Form Your New Hampshire C Corporation
Build the structure investors require in the Granite State — issue stock, maintain a cap table, and raise priced rounds with no state sales tax and no franchise tax
Filed in New Hampshire
The Granite State · NH
- State filing fee$100
- Processing time1-3 business days online ($102 with $2 e-fee); ~1-3 weeks mail
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$100/year — due By April 1st annually
- State tax rate7.5% BPT + 0.55% BET
- Expedited optionSame day (in-person) (+$25)
Form your New Hampshire C-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
- Encrypted storage
- 256-bit SSL
- All 50 states
- 30-day money-back
Everything to launch your New Hampshire C-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $100 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Articles of Incorporation filing
We prepare and submit your Articles of Incorporation to the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in New Hampshire — we act as your agent for the first year.
EIN from the IRS
Your federal Tax ID — required to open a US business bank account and file taxes.
Corporate bylaws
Professionally drafted corporate bylaws — defines ownership, voting, and profit splits.
Benefits of forming an C-Corp in New Hampshire
New Hampshire pairs a 'Live Free or Die' pro-business climate with no personal income tax on wages and no sales tax, while levying a 7.5% Business Profits Tax and 0.55% Business Enterprise Tax instead of a corporate franchise tax. For a C Corporation, its proximity to Boston's venture capital, talent, and markets makes it a low-cost Northeast base to issue stock, build a board, and raise priced rounds.
Issue stock and equity to investors, co-founders, and employees with a clean cap table
The structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require to write a check
Perpetual existence — the corporation survives changes in ownership and management
No state personal income tax on wages and no state sales tax in the Granite State
No corporate franchise tax in New Hampshire
Potential Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS / Section 1202) benefits may apply to early shareholders
Pro-business New England location with direct access to the Boston market and talent pool
Board-and-bylaws governance that scales cleanly through priced rounds and acquisition
Key features of a New Hampshire C-Corp
- Stock issuance and a cap table built for fundraising
- Board of directors and corporate bylaws governance
- Perpetual existence independent of ownership
- No state personal income tax on wages or sales tax
- No corporate franchise tax in New Hampshire
Major industries in New Hampshire
Form your New Hampshire C-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes 1-3 business days online ($102 with $2 e-fee); ~1-3 weeks mail.
- 01
Choose Your Corporate Name
Your name must include a corporate designator such as 'Corporation,' 'Incorporated,' 'Company,' 'Limited,' or an abbreviation like 'Inc.' or 'Corp.' Check availability through the New Hampshire Secretary of State's business name search before filing.
- 02
Appoint Directors and a Registered Agent
A New Hampshire C Corporation needs at least one director to oversee the board, plus a registered agent with a physical New Hampshire address to accept legal and state documents on the corporation's behalf.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation to the New Hampshire Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $100 ($102 online with the $2 e-fee). Specify your authorized shares — the total number of shares the corporation can issue.
- 04
Adopt Corporate Bylaws and Hold the Organizational Meeting
Bylaws are not filed with the state but are required to govern the corporation. Hold an organizational meeting to adopt bylaws, appoint officers, and authorize the initial issuance of stock to founders.
- 05
Issue Stock and File 83(b) Elections
Issue founder shares and record them on your cap table. Founders receiving restricted stock should file an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of the stock grant — the deadline is strict and cannot be extended.
- 06
Obtain an EIN and Register for State Taxes
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS for banking, payroll, and tax filing, then register with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration for the Business Profits Tax and Business Enterprise Tax.
New Hampshire C-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
New Hampshire C-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a New Hampshire C-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the New Hampshire Secretary of State ($100)
- Appoint at least one director and a registered agent with a physical New Hampshire address
- Adopt corporate bylaws and hold an organizational meeting
- Issue stock to founders and maintain a cap table
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- File a New Hampshire annual report by April 1st each year ($100)
- Register for the Business Profits Tax (BPT) and Business Enterprise Tax (BET)
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- New Hampshire Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $15 (120 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $100 New Hampshire state filing fee and nothing more for the Starter plan. Optional plans add registered agent, EIN, corporate bylaws, and compliance.
Starter
- Articles of Incorporation filing
- Name availability check
- Digital document delivery
- Formation status tracking
Booster
- Everything in Starter
- Registered agent (required in New Hampshire)
- EIN / Federal Tax ID
- Expedited processing (1–2 days)
- Corporate bylaws
- Priority support
- Kicker Voice — 3-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 15 days
Founder
- Everything in Booster
- Business mailing address
- Bookkeeping — 3 months free
- Dedicated account manager
- Rush processing
- Kicker Voice — 6-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 30 days
Kicker
- Everything in Founder
- ITIN filing & preparation
- Same-day priority processing
- 2nd year annual filing $0
- Kicker Voice 12-day + Kicker Pay 60 days free
Compare all plans on our pricing page.
New Hampshire C-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an C-Corp in New Hampshire. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to form a C Corporation in New Hampshire?
The state filing fee for the Articles of Incorporation is $100 ($102 online including the $2 e-fee). After that, New Hampshire corporations file an annual report each year for $100.
How long does it take to incorporate in New Hampshire?
Online filings through the New Hampshire Secretary of State are typically processed in 1-3 business days, while mailed filings take roughly 1-3 weeks. The filing agency is the New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division.
Why choose a C Corporation instead of an LLC?
A C Corporation is the structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require. It lets you issue stock and equity, maintain a cap table, raise priced rounds and SAFEs, and operate with a board of directors and corporate bylaws — all of which an LLC cannot offer cleanly.
How is a New Hampshire C Corporation taxed?
At the federal level, C Corporations pay a flat 21% corporate income tax, and dividends are taxed again at the shareholder level — the 'double taxation' of the C Corp. In New Hampshire there is no corporate franchise tax and no sales tax, but the corporation pays a 7.5% Business Profits Tax and a 0.55% Business Enterprise Tax.
When is the New Hampshire annual report due?
The annual report is due by April 1st each year and the fee is $100. It is filed with the New Hampshire Secretary of State to keep your corporation in good standing.
What is an 83(b) election and do I need one?
If founders receive restricted stock that vests over time, an 83(b) election lets them be taxed on the value at grant rather than at vesting. It must be filed with the IRS within 30 days of the stock grant — the deadline is strict and missing it can create a significant tax bill later.
Can my C Corporation qualify for QSBS / Section 1202 benefits?
Potentially. Stock in a qualifying C Corporation may be eligible for Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) treatment under Section 1202, which can reduce or eliminate federal capital gains tax on a later sale. QSBS rules changed in 2025, so confirm current eligibility and holding-period requirements with a tax advisor.
Does my New Hampshire corporation have to file a BOI report with FinCEN?
Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, U.S. domestic entities and U.S. persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting. Only entities formed outside the U.S. and registered to do business in a U.S. state are still required to file.
New Hampshire government filing resources
Filing fees for common C-Corp services
Official New Hampshire state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Reserves the name for 120 days.
$5.00 certification charge PLUS $1.00 per page.
$10.00 per document (cash or check payable to State of New Hampshire).
New Hampshire has no general sales and use tax, so there is no seller's permit or resale certificate to obtain.
Learn moreStandard reinstatement fee is $135 (RSA 293-A:1.22(a)(12), Application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution).
Learn moreEverything you need to run your New Hampshire C-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
Form your company in any state
Pick a state to see its filing fee and processing time — then start in minutes.
Ready to form your New Hampshire C-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $100 New Hampshire state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in 1-3 business days online ($102 with $2 e-fee); ~1-3 weeks mail.
No hidden fees · 100% accuracy guarantee · 30-day money back · All 50 states