table.
- Just cheaper: Washington ($390), Illinois ($375).
- Just pricier: Oregon ($400), Maine ($430).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (New Hampshire)
- Registered agent/office in New Hampshire required.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of New Hampshire state fees is $400, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not New Hampshire, is about 42% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- $50 late fee stacks quickly after April 1.
- Online total is typically $102 with handling charge.
Who New Hampshire is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- NH-based LLCs accepting a relatively high annual SOS report fee.
Often a poor fit when…
- Operators optimizing for lowest annual SOS fees.
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about New Hampshire LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Hampshire?
$100 to New Hampshire Secretary of State – Corporation Division for the formation filing. Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) $100; electronic filings add $2 handling charge (RSA 5:10-a) — base $100 used. That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing New Hampshire LLC fees after year one?
$100 for the Annual Report, due Annually by April 1 (window typically opens January 1). Report fee $100; late fee $50 after April 1. Online adds $2 handling. Entities formed Dec 1–Apr 1 may be exempt from that first-year report per SOS guidance. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a New Hampshire LLC really cost over three years?
$400 in New Hampshire state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $689 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $1,147 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with New Hampshire.
Do I need a registered agent in New Hampshire?
Yes. Registered agent/office in New Hampshire required. Confirm New Hampshire's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with New Hampshire Secretary of State – Corporation Division before you file — a home address here becomes public record. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every New Hampshire figure above.
Is New Hampshire a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, New Hampshire ranks #36 of 51 at $400 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the New Hampshire three-year number is built
Formation $100 + 3× annual report $100 = $400 (excludes $2 electronic handling charges and late fees). Figures are re-derived from the cited New Hampshire sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the New Hampshire state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- Provider checkout upsells: see the national comparison page.
- Re-check live New Hampshire Secretary of State – Corporation Division fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where New Hampshire's $400 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the New Hampshire math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.