Looking to expand your existing business to the state of New Hampshire? If you formed a limited liability company outside of New Hampshire, you can register your already formed business as a New Hampshire foreign LLC. It’s the simplest way to start conducting business in New Hampshire without having to start a brand new company.

To register a New Hampshire foreign LLC, you’ll need to appoint a registered agent, submit an Application for Registration as a Foreign Limited Liability Company to the New Hampshire Department of State (DOS), and pay the state filing fee ($100).

New Hampshire Foreign LLC registration allows you to expand your business seamlessly.
You get to keep your existing company’s limited liability coverage, structure, EIN, and much more!

Need to start a brand new LLC in New Hampshire? Check out our guide on how to start a New Hampshire LLC.

How to Register a Foreign LLC in New Hampshire

To register a foreign LLC in New Hampshire, you’re going to need to appoint a New Hampshire registered agent, obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from your LLC’s home state, complete an Application for Registration as a Foreign LLC, and submit your documents to the New Hampshire Department of State ($100; $102 for online filings).

Below you’ll find our step-by-step breakdown of how to do your registration correctly:

1. Appoint a New Hampshire Registered Agent
2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing
3. File New Hampshire Application for Registration as a Foreign Limited Liability Company

Designate a New Hampshire Registered Agent

All registered New Hampshire businesses must designate a New Hampshire registered agent. According to New Hampshire law, the duties of a registered agent include receiving and forwarding any official legal correspondence like service of process or subpoenas.

That means your registered agent must be able to:

• Maintain a New Hampshire street address
• Be available during normal business hours to receive service of process
• Forward registered agent mail to you in a timely fashion

Any legal adult or company who meets the above criteria can serve as your registered agent. But you have to keep in mind that whoever serves as your registered agent ought to be reliable. You need someone you can count on to receive and forward your registered agent mail ASAP. Otherwise, you risk missing important state correspondence, which could mean financial penalties and even revocation of your right to do business in New Hampshire.

If you’re starting a foreign LLC in New Hampshire, you need a reliable New Hampshire registered agent. That’s us. We’re local, affordable, and most importantly, experienced. Our professional registered agent service operates locally out of Derry, NH, where our years as New Hampshire specialists have allowed us to get everything down to a simple and efficient system.

Once you sign up for our New Hampshire registered agent service, you will be logged into your client account online where you’ll find the New Hampshire foreign LLC form you file with the New Hampshire Department of State, Corporations Division. After taking a look at the resources and forms we provide in your client account, if you do not want to actually do the filing yourself, you can click on the “Add Services” tab in your account, and have us submit your filing for you for $100 plus the state filing fees.

Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing

After designating a registered agent, you’ll need to secure a Certificate of Good Standing form the state where you first formed your limited liability company. You might also see this document referred to as a “Certificate of Existence” in some jurisdictions. Both terms mean the same thing: This document certifies that your company is up-to-date with annual reports, taxes, licenses, and any other obligations in your home state.

How Can I Get a Certificate of Good Standing?

The process to acquire a Certificate of Good Standing varies from state to state,. You can typically get a Certificate of Good Standing online through the Department of State’s website for a small fee.

When Should I Get a Certificate of Good Standing?

You should request a Certificate of Good Standing before you start filling out your Application for Certificate of Authority. This allows you to have time to fill out your application, especially if you need to figure out things like your business name and designating a registered agent.

Note: Your Certificate of Good Standing must have been issued by your home state within 60 days prior to filing your foreign registration.

File Your New Hampshire Application for Registration as a Foreign Limited Liability Company

To complete the registration process (also known as “Foreign Qualification”), you will need to file an Application for Certificate of Authority with the New Hampshire Department of State. Here’s everything you’ll be asked:

• LLC name
• Name under which your LLC will do business in New Hampshire (if using a DBA)
• Principal office address
• Principal mailing address (if different)
• Business phone (optional)
• Business email (optional)
• Jurisdiction where you formed your LLC
• Date you formed your LLC
• Specific purpose of your business (for example, “landscaping”)
• Name of your New Hampshire registered agent
• Address of your New Hampshire registered agent
• Names, addresses, and titles of your members and/or managers (optional)
• Your signature, title, address, and date of signature

New Hampshire LLC Naming Requirements

Not every state has the same naming requirements, and the name you registered for your LLC in its home state might not be available for use in New Hampshire. According to New Hampshire law (§304-C:32), your New Hampshire LLC name must:

• Contain “limited liability company” or an acceptable variation such the “limited company” or abbreviations such as “LLC”
• Be distinguishable from the name of other reserved or registered business entities, including approved fictitious business names

You can confirm availability using the Business Name Availability tool provided by the New Hampshire DOS. You can submit an Application for Reservation of Name if you see an available name that you like but you aren’t ready to file your Articles just yet. The filing fee is $15, and you may reserve a name for a period of 120 days. You can also file online through your NH QuickStart portal.

How do I file the New Hampshire Application for Certificate of Authority?

You can submit your Application for Registration online, by mail, or in person to the New Hampshire Dept. of State.

For online submissions, you will need to create a QuickStart Account and do the following:

• Sign into your account
• Choose “Business Services” and “Create a Business Online”
• Follow the directions to create a foreign business
• Under “Business Type,” choose “Limited Liability Company”
• Pay the $102 filing fee ($100 + $2 online service fee)

Note: Form bust be legibly printed or typed in blank ink on 8.5″ x 11″ paper with 1″ margins.

To file by mail, download and complete the New Hampshire Application for Registration as a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form FLLC-1). Mail or walk in the form to the address below, along with the filing fee of $100 paid by check or money order and made payable to the State of New Hampshire.

How much does it cost to file the Application for Certificate of Authority?

The filing fee to register a foreign LLC in New Hampshire is $100. There is an additional $2 service fee if you file online.

Ready to expand your business to Department? We take care of everything for $100 + the state filing fee.

After that? Our continued registered agent service is just $49 per year.