The official search
The registry is run by the New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division.
- Search page: https://quickstart.sos.nh.gov (choose the Business Inquiry / Business Record Search)
- Cost: Free
- Login: None required to search (an account is needed to file)
The database covers corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other entities registered with the Corporation Division — and it also covers trade names registered under RSA 349. That matters, because New Hampshire registers trade names at the state level and counts them in the name comparison, unlike states where a DBA lives only at the county clerk's office.
There is no search mode that returns a yes/no availability verdict. QuickStart shows you the names on file; Corporation Division staff make the final distinguishability decision when your Certificate of Formation or name reservation is reviewed. A record generally shows the business name, Business ID, business type, status (such as In Good Standing or Admin. Dissolved), home jurisdiction, principal office address, registered agent, previous names, and filing history.
Step by step
- Open NH QuickStart and choose the Business Inquiry (Business Record Search).
- Search by Business Name without "LLC." Start with the Contains match mode, which finds your distinctive words anywhere in a registered name.
- Run Starts With and Exact Match on the full name to see the closest holders in order.
- Search sound-alikes and spelling variants. New Hampshire treats phonetic spellings as the same name, so check "Fare" if you want "Fair," and check abbreviations both ways — "NH" and "New Hampshire" are treated as the same word.
- Check plurals, articles, and numbers. A plural, a leading "The," or an added number does not create a different name here, so treat any hit that differs only in those ways as a conflict.
- If nothing distinguishable-blocking appears, the name is probably available — but only the Corporation Division's review of your filing is definitive.
New Hampshire's name rules
The rules are in RSA 304-C:32 of the New Hampshire Revised Limited Liability Company Act.
Designator. The name must contain the words "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC" (or a similar abbreviation). It may contain the name of a member or manager.
Distinguishable — and not confusing. The name must be distinguishable from, and not the same as, or likely to be confused with or mistaken for: entities formed or registered under New Hampshire's corporation, LLC, partnership, and related statutes — including trade names registered under RSA 349; names already reserved; fictitious names of foreign entities; names of government agencies; and names of recognized political parties (without consent). The name "farmers' market" is separately protected: you may use it only if the entity actually meets the statutory definition.
Differences that do not count. RSA 304-C:32 spells out that a name is not distinguishable if the only difference is:
- An article ("a," "an," "the")
- A plural form of the same word
- A phonetic spelling of the same name or word
- An abbreviation instead of the full spelling
- A prefix or suffix added to a word, or another derivative of the same word
- A change in wording that indicates entity status
- An added numeric designation — unless the current name holder consents
- Punctuation or special characters (unless the change alters the clear meaning)
- Spacing between letters or numbers
- Writing the same number a different way — "5," "V," and "Five" are the same
Consent route. With the existing holder's written consent, the Secretary of State can authorize a name that would otherwise conflict; for a name that is identical, words must be added to make the new name distinguishable.
Reserving a name. Under RSA 304-C:27, you can reserve an available name for 120 days. The reservation fee is currently listed at $15 — confirm the amount on the Secretary of State's forms and fees list before filing. A reservation is optional and does not create the LLC.
What the search can't tell you
- A final verdict. QuickStart shows the record; it does not rule on distinguishability. Staff decide when you file.
- Names dissolved long ago vs. recently. Recently dissolved entities can still matter to a name review, so a dissolved hit is not automatically a free name — ask the Corporation Division if a close one matters to you.
- Trademarks and domains. The search says nothing about federal trademark rights or .com availability.
- Out-of-state use. A clear New Hampshire name can still be taken in every other state where you plan to operate.
If the name looks available
File a Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) with the Corporation Division — New Hampshire LLCs are not formed with Articles of Organization. File online through NH QuickStart or by mail.
- Cost: $100 — $102 when filed online, because electronic filings add a $2 handling charge.
Ongoing: the annual report.
- Fee: $100 per year ($102 online).
- Due date: April 1, in a single statewide window that opens January 1. Every New Hampshire LLC files in the same window; there is no anniversary deadline. The report states the facts as of January 1.
- First report: due in the calendar year after formation — and if you form between December 1 and April 1, you skip that first window entirely.
- Late penalty: $50 after April 1. Continued non-filing can lead to administrative dissolution.
FAQ
Is the New Hampshire LLC name search free? Yes. The Business Inquiry on NH QuickStart is free, and searching needs no account.
Can I make a taken name available by adding a number? No. Under RSA 304-C:32, an added numeric designation does not make a name distinguishable unless the current name holder consents.
Do New Hampshire trade names block an LLC name? Yes. Trade names registered under RSA 349 are on the Secretary of State's records and are part of the distinguishability comparison.
How much does it cost to form a New Hampshire LLC? The Certificate of Formation (Form LLC-1) fee is $100, or $102 filed online through QuickStart.
When is the New Hampshire LLC annual report due? April 1 every year, in the January 1 – April 1 filing window. The fee is $100, and filing late adds a $50 penalty.
Sources
- New Hampshire Secretary of State — NH QuickStart: https://quickstart.sos.nh.gov
- RSA 304-C:32 — Name Set Forth in Certificate of Formation (New Hampshire General Court): https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXVIII/304-C/304-C-mrg.htm
- RSA 304-C:27 (name reservation) and RSA 304-C:194 (annual report) — New Hampshire Revised Statutes, Chapter 304-C: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXVIII/304-C/304-C-mrg.htm