A New Hampshire Secretary of State business search runs through NH QuickStart, the Corporation Division’s online system. Its Business Record Search shows existing corporations, LLCs, partnerships and trade names, so you can spot names that are already taken.
New Hampshire adds a twist: according to the Secretary of State’s business FAQs, name availability is decided by Corporation Division staff when they receive your registration, and isn’t available as an online service. A $15 reservation holds a name for 120 days, and a trade name (DBA) costs $50 for five years.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in New Hampshire (2026)
Comparing services for forming your LLC once your name is clear in New Hampshire? Start with this ranked shortlist; details for each pick follow the table.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | NH Registered Agent.org | New Hampshire registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | New Hampshire Registered Agent.co | New Hampshire registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in New Hampshire. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. NH Registered Agent.org
NH Registered Agent.org is a New Hampshire registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. New Hampshire Registered Agent.co
New Hampshire Registered Agent.co is a New Hampshire registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
New Hampshire business name search at a glance
| Item | New Hampshire details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division |
| Search tool | Business Record Search in NH QuickStart |
| LLC Certificate of Formation | $100 (Form LLC-1); paying online adds a $2 handling charge |
| Name reservation | $15 (+$2 online); 120 days |
| Trade name (DBA) | $50 with the Secretary of State; five years; $50 renewal |
| Annual report | $100 (+$2 online), due April 1; $50 late fee |
| Name decision | Made by Corporation Division staff when your filing is reviewed |
Fees come from NH QuickStart’s filing fee table, the trade name fee page and RSA 304-C. Mainstay Filing’s New Hampshire LLC cost guide shows the full cost of forming an LLC.
How to check business name availability in New Hampshire
1. Go to NH QuickStart
Open NH QuickStart and choose the Business Record Search. It lists every business registered with the Corporation Division, including trade names.
2. Search the core words
Enter the distinctive part of your proposed name without LLC or Inc. Try singular and plural forms, alternate spellings and any abbreviation a customer might use.
3. Review similar names
Look at the status of each close match. An active business or a current reservation with a nearly identical name is likely to block yours. Trade names show up here too, which helps you see who is already trading under a similar name in New Hampshire.
4. Understand who makes the call
The search shows existing records only. Corporation Division staff decide availability when they review your registration, using the Division’s Name Availability Guidelines. If they find a conflict, the filing comes back, so it’s worth having a second choice ready.
5. Reserve the name if you need time
If you’re not ready to form the company, a $15 reservation holds the name for 120 days. For brainstorming, Namechk’s business name generator turns a few keywords into dozens of options.
New Hampshire business name rules
- LLC designator: an LLC name must identify it as a limited liability company, for example with “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC.”
- Distinguishable: the name must differ from names already on the Corporation Division’s records, including reserved names. The Division’s Name Availability Guidelines explain how staff compare names.
- Who decides: staff review the name when the registration arrives; there’s no binding online availability check.
- Trade names: anyone doing business under a name other than their own legal name must register it (for example, “John Smith Enterprises” but not “John D. Smith”).
How to reserve a business name in New Hampshire
- Complete Form 1, Application for Reservation of Name, or file online in NH QuickStart.
- Pay the $15 filing fee; online payments add a $2 handling charge (QuickStart fees).
- The name is reserved for 120 days.
- A reservation can be transferred to someone else for another $15.
Because the Division only confirms availability when it reviews a filing, a reservation is also a way to get an early answer from staff before you file your Certificate of Formation.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
The Business Record Search doesn’t include federal trademarks. Search the USPTO trademark database to see whether another business owns rights to the name, especially if you’ll sell outside New Hampshire.
Then confirm the online side. Namechk checks domains and social media handles together, and the domain name generator offers alternatives when the .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
How to register a trade name (DBA) in New Hampshire
New Hampshire registers DBAs as trade names with the Secretary of State, not with towns or counties (RSA 349:5).
- Form and fee: Form TN-1, Trade Name Registration, $50 (trade name forms and fees). It can be filed online.
- Term: five years from filing (RSA 349:6).
- Renewal: $50. The Secretary of State sends notices at least six months and again 30 days before expiration; a registration not renewed within 30 days after it expires is discontinued and the name becomes free (RSA 349:8).
- Other changes: adding or withdrawing a partner, or discontinuing the name, costs $10; updating contact details is free.
Steps to register your New Hampshire business
With a name in hand, our New Hampshire LLC guide walks through formation.
- File a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) online through NH QuickStart or on paper. The fee is $100, plus a $2 handling charge if you pay online (LLC forms and fees).
- Appoint a registered agent: a New Hampshire resident or a business authorized in the state, with an in-state address (RSA 304-C:36). The LLC can’t serve as its own agent, though an owner can. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package (New Hampshire costs); our New Hampshire registered agent guide explains the rules.
- Get an EIN from the IRS (free).
- File the $100 annual report by April 1 each year; late filings add $50 (RSA 304-C:194). Depending on revenue, the LLC may also owe New Hampshire’s Business Profits Tax and Business Enterprise Tax. The New Hampshire start-a-business guide covers taxes and licenses.
FAQs
Can I check business name availability online in New Hampshire?
Not officially. You can search existing records with the Business Record Search in NH QuickStart, but the Secretary of State says name availability is determined by Corporation Division staff when they receive a business registration, and it isn’t an online service. The Division’s Name Availability Guidelines explain how staff compare names.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in New Hampshire?
A New Hampshire name reservation costs $15, plus a $2 handling charge if you pay online, and holds the name for 120 days. You can file Form 1 on paper or reserve online through NH QuickStart. Transferring a reserved name to someone else costs another $15.
How do I register a DBA in New Hampshire?
Register a trade name with the New Hampshire Secretary of State using Form TN-1, online or on paper. The fee is $50, and the registration lasts five years. Renewal costs $50, and the state sends reminders at least six months and 30 days before expiration. Unrenewed names are discontinued.
Who needs a trade name in New Hampshire?
Anyone doing business under a name other than their own legal name. The Secretary of State’s example: John D. Smith doing business as John D. Smith doesn’t register, but John Smith Enterprises must, because Enterprises isn’t part of his legal name. Registration lasts five years and costs $50.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) costs $100, plus a $2 electronic handling charge if you pay online. Each year after that, the LLC files a $100 annual report by April 1, with a $50 penalty if it’s late. A name reservation ($15) is optional.
What happens if New Hampshire rejects my business name?
Corporation Division staff return the filing if they decide the name isn’t available under the Division’s Name Availability Guidelines. You can then choose a different name and refile. To avoid that delay, search the Business Record Search for close variations first, keep a backup name ready, or file a $15 reservation to get the Division’s review before you form the business.
Does a New Hampshire business search show trademarks?
No. The Business Record Search lists entities and trade names registered with the Secretary of State. It doesn’t show federal trademarks, so search the USPTO database before you commit to a name, and check that the domain and social media handles you want are available.
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