The $100 state fee, the paperwork, the registered agent requirement — here's exactly what it costs, how long it takes, and the fastest legitimate path to an approved LLC.
New Hampshire keeps this straightforward — get the order right and you're typically approved within one to three weeks.
Must include "LLC" or "L.L.C." — run a name search with the New Hampshire Secretary of State first, since a taken name is the #1 reason filings bounce.
Non-negotiable under New Hampshire law. Needs a real street address, staffed during business hours — no P.O. boxes.
Your Certificate of Formation, filed online or by mail with the $100 state fee to the New Hampshire Secretary of State. This is the step that makes it official.
Free straight from the IRS — you'll need it before a bank will let you open a business account.
Annual Report, $100, due every April 1 — falling behind puts your LLC out of good standing with the state.
Northwest handles all five steps above and includes your New Hampshire registered agent free for year one.
Wrong entity designator, missing registered agent info, and name conflicts account for most bounced filings. Here's what changes with a formation service handling it.
| What matters | Filing it yourself | Using a formation service |
|---|---|---|
| Time spent | 3–5 hours of research + filing | ~10 minutes |
| Total cost | $100 state fee only | $100 state fee + service fee |
| Registered agent | Separate purchase, $100–$300/yr | Often included year one |
| Compliance reminders | You track manually | Automated deadline alerts |
| Rejection risk | Common on first attempt | Reviewed before submission |
Northwest handles the filing, includes your registered agent for the first year, and flags common New Hampshire rejection triggers before you submit — no add-ons to track down separately.
Files your Certificate of Formation directly with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, includes a New Hampshire-address registered agent for the first year at no extra cost, and flags common rejection triggers before you submit.
"Filed early in the week and had approval back within a few days — faster than the 1–3 week estimate I'd braced for. The registered agent was already active when the confirmation came through."
"I tried filing myself first and got bounced over how the entity designator was formatted. Went through a service the second time and it was caught before submission."
"Didn't realize the $100 Annual Report was due every April until the reminder email showed up. Would've missed the deadline otherwise."
Northwest Registered Agent, $39 plus your $100 state fee, no long-term contract.