Costs Guide · What a New Hampshire Corporation actually costs to form and run, and exactly what our price covers.
The Cost of Forming and Running a New Hampshire Corporation
Incorporating in New Hampshire involves a handful of costs — some one-time, some recurring, some optional. This page breaks down what you pay to the state, what you might pay a service, and the ongoing costs of keeping the corporation in good standing, so there are no surprises. The receipt card on this page shows the current state fees; below, we explain what each one is for and where costs come from.
One price: $199.00/yr covers your formation, your registered agent, and your annual report, plus the $100.00 state filing fee, at cost.
State agency: New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division
Annual report due: April 1 · Processing: 7-10 business days
✓ No hidden fees ✓ No second-year price hikes ✓ No missed filings
Receipt / Estimate
New Hampshire Corporation Formation
- ✓Formation prepared & filed
- ✓Your registered agent, all year
- ✓Annual report prepared & filed
Renews at $199.00/yr + the state's $100.00 annual-report fee, at cost.
One-Time Formation Costs
The unavoidable cost of starting a New Hampshire corporation is the state filing fee for the Articles of Incorporation, paid to the Secretary of State when you file through QuickStart. The receipt card on this page reflects the current amount. Filing online through QuickStart can carry a small portal processing charge on top of the base state fee, which is standard for the state's online system.
What the state fee covers
The formation fee pays for the state to review and record your Articles of Incorporation and bring the corporation into legal existence. It is a single charge, not a subscription. Once paid and accepted, your corporation is on the record.
What it does not cover
The formation fee does not include ongoing compliance, a registered agent, an EIN, or any of the internal documents (bylaws, stock ledger) your corporation needs. Those are separate — some free, some not — and we cover them below.
Recurring State Costs
Keeping a New Hampshire corporation alive costs money every year, and this is the part first-time owners most often underestimate.
The annual report
Every New Hampshire corporation files an annual report with the Secretary of State, and there is a fee to do so — shown on the receipt card. The report is due by April 1 each year, and the filing window opens at the start of the year. Filing online may add the same kind of small portal charge as other QuickStart filings.
Late fees
Miss the April 1 deadline and New Hampshire adds a late fee on top of the regular annual report fee. Let it slide long enough and the state can administratively dissolve the corporation — after which reinstatement costs more than simply filing on time would have. Treating the annual report as a firm yearly deadline is the cheapest path.
State business taxes
Separate from the Secretary of State fees, a corporation doing business in New Hampshire may owe the Business Profits Tax and the Business Enterprise Tax, administered by the Department of Revenue Administration. These are true taxes based on your business's profits and enterprise value, not flat filing fees, so the amount depends entirely on your numbers. Your accountant handles these; the Secretary of State does not.
Costs You Might Choose to Add
Beyond the mandatory state fees, several common costs are optional or situational.
Registered agent service
You can be your own registered agent for free if you qualify, or pay a commercial service for privacy and reliability. A commercial agent keeps your home address off the public record and guarantees someone is available during business hours to accept legal process. When you form with us, registered agent service is included in what you pay us.
Name reservation
If you want to hold a name before filing, New Hampshire charges a modest fee to reserve it for a limited period. This is optional — most people simply file when they are ready rather than reserving first.
Certified copies and certificates of good standing
Banks, lenders, and out-of-state registrations sometimes require a certified copy of your Articles or a certificate of good standing. New Hampshire charges per document for these. You only pay when you actually need one.
Foreign qualification
If your corporation was formed elsewhere and is registering to do business in New Hampshire, the Certificate of Authority has its own state fee, and you will need a certificate of existence from your home state, which may carry its own charge.
Costs That Are Free — Don't Overpay
A few things that are genuinely free routinely get sold to people who do not realize they can get them at no cost.
The federal EIN
Your corporation's Employer Identification Number is free directly from the IRS at irs.gov. The online application issues it immediately during IRS business hours. Never pay a fee for the EIN itself — some third parties charge for a task that costs nothing, and there is no reason to pay it.
Corporate bylaws and internal records
Bylaws, organizational meeting minutes, and your stock ledger are documents your corporation creates and keeps — New Hampshire does not charge to file them because they are not filed with the state at all. You can draft them yourself from a template or have an attorney prepare them, but there is no state fee attached.
How Our Pricing Works
When you form a New Hampshire corporation with us, what you pay covers preparing and filing your Articles of Incorporation through QuickStart plus registered agent service. The state's filing fee is part of the total — we do not mark it up and pretend it is our fee. The receipt card on this page shows the state fees exactly as the state charges them, so what is displayed is what is charged.
We keep it transparent on purpose. You should always be able to see which portion of a cost is the state's fee and which is the service, because that is the only honest way to price this. After formation, we track your annual report deadline and can file that report for you each year, keeping your corporation in good standing without you having to watch the calendar. For the state taxes — BPT and BET — you will want a CPA, since those depend on your financials and fall outside what a filing service does.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to form a New Hampshire corporation?
The core cost is the state filing fee for the Articles of Incorporation, shown on the receipt card on this page. Filing online through QuickStart can add a small portal processing charge. Beyond the state fee, optional costs include registered agent service, a name reservation, and certified copies if you need them. The federal EIN is free from the IRS.
Is there an annual fee for a New Hampshire corporation?
Yes. Every New Hampshire corporation files an annual report with the Secretary of State, and there is a fee for it — reflected on the receipt card. The report is due by April 1 each year. Filing late adds a penalty on top of the regular fee, and letting it lapse can lead to administrative dissolution. Separately, the corporation may owe state business taxes based on its financials.
How much is the EIN for my corporation?
Nothing. The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers for free, and the online application delivers the number immediately during business hours. Never pay a third party a fee for the EIN itself — it is a free government service. Some companies charge for it, but there is no reason to pay when you can get it directly from the IRS at no cost.
Do I have to pay for a registered agent?
Not necessarily. You can serve as your own registered agent for free if you are a New Hampshire resident with a qualifying street address and are available during business hours. Many owners instead pay a commercial service for privacy — keeping their home address off the public record — and reliability. When you form with us, registered agent service is included in your total.
Are there taxes beyond the state filing fees?
Yes. New Hampshire levies the Business Profits Tax and the Business Enterprise Tax on businesses operating in the state. These are true taxes based on your profits and enterprise value, not flat fees, so the amount depends on your numbers. They are administered by the Department of Revenue Administration and are separate from the Secretary of State's filing and annual report fees. A CPA handles these.
Ready to form your New Hampshire Corporation?
Formation, your registered agent, and your annual report. One price, $199.00/yr, with the state fee passed through at cost.
Form Your New Hampshire Corporation ($199.00/yr All-In)