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<v Dan>The 5 best registered agents in New Hampshire in 2026 are Mainstay Filing,

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<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent, NH Registered Agent.org, Bizee,

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<v Dan>and New Hampshire Registered Agent.co.

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<v Maya>Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>New Hampshire. What should a listener know first?

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<v Dan>A change of agent is $15 on Form 10.

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<v Dan>But the annual report is $100, and the state can dissolve an LLC that goes 60 days

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<v Dan>without an agent.

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<v Maya>What does the law require?

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<v Dan>RSA 304-C:36 says every LLC must have and maintain a registered

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<v Dan>office and a registered agent in the state.

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<v Dan>The office can be the same as one of your places of business.

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<v Maya>Who can be the agent?

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<v Dan>An individual who lives in New Hampshire and whose home or business office is the

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<v Dan>registered office. Or a corporation, an LLC or a limited liability partnership

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<v Dan>that's authorized in the state.

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<v Maya>Can I be my own agent?

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<v Dan>Yes. The Secretary of State says owners, managers or employees can be listed, as

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<v Dan>long as they can be located at the address.

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<v Maya>And the address?

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<v Dan>A physical business address in New Hampshire.

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<v Dan>It cannot be a post office box, and the agent should be available there during

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<v Dan>regular business hours.

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<v Maya>Is there a list of services?

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<v Dan>The Secretary of State keeps a list of companies willing to serve as agent.

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<v Maya>I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

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<v Dan>Thanks, Maya. Now the five.

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<v Maya>Number one?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and it renews at the same $149.

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<v Maya>What do I get?

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<v Dan>Its New Hampshire address on the public record instead of yours.

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<v Dan>Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day with no fee, and your

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<v Dan>first three government mailings a year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>And if I already have an agent?

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<v Dan>Mainstay files the change for you.

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<v Dan>The $15 state fee passes through at cost.

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<v Maya>The honest catch?

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<v Dan>If the lowest flat price is what you want, two agents here charge $99.

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<v Maya>Second?

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<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year.

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<v Dan>Its page says the price hasn't changed in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of regular

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<v Dan>mail a year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>The catch?

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<v Dan>Signup auto-enrolls you in its annual report filing service.

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<v Dan>It's $100 plus state fees per filing, until you cancel it.

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<v Maya>And the state's report?

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<v Dan>Is $100 on its own, so add that up before you decide whether the service is worth

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<v Dan>keeping.

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<v Maya>Third?

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<v Dan>NH Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>The registered office address, service of process handling, and compliance alerts.

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<v Maya>Switching?

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<v Dan>Just the $15 state fee.

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<v Maya>Any catch?

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<v Dan>Annual report filing is a separate service.

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<v Maya>Against Mainstay?

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<v Dan>$50 less a year, $150 across three.

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<v Maya>Four?

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<v Dan>Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with any formation package, then $149 a

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<v Dan>year.

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<v Maya>Fine print?

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<v Dan>The free year needs a formation order, and the renewal is automatic.

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<v Maya>If my company already exists?

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<v Dan>Then you start at $149. Two years is $298.

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<v Maya>And five?

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<v Dan>New Hampshire Registered Agent.co, a flat $99.

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<v Dan>The address used on filings, same-day legal mail scanning, and compliance reminders.

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<v Maya>Different from number three?

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<v Dan>On the listings, no. Same price, same catch: annual report filing is a separate

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<v Dan>service.

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<v Maya>Where does the agent go when I form the LLC?

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<v Dan>In Form LLC-1, the Certificate of Formation, under Article Third.

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<v Dan>It asks for a street or physical address.

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<v Maya>What does the filing cost?

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<v Dan>$100, or $102 online.

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<v Maya>Why the extra two dollars?

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<v Dan>Electronic filings carry a $2 handling charge.

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<v Dan>It applies to the state's online fees.

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<v Maya>Is a P.O. box okay for the agent's address?

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<v Dan>Form 10 says if a post office box is given, the physical location must also be

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<v Dan>given.

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<v Maya>How do I change it later?

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<v Dan>Form 10, the Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent, or Both.

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<v Dan>The fee is $15 under RSA 304-C:191.

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<v Maya>Online?

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<v Dan>Yes, on the state's QuickStart system.

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<v Dan>Online comes to $17 with the handling charge.

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<v Maya>Does the new agent have to sign?

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<v Dan>We found no consent requirement.

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<v Dan>The form is signed by an officer, a manager, a member or another authorized person,

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<v Dan>and has no line for the agent.

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<v Maya>What does the form promise?

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<v Dan>It recites that after the change, the street address of the registered office and

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<v Dan>the business office of the agent will be identical.

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<v Maya>Where do I mail it?

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<v Dan>The Corporation Division in Concord.

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<v Dan>But most people file online.

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<v Maya>What if my agent quits?

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<v Dan>The agent files a written notice of resignation with the Secretary of State.

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<v Dan>The Secretary of State mails a copy to the LLC at its principal office.

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<v Maya>When does it take effect?

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<v Dan>The appointment ends 31 days after filing, or when a successor is appointed,

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<v Dan>whichever comes first.

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<v Maya>Is there a fee?

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<v Dan>We found no specific resignation fee in the statute.

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<v Maya>So I have a month.

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<v Dan>At most. Name the replacement quickly, because the 60 day rule is next.

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<v Maya>What if papers need to reach a company with no agent?

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<v Dan>RSA 304-C:37 lets service go by registered or certified mail,

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<v Dan>return receipt requested, to the LLC's principal office.

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<v Maya>When does that count?

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<v Dan>At the earliest of receipt, the return receipt date, or five days after it's mailed.

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<v Maya>And the state?

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<v Dan>It can administratively dissolve an LLC that is without a registered agent or office

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<v Dan>for 60 days or more. The same goes if you don't tell the state within 60 days that

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<v Dan>your agent changed or resigned.

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<v Maya>Two ways to trip it.

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<v Dan>Right. That second one catches people who switch agents and forget to file.

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<v Maya>What does New Hampshire want each year?

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<v Dan>An annual report, filed from January 1 to April 1.

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<v Dan>It lists your registered agent and office.

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<v Maya>What does it cost?

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<v Dan>$100, or $102 online. If you're late, there's a $50 late

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<v Dan>fee.

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<v Maya>So it's the biggest yearly cost after the agent.

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<v Dan>It is. With Mainstay, that's $149 for the agent, plus the state's $100

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<v Dan>report.

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<v Maya>And with a $99 agent?

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<v Dan>$99 plus the $100, since the report is separate with both of them.

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<v Maya>Can I be my own agent in New Hampshire?

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<v Dan>Yes, if you live there and your home or business office is the registered office.

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<v Dan>Managers and employees can serve too.

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<v Maya>What's the tradeoff?

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<v Dan>The address is public, and you're expected to be there during business hours.

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<v Maya>Can I use a home address?

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<v Dan>The statute says a residential or business office, so a home works for an

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<v Dan>individual. It just can't be a P.O.

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<v Dan>box.

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<v Maya>How would a Manchester or Nashua owner decide?

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<v Dan>Three questions. Does the price hold, is the office a real New Hampshire street

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<v Dan>address, and who files Form 10 when you switch.

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<v Maya>And your answer?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing. Our pick for New Hampshire, at $149 a year.

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<v Maya>All five, once more?

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<v Dan>One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to

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<v Dan>cancel. Three, NH Registered Agent.org: $99 flat.

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<v Dan>Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then

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<v Dan>$149. Five, New Hampshire Registered Agent.co:

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<v Dan>$99 flat.

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<v Maya>The links are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.