Registered agent for a New Hampshire LLC
Data last updated: Apr 22, 2026The quick read on New Hampshire registered agents
Every New Hampshire LLC is legally required to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. The role is to receive service of process (lawsuit papers), state tax notices, and other official government mail on the LLC's behalf. You can serve as your own agent if you live in New Hampshire and meet the requirements, or hire a commercial service for typically $99 to $299 per year.
New Hampshire-specific rules matter. The statute is RSA 304-C:33. The registered agent's address goes on the public state record, so most owners who want privacy use a paid service to keep their home address off the record. Owners who live in the state and don't mind the public listing often save $100 to $250 per year by serving as their own agent.
Who can serve as a registered agent in New Hampshire
New Hampshire allows an individual New Hampshire resident (at least 18) or a domestic or foreign business entity authorized to transact business in the state to serve as registered agent under RSA 304-C:33. The registered office must be a physical New Hampshire street address identical to the agent's office, and business-hours availability is required.
New Hampshire does not operate a separate commercial registered agent registry, so any qualifying individual or entity can serve without a dedicated commercial-agent filing. National services (Northwest, CT Corporation, Bizee) serve New Hampshire LLCs through their standard foreign entity registrations. The LLC's own member or manager can serve as RA if they meet the residency or entity-authorization rule, which is the default for Manchester- and Nashua-based single-member LLCs.
What New Hampshire requires of a registered agent
- Physical street address in New Hampshire
Not a PO box, not a mail-drop. The address becomes part of the public record visible on the Secretary of State's business entity search.
- Available during business hours
Typically 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The agent has to be physically present (or have staff present) to accept service, not just reachable by phone or email.
- At least 18 years old and a resident or registered entity
Individual agents must be 18+ and reside in New Hampshire. Entity agents must be registered to transact business in New Hampshire.
- Written consent on file
New Hampshire requires the registered agent to consent in writing to serve. Formation services handle this automatically when you sign up. For an individual agent, a simple signed consent letter suffices.
New Hampshire statute and change-of-agent rules
| Statute | RSA 304-C:33 |
| Change of registered agent form | Statement of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent (Form SRA) |
| Change filing fee | $15 |
| Online filing | Accepted |
| Processing time | 10 business days |
| Commercial agents must register separately | No |
Choosing the right registered agent in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a cheap state to operate in on the tax side (no income tax on wages, no sales tax), but the Business Profits Tax (7.5%) and Business Enterprise Tax (0.55%) apply to LLCs above the filing thresholds. That makes the RA decision more about convenience than cost. For New Hampshire residents operating from a stable address, self-serving saves $100 to $250 per year and is legitimate as long as you're available during business hours.
For paid services, Northwest at $125 per year is the default pick and handles the $15 change-of-agent filing for free when you switch. Bizee at $119 is slightly cheaper. ZenBusiness at $99 is the cheapest national option. New Hampshire-area law firms occasionally offer RA service in the $75 to $150 range when bundled with general business-services work. The New Hampshire formation page covers the full NH QuickStart walkthrough and the BPT/BET tax context.
Registered agent services that operate in New Hampshire
National commercial registered agent services operate in all 50 states plus DC, so every provider below accepts New Hampshire LLCs. Sorted by annual renewal cost. Click the service name for the full review.
| Service | Annual renewal | Trustpilot | Review count |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $99/yr | 4.8 | 28,984 |
| Bizee fka Incfile | $119/yr | 4.7 | 25,227 |
| MyCorporation | $120/yr | 3.7 | 279 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125/yr | 3.8 | 217 |
| CorpNet | $149/yr | 4.9 | 1,205 |
| doola | $197/yr | 4.6 | 2,005 |
| Tailor Brands | $199/yr | 4.7 | 14,203 |
| BizFilings | $220/yr | 4.5 | 170 |
| Inc Authority | $249/yr | 4.9 | 46,831 |
| LegalZoom | $249/yr | 4.6 | 30,014 |
| Rocket Lawyer | $250/yr | 4.5 | 9,717 |
| Firstbase | $299/yr | 4.8 | 1,045 |
If you let your New Hampshire registered agent lapse
Under RSA 304-C:183, the Secretary of State can administratively dissolve an LLC that fails to maintain a registered agent for 60 consecutive days, misses the April 1 annual report ($100 by mail / $102 online), or fails to pay the $50 per-year late fee. The Corporation Division sends a cure notice before formal dissolution. Reinstatement under RSA 304-C:184 costs $135 plus all delinquent annual reports ($100 each) and $50 per-year late fees. A two-year New Hampshire lapse runs around $435 to unwind. NH QuickStart processing on reinstatements typically takes 10 to 15 business days, consistent with the division's overall paper-heavy cadence.
New Hampshire filing agency
New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division
- Website
- www.sos.nh.gov/corporations-0
- Phone
- (603) 271-3246
- corporate@sos.nh.gov
- Corporation Division, 107 North Main Street, Room 204, Concord, NH 03301-4989
- Office
- State House, 107 North Main Street, Room 204, Concord, NH 03301
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern, Monday to Friday
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can be a registered agent for a New Hampshire LLC?
An individual New Hampshire resident at least 18 with a physical NH street address, or a domestic or foreign business entity authorized to transact business in the state. PO boxes don't qualify as the registered office. The LLC's own member or manager can serve if they meet the residency or entity-authorization rule.
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How much does a New Hampshire registered agent service cost?
National services run $99 to $249 per year, with ZenBusiness at $99, Bizee at $119, and Northwest at $125 as the common mid-tier options. Manchester and Portsmouth law firms sometimes offer RA service at $75 to $150 per year when bundled with broader business-services work.
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Can I be my own registered agent in New Hampshire?
Yes, if you reside in NH, have a NH street address, and are available during business hours. Your name and address appear on the public NH QuickStart entity record and are searchable by anyone. Self-serving is viable for NH residents who operate from a stable address and don't mind the exposure.
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What does it cost to change my New Hampshire registered agent?
$15 by mail or $17 online (with the $2 e-processing surcharge) for the Statement of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent. Online processing through NH QuickStart currently runs 10 to 15 business days. Walk-in expedite at an additional $25 gets next-business-day processing at the Concord office.
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What happens if my New Hampshire LLC's registered agent resigns?
You have 60 days to designate a replacement after the Secretary of State's cure notice under RSA 304-C:183. Miss the window and the LLC can be administratively dissolved. Reinstatement costs $135 plus all missed $100 annual reports and $50 per-year late fees. A two-year lapse runs around $435 to unwind.
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Is New Hampshire's RA filing really slow?
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Does New Hampshire require the registered agent to be a state resident?
The individual RA must reside in New Hampshire. An entity RA must be authorized to transact business in New Hampshire, which includes foreign LLCs and corporations with NH qualification. National RA services all satisfy this through their standard NH foreign entity registrations.
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Do I need a registered agent for a New Hampshire LLC?
Yes. New Hampshire law requires every LLC to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in New Hampshire and availability during business hours. There is no exception for inactive or small LLCs. If the LLC loses its registered agent and doesn't designate a replacement within the state's grace period, New Hampshire begins administrative dissolution of the entity.
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How much does a registered agent service cost in New Hampshire?
National services range from $99 per year (ZenBusiness) to $299 per year (Firstbase). The $190 average is close to the market median. New Hampshire-based local registered agent services also operate in the state, typically pricing between $50 and $150 per year.
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How do I change my registered agent in New Hampshire?
File Statement of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent (Form SRA) with New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division. The fee is $15. Online filing is accepted. Processing takes about 10 business days. Most formation services handle this paperwork for free when you sign up.
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Is the registered agent fee tax deductible?
Yes. Registered agent fees are an ordinary and necessary business expense deductible on the LLC's federal tax return (Schedule C, Form 1065, or 1120/1120-S depending on tax treatment). New Hampshire state tax treatment follows federal on this deduction. Keep the invoices with your tax records.
Related
Sources
- Statute: www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXVIII/304-C/304-C-33.htm · verified April 22, 2026
RSA 304-C:33 (Registered office and registered agent) under the New Hampshire Revised Limited Liability Company Act requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered office and registered agent in the state. - Change of agent: sos.nh.gov/corporation-ucc-securities/corporation/forms-and-fees · verified April 22, 2026
New Hampshire Secretary of State Corporation Division forms and fees page: Statement of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent filing fee is $15 by mail or $17 online (includes $2 e-processing surcharge). Online filing via NH QuickStart typically processes in 10 to 15 business days; in-person walk-in filings can expedite for an additional $25. - Penalty: www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXVIII/304-C/304-C-183.htm · verified April 22, 2026
RSA 304-C:183 governs grounds for administrative dissolution of New Hampshire LLCs. Section 304-C:184 governs reinstatement; fee is $135 plus all delinquent annual reports and $50 per-year late fees. Administrative dissolution is preceded by a 60-day cure notice.