To start a C Corporation in New Hampshire, you file Form 11, Articles of Incorporation, with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division. Swyft Filings prepares and submits that filing for a $0 service fee, so your only cost is the $100 state fee ($102 if you file online, which adds a $2 electronic handling charge). Choose our Premium package, and we also draft your corporate bylaws, file your EIN, set up your stock authorization, connect you with a business attorney, and provide registered agent service available as an add-on.
Starting a New Hampshire C Corp begins with choosing a business name that clears the state's database. Then you name a registered agent with a physical New Hampshire address. From there, you decide your share structure and file Form 11, your Articles of Incorporation. Once that's approved, you write and adopt your corporate bylaws, then hold your organizational meeting. You close out the process by applying for an EIN from the IRS.
Two of these steps need to happen before you file: your registered agent and your share count. Both appear directly on Form 11, so the form can't go in without them settled.
Prefer not to handle this yourself? Swyft Filings forms your New Hampshire C Corp at no service cost, so you only pay the state's $100 fee. Let’s review these steps in more detail.
Step 1: Choose a Business Name for Your New Hampshire C Corp
Your name becomes public record as soon as the Corporation Division accepts Form 11. It then follows you onto your bank paperwork, vendor contracts, and any signage or website you put up. Changing it later means filing an amendment and paying the state again, so get it right the first time.
Start with our free business name generator if you're still deciding. It will provide you with a list of name options. Choose two to three backup options in case your desired names are already taken by other businesses.
Check your name against New Hampshire's naming rules:
Your name must include "corporation," "incorporated," or "limited," or the abbreviation "corp.," "inc.," or "ltd." New Hampshire does not accept "Company" or "Co." on its own, which catches filers used to other states' rules.
Your name must be distinguishable from every other registered, reserved, or registered name on the Secretary of State's records. Swapping punctuation or spelling out an abbreviation doesn't make a name distinguishable.
Your name can't imply a business purpose your Articles don't authorize.
Your name can't use the name of a government agency, or a recognized New Hampshire political party without written consent.
Search your business name against the Corporation Division's database through NH QuickStart before you pay anything.
If you want to hold a name while you finish everything else, file Form 1, Application for Reservation of Name. It costs \$15 by mail or \$17 online, and holds the name for 120 days. The reservation is nonrenewable, so once the 120 days run out, you can't extend it, but you can file a fresh Form 1 for the same name at any time afterward, as long as it's still available.
You don't need this if you're filing Form 11 right away, since the state checks the name as part of your incorporation filing.
A domain is a branding choice, not a formation requirement, so you have room to work around it. Try adding a short, natural qualifier to your name, or look at a .co or .io extension if your customers are mostly online. It's also worth checking whether the .com is simply parked rather than in active use, since parked domains are often for sale through the registrar. Standard registrations through GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Cloudflare Registrar run $10 to $20 a year. One thing worth knowing is that your legal entity name doesn't have to match your domain name. Changing your business name means filing an amendment and paying a state fee, so it's rarely worth it just to land a matching domain. Adding a qualifier like your state or county name to the domain is common practice instead, and it costs nothing extra.
A DBA can boost your brand with a catchier name, more professionalism, and a unified identity across products or platforms. But it offers no trademark protection and no liability shield; it's just a label. A mismatched or misleading name can confuse customers or damage trust, and a DBA can never include "Inc." or similar terms reserved for your legal entity name.
It depends on where your customers are, and you can pursue both. A New Hampshire trademark costs $50 per application plus a $2 online fee, covers one class of goods or services, and runs for 10 years. It is renewable at $50 within the six months before expiration. But a state trademark can only protect your brand within the state. A federal USPTO registration starts around $350 per class, gives you nationwide rights, and adds the ® symbol and access to federal court. If you sell online or across state lines, it is smart to file for a federal trademark.
Step 2: Hire a New Hampshire Registered Agent
New Hampshire requires your corporation to continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in the state.
Here are the New Hampshire registered agent requirements:
Your agent must be a New Hampshire resident whose business office matches the registered office, or a corporation, LLC, or LLP authorized to do business in New Hampshire with a business office at that same address.
The registered office needs a physical street address. Form 11's instructions state your filing won't be processed without one, or if you list an out-of-state address.
To appoint an agent, confirm they meet the eligibility rules and are willing to serve, then enter their name and address in Article Third of Form 11. New Hampshire doesn't require a separate consent form.
Because the registered office exists for physical delivery, not mail, under RSA 293-A:5.04, your agent is the corporation's contact for service of process, and a process server needs somewhere to hand documents to a person directly. A P.O. box can't accept in-hand service, so the Corporation Division rejects one outright rather than flagging it as a fixable detail.
Yes. RSA 293-A:5.01(a)(2) allows a Corporation or LLC that is authorized to do business in New Hampshire to serve, as long as it's in good standing and its business office matches the registered office you list. Your own corporation can't serve as its own agent. That's why solo founders either serve personally or hire a professional registered agent service.
File Form 10 for a $15 fee under RSA 293-A:1.22(b)(5). You can file online or on paper, and you'll need your corporation's legal name plus the new agent's name and New Hampshire address. Timing matters here. Under RSA 293-A:14.20(a), the state can start administrative dissolution if your corporation goes 60 days without a registered agent. Reinstatement after dissolution costs $135, and a late reinstatement runs $500. Swyft Filings handles the change of registered agent in all 50 states, if you'd rather not track this yourself.
Yes, there are downsides to being your own registered agent. Your address becomes a permanently searchable public record, including to marketers who scrape new filings. You also have to be available during business hours for service of process, which is inconvenient if you travel or work off-site.
Step 3: Configure Your Share Structure
Article Second of Form 11 requires you to state your authorized share count. It is a required element of your Articles. Make these decisions before you file:
Set your total authorized share count
Decide on par value or no par value
Decide on one class of stock or several
Assign voting power and board rights to each class
Record the required share information on Form 11.
You may also document additional ownership, voting, transfer, and shareholder rights in a shareholder agreement when appropriate.
A few things to know as you decide:
Common stock is the default, going to founders and early employees. Preferred stock is for outside investors and carries a liquidation preference, paying preferred holders first if the company sells or winds down.
Splitting stock into classes, like Class A and Class B, lets you raise money without giving up control. Class A can carry more votes per share.
A right of first refusal in your shareholder agreement forces a departing shareholder to offer their stock to the corporation first, before selling to an outsider.
Every new issuance dilutes existing shareholders unless a preemptive right limits it. That's not automatically bad, but it should be a decision, not a surprise.
Many corporations set aside 10% to 20% of authorized shares as an employee option pool.
The standard vesting schedule is generally for four years with a one-year cliff.
A buy-sell provision decides what happens to a shareholder's stock if they die.
Issuing stock is a separate step from deciding your structure. Issue stock certificates if your corporation uses certificated shares, or properly document uncertificated shares in the corporation's records. Remember to log every transaction in your stock transfer ledger and confirm your offering qualifies for an exemption.
If you rely on the federal Rule 506(b) exemption, file Form D with the SEC within 15 days of your first sale. Pull all of these decisions into a shareholder agreement last, once everything else is settled.
Yes, at least one share, per RSA 293-A:6.01. There's no ceiling, and because the state charges a flat fee regardless of share count, founders commonly authorize somewhere between 1 million and 10 million shares, leaving room for an option pool and future investors without needing an amendment.
Yes. RSA 293-A:6.01 lets your Articles authorize one or more classes, with the number of shares, preferences, and rights of each class spelled out in the filing itself. You need at least one class with full voting rights and one entitled to the corporation's net assets on dissolution, though a single class of common stock covers both. If you want a Class B with extra votes per share, or a preferred class with a liquidation preference, that language belongs in your Articles now. Adding it later means an amendment.
Step 4: File Your New Hampshire Articles of Incorporation
Online, through NH QuickStart, for a total of $102 (the $2 covers electronic handling under RSA 5:10-a).
By mail: Send your completed Form 11 and a $100 check payable to "State of New Hampshire" to the Corporation Division, NH Department of State, 107 North Main Street, Room 204, Concord, NH 03301-4989.
In person, at the New Hampshire Secretary of State Corporations Division customer service lobby, 28 School Street, Concord, NH 03301, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on working days. New Hampshire does not accept filings by fax.
What information is required to fill out Form 11:
Corporate name, including "corporation," "incorporated," or "limited," or an abbreviation of one
Principal office address (optional; defaults to your registered agent's address if left blank)
Number of authorized shares, at least one, with share type and par value optional
Registered agent's name and New Hampshire street address
Principal purpose of the business, in a brief description
Benefit corporation election, stating whether you are or aren't electing benefit corporation status
Officer and director names, addresses, and titles, if you choose to list them
Each incorporator's name, address, and signature
A statement confirming your stock sale complies with the New Hampshire Uniform Securities Act
If your corporation was formed elsewhere and you want to do business in New Hampshire too, file Form 40, Application for Certificate of Authority, under RSA 293-A:15.01, for $100 ($102 online). You'll need to provide the following information: Your corporate name Principal office address Original state and date of incorporation A New Hampshire registered agent A brief purpose description Your current officers and directors New Hampshire doesn't require a certificate of good standing from your home state. If you don't want to handle the paperwork yourself, a business formation company can handle foreign qualifications for you for a small fee.
Step 5: Create Corporate Bylaws
Under RSA 293-A:2.06(a), your incorporators or your board must adopt initial bylaws. Draft them before your organizational meeting, since adopting them is typically that meeting's first order of business.
Your bylaws should cover:
How and when shareholder and director meetings are called and held
What counts as a quorum and how votes are counted
Director qualifications, board size, terms, and compensation
Officer titles, authority, and how they're removed
Each stock class and its attached rights
The vote threshold for major decisions
Share transfer rules
How to amend the bylaws
Build your own from that checklist, or use a corporate bylaws service, which drafts around the share classes and vesting terms you set up in Step 3.
Because bylaws govern the relationship between the corporation and its own directors, officers, and shareholders, not the relationship between the corporation and the public, your articles are public because outside parties, like a lender or a court, need to verify basic facts about your corporation. Nobody outside your company needs your quorum threshold. That said, RSA 293-A:16.01 still requires you to keep a copy of your current bylaws among your permanent records. The state doesn't check, but a bank, an investor, or a court examining your formalities will.
Shareholders hold your issued stock, distinct from directors, who govern, and officers, who run daily operations. In a small corporation, one person often fills all three roles, which is exactly why your bylaws should define each separately. Your bylaws should say the following things: How the corporation determines who's a shareholder of record What voting rights each class carries How meetings are called and noticed What counts as quorum Whether shareholders can act by written consent instead of meeting. That written consent option matters most for a single-shareholder company, since it lets you satisfy meeting requirements without staging a meeting with yourself.
Step 6: Hold an Organizational Meeting
Once your Articles are approved, your incorporators hold the corporation's organizational meeting under RSA 293-A:2.05. Since New Hampshire doesn't require directors named on Form 11, your incorporators typically elect the initial board here first, and the board handles the rest of the agenda.
It turns a state-approved filing into a functioning corporation. Your Articles create the legal corporation. After formation, the corporation completes its organizational actions, which may include appointing or confirming directors, adopting bylaws, electing officers, authorizing the issuance of shares, setting the fiscal year, and authorizing banking arrangements. Depending on the circumstances, these actions may be taken at an organizational meeting or through permitted written consent.
Yes. RSA 293-A:16.01(a) requires your corporation to keep permanent records of every shareholder and board meeting, along with any action taken by written consent. You never file minutes with the state, but they matter most if your corporation's separateness is ever challenged, typically by a creditor arguing your business was never really distinct from you personally. Consistent minutes, a maintained stock ledger, and adopted bylaws are your strongest evidence against that argument. If drafting meeting minutes feels like a task, you can take help from a formation company for the same.
Not necessarily. You need a quorum, which under RSA 293-A:8.24 defaults to a majority of directors then in office, unless your bylaws set a different number. RSA 293-A:8.21 also lets the board act without a meeting at all, as long as every director signs a written consent describing the action. A single-founder corporation often skips the meeting and signs a unanimous written consent instead.
Step 7: File an Employer Identification Number
An EIN is a nine-digit federal tax ID that identifies your corporation to the IRS, separate from your own Social Security number. Apply for it once your Articles are approved.
You can apply through the IRS website for free. Eligibility for the IRS online EIN application depends on the IRS's current requirements, including the responsible party having a valid taxpayer identification number, such as an SSN or ITIN. Businesses that cannot use the online application may apply using Form SS-4, following IRS instructions.
If you choose our Standard or Premium package, we'll apply for your EIN on your behalf, and this is included as part of the package.
What Are the Post-Formation Requirements for a C Corp in New Hampshire?
Open a Business Bank Account
Once your formation steps are complete, opening a separate business bank account is strongly recommended. To open a business bank account, bring your file-stamped Articles of Incorporation, your adopted bylaws, and your EIN confirmation letter to the bank.
Keeping corporate and personal finances separate helps maintain clear business records and supports the corporation's separate legal identity. Mixing personal and corporate funds can create accounting problems and may become relevant in disputes involving the corporation's liability protection. See our guide to opening a business bank account for more.
Get Business Licenses and Permits
New Hampshire issues no statewide general business license. What you need depends on the work:
A Meals and Rooms Tax operator license if you sell prepared food or rent rooms,
A food service license for restaurants,
A trade license through the relevant board for contractors and similar fields,
A professional license for regulated work like healthcare or real estate,
Local permits from your city or town.
New Hampshire has no general sales tax, so there's no seller's permit to worry about. What applies to your New Hampshire C corp depends entirely on your industry and where you are physically operating. Check with your city or town and the relevant New Hampshire state licensing agency to determine which licenses apply to your business and where to submit the required applications.
You can save time by using a business license research service to find out what's actually required for your specific business and where and how you can apply for them.
Register for New Hampshire Business Profits Tax and Business Enterprise Tax
New Hampshire doesn't have a traditional corporate income tax, but there are two business taxes to know about, and both have filing thresholds, so not every business owes them.
The Business Profits Tax is 7.5% of taxable business profits, and generally applies once gross business income exceeds $103,000.
The Business Enterprise Tax is 0.55% of your enterprise value tax base (compensation, interest, and dividends paid), with a current filing threshold around $298,000 in gross receipts or enterprise value, rising to $400,000 starting in 2027.
Both are filed with the Department of Revenue Administration, separate from your federal return. Worth double-checking your specific numbers against the current thresholds since they adjust periodically.
File Your Annual Report Every Year
New Hampshire corporations file an annual report each year between January 1 and April 1 for a $100 fee, with a $50 late fee if you miss the deadline. This keeps your officers, directors, and registered agent current on the state's records.
How Much Does it Cost to Form a C Corp in New Hampshire?
Item
Cost
Articles of Incorporation (Form 11)
$100 ($102 online)
Name Reservation (optional, 120 days)
$15 by mail / $17 online
Trade Name (Form TN-1, 5-year term)
$50
State Trademark (per class, 10-year term)
$50 + $2 online fee
In-Person Expedite (optional)
$25
Certificate of Authority, Foreign Corporation (Form 40)
$100 ($102 online)
Change of Registered Agent (Form 10)
$15
Annual Report (every year)
$100
EIN (IRS)
$0
Need Help With Your C Corp Formation in New Hampshire?
Forming a C Corp in New Hampshire means filing Form 11 correctly, naming a registered agent, deciding your share structure, and staying on top of requirements like your annual report and your Business Profits Tax filing. Swyft Filings has helped 600,000+ businesses get formed correctly since 2015. Our team knows New Hampshire's Corporation Division requirements inside and out, so we file your paperwork correctly the first time.
*Disclaimer: This guide states general information about forming a C Corp in New Hampshire and is not a substitute for legal, tax, or financial advice.*
Check C Corp Formation Guides for Other States
C Corp rules, filing costs, and corporate tax structures vary by jurisdiction. Select any state below to view its specific C Corp laws.
Starting a New Hampshire C Corp means filing Articles of Incorporation, appointing a registered agent, and staying current with the annual report. Swyft Filings has been helping businesses form and stay compliant since 2015. Our team knows the New Hampshire Secretary of State requirements and can file your C Corp quickly, accurately, and in full compliance.
Every corporation is a C Corp by default until it elects S Corp status with the IRS by filing [Form 2553]. That election generally limits the corporation to 100 shareholders and one class of stock. Eligible shareholders generally include individuals, certain trusts and estates, and certain tax-exempt organizations, while nonresident alien shareholders generally are not permitted.
Online filings currently process in up to five business days, though this timeline shifts through the year. Mailed filings take longer, since you're adding transit time on both ends, but the state guarantees a file-stamped copy within 30 days of acceptance.
Yes. New Hampshire doesn't require directors, officers, or shareholders to live in the state. You do need a New Hampshire registered agent with a physical address there, which most out-of-state founders handle through a professional registered agent service.
Yes. New Hampshire allows a statutory conversion from an LLC to a corporation. This changes your entity type while keeping your existing contracts and business history intact, so you don't have to dissolve the LLC and start fresh. You'll file [Articles of Entity Conversion] along with your Articles of Incorporation with the Corporation Division, and your LLC's assets, debts, and obligations carry over to the new corporation automatically.
