Forming an LLC in New Hampshire costs $100 to file the Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, with online approval through NH QuickStart in 3–5 business days. The annual report is $100, due by April 1 each year. New Hampshire has no personal income tax (the Interest & Dividends tax was fully eliminated in 2025) and no statewide sales tax — but the Business Profits Tax (BPT) of 7.5% applies to LLCs with New Hampshire gross receipts above $103,000, and the Business Enterprise Tax (BET) of 0.55% applies to enterprise value tax base above $298,000. So while there's no individual income tax, the BPT/BET combination functions as a state-level business tax for LLCs of any meaningful size. New Hampshire's economy is anchored by tech and advanced manufacturing, tourism, and retail (Massachusetts cross-border shoppers).
How much does a New Hampshire LLC cost?
New Hampshire is one of the most affordable states to run an LLC long-term. Your Year 1 total comes to roughly $249 if you hire a registered agent service — that's the $100 state filing fee plus approximately $149 for registered agent coverage. If you serve as your own registered agent, Year 1 drops to just $100. Processing takes 5–7 business days. Ongoing costs are equally reasonable: a $100 annual report is the only mandatory state obligation, and New Hampshire charges no state income tax and no sales tax, which means none of the hidden recurring costs that trip up owners in states like California ($800 minimum franchise tax), Tennessee ($300 annual), or Massachusetts ($500 annual). By Year 5, expect to spend around $649 total with a registered agent service — $100 to form, $596 in agent fees, and $400 in annual reports — or just $500 if you handle the registered agent role yourself.
Why form your LLC in New Hampshire
Tax mix favors retail-facing LLCs (no sales tax) and high-income owners (no personal income tax). Tech, advanced manufacturing, and tourism dominate.
- No personal income tax (Interest & Dividends tax eliminated in 2025)
- No statewide sales tax
- Strong tech and advanced manufacturing base
- Major retail draw from Massachusetts cross-border shopping
- Online approval in 3–5 business days
- No franchise tax
Best fit for: Tech & advanced manufacturing · Tourism · Retail (cross-border MA shoppers)
Don’t want to file yourself? Northwest Registered Agent files your New Hampshire LLC for $39 + state fee and acts as your registered agent the first year free.
How to form a New Hampshire LLC in 7 steps
- 1Search the New Hampshire business name database
Use the New Hampshire SOS NH QuickStart portal to search names. The name must include "Limited Liability Company", "L.L.C.", or "LLC". Reserve a name for $15 (held 120 days) if needed.
- 2Appoint a New Hampshire registered agent
Required to have a physical New Hampshire street address. Can be the LLC owner if they're a NH resident, or a commercial registered agent service.
- 3File the Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1)
File online through NH QuickStart for $100. Standard processing is 3–5 business days. The Certificate includes LLC name, registered agent, principal office, and management structure.
- 4Draft an Operating Agreement
Not required by New Hampshire law but strongly recommended. Defines membership interests, voting, profit/loss splits, and dissolution. Banks routinely ask for it.
- 5Apply for an EIN with the IRS
Free at irs.gov, takes 10 minutes online. Required for opening a business bank account, registering with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, and filing federal taxes.
- 6Register with the NH Department of Revenue Administration (DRA)
Register through the NH DRA Granite Tax Connect portal for the Business Profits Tax (BPT) and Business Enterprise Tax (BET) — both apply to most LLCs. New Hampshire has no statewide sales tax, so no sales tax registration is needed.
- 7Calendar the annual report and BPT/BET filings
New Hampshire LLC annual reports are due by April 1 each year. The fee is $100. The BPT/BET returns are due on the 15th day of the 3rd month after the LLC's fiscal year end (March 15 for calendar-year LLCs).
File directly with New Hampshire Secretary of State →
New Hampshire LLC taxes & compliance
No income tax and no sales tax — but the BPT (7.5%) and BET (0.55%) functionally serve as a business income tax for any LLC over the gross-receipts threshold.
Ongoing compliance checklist
- Annual report — $100, due April 1
- Business Profits Tax (BPT) — 7.5% on NH receipts > $103,000
- Business Enterprise Tax (BET) — 0.55% on enterprise value > $298,000
- No state sales tax
- Withholding tax filings if you have NH employees
- Federal income tax (Form 1065 multi-member, Schedule C SMLLC)
Registered agent rules
Required — NH street address.
Hidden costs new New Hampshire LLC owners forget
- Business Profits Tax (BPT): 7.5% on LLCs with NH gross receipts > $103,000
- Business Enterprise Tax (BET): 0.55% on enterprise value tax base > $298,000
- $100 annual report fee
- Foreign LLC qualification: $100
- Some industries require additional state licensing
- Late annual report: $50 penalty + administrative dissolution risk
Should you use a formation service in New Hampshire?
You can absolutely file directly with the New Hampshire Secretary of State for the $100 state fee. The reasons most New Hampshire owners use a service anyway are (1) registered-agent privacy — keeping their home address off public filings — and (2) calendar reminders for ongoing compliance.
Have Northwest form your New Hampshire LLC for $39 + state fee
Free registered agent for the first year. Real human support. Privacy-by-default — your home address stays off public filings.
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See the real 5-year cost of a New Hampshire LLC
Filing fee · registered agent · annual report · franchise tax — all calculated, year by year.
Open cost calculator for New Hampshire →New Hampshire's hidden business taxes that catch LLC owners off guard
New Hampshire advertises no income tax and no sales tax, which draws entrepreneurs expecting a nearly tax-free business environment. The reality is more complicated. The state imposes two business-level taxes that apply directly to LLCs. The Business Profits Tax (BPT) is 7.5% on net income exceeding $92,000. More unusual is the Business Enterprise Tax (BET): a 0.55% levy on the "enterprise value tax base," which includes wages, salaries, interest, and dividends paid out by the business. The BET kicks in once gross receipts exceed $250,000 or the enterprise value tax base exceeds $250,000. This means a profitable single-member LLC paying its owner a reasonable salary can owe BET even if the BPT threshold is not reached. The BET is genuinely rare nationally — most states do not tax payroll at the entity level this way. Single-member LLC owners who relocate from states like Florida or Texas expecting equivalent tax simplicity are frequently blindsided when they cross the $250,000 gross receipts threshold. The April 1 annual report deadline is also earlier than the mid-year deadlines common in other states, creating an additional calendar pressure.
Year 1: $100 (state filing fee) + $149 (registered agent) = $249 total, assuming gross receipts stay under $250,000 and no BET or BPT applies. By Year 5: approximately $696 in cumulative state costs ($100 annual report x4 additional years + $149 registered agent x4) plus any BET/BPT owed once revenue crosses $250,000. A profitable LLC clearing $300,000 gross could add $1,650+ in BET alone by Year 5.
Many New Hampshire LLC owners assume the "no income tax" reputation means their LLC owes nothing to the state beyond the $100 annual report. They miss the Business Enterprise Tax entirely, which activates at $250,000 in gross receipts and taxes owner compensation at 0.55% — regardless of whether the business shows a net profit. This mistake routinely surfaces at tax time with no estimated payments made.
New Hampshire LLC: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire SOS charges $100 to file the Certificate of Formation. The annual report is also $100, due April 1 each year. Realistic year-one cost: $100. Ongoing yearly cost: $100 in state fees, plus BPT/BET if your LLC exceeds the thresholds.
How long does it take to form an LLC in New Hampshire?
Online filings through NH QuickStart approve in 3–5 business days. Mail filings take 7–10 business days.
Does New Hampshire really have no income tax?
New Hampshire has no personal income tax on wages or salaries — and the Interest & Dividends tax was fully eliminated in 2025. So personal investment income is no longer taxed at the state level. However, LLCs with NH gross receipts above $103,000 owe the Business Profits Tax (7.5%), and LLCs with enterprise value above $298,000 owe the Business Enterprise Tax (0.55%). For working LLCs, the BPT/BET functions as a state-level business income tax.
What is the New Hampshire Business Profits Tax (BPT)?
The BPT is New Hampshire's 7.5% tax on the net business income of LLCs (and other entities) with NH gross receipts above $103,000. Below that threshold, no BPT is owed. The BPT applies even though New Hampshire has no personal income tax — the BPT is on the business itself, not the owners.
What is the New Hampshire Business Enterprise Tax (BET)?
The BET is a 0.55% tax on the "enterprise value tax base" — calculated as compensation paid + interest paid + dividends paid. It applies to LLCs with an enterprise value tax base above $298,000. The BET works alongside the BPT — companies typically pay one or the other, with credits available against the BPT.
Does New Hampshire have a sales tax?
No statewide sales tax. New Hampshire is one of only five U.S. states with no sales tax (along with Alaska, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon). This is why so many Massachusetts residents cross the border to shop in NH for big-ticket items like electronics, alcohol, and tobacco.
Can a non-resident form an LLC in New Hampshire?
Yes. New Hampshire has no residency requirement for LLC members or managers. You only need a NH-based registered agent. Out-of-state owners commonly use a commercial registered agent service.
Is New Hampshire a good state to form an LLC?
For New Hampshire residents and businesses tied to tech, advanced manufacturing, or retail (especially anything benefiting from the no-sales-tax cross-border shopping): yes. The combination of no personal income tax + no sales tax is genuinely valuable. The BPT/BET only kicks in above the gross-receipts threshold, so very small LLCs pay essentially no state tax. Larger LLCs effectively pay 7.5% via the BPT — comparable to neighboring states.