Starting a service business in New Hampshire comes down to four things: picking a structure, registering with the state, getting licensed for your trade, and setting up a way to bill customers. Filing an LLC in NH costs $100, ongoing reporting is $100/yr, sales tax is No sales tax, and personal income tax runs No personal income tax (interest/dividends phased out). Below is the full sequence, the fees you should budget for, the licenses most trades need, and the deadlines that catch new New Hampshire owners off guard.
Most new registrations come out of Manchester — local business licenses are issued at the city or county level, so check yours after the state filing clears.
| Item | NH cost |
|---|---|
| LLC / entity filing (one-time) | $100 |
| Annual / periodic report | $100/yr |
| Federal EIN (IRS) | Free |
| Sales tax registration | Usually n/a |
| Trade / professional license | Varies by trade |
| Local business license | Set by city / county |
Fees change — confirm current amounts with the NH Secretary of State and the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration.
Choose your structure and file with the NH Secretary of State ($100). Get your free EIN from the IRS the same day.
Open a business bank account and confirm which local taxes apply where you work.
Apply for your trade license and local business license. This is usually the longest step: Business Profits Tax registration; Professional license.
Get general liability insurance (and workers' comp before your first hire), then set up estimates and invoicing so you can bill the day you're cleared to work.
LLC Filing Fee
$100
Annual Report
$100/yr
Sales Tax
No sales tax
Income Tax
No personal income tax (interest/dividends phased out)
Choose business structure
File with NH Secretary of State
Get EIN
Register for BPT/BET
Get local permits
Open business bank account
No sales tax and no personal income tax
Businesses pay Business Profits Tax (7.5%) and Business Enterprise Tax (0.5%)
Yes — BPT (7.5%) and BET (0.5%) apply to business income.
Online LLC filings with the NH Secretary of State are typically processed in a few business days, and an EIN from the IRS is issued immediately online. Trade licensing and local permits usually take longest — plan on two to six weeks before you're fully cleared to work, depending on your trade.
No — you can operate as a sole proprietor in New Hampshire and still invoice customers legally. An LLC ($100 to file, $100/yr) separates your personal assets from business liability, which matters most once you're on customer property, hiring help, or signing contracts.
New Hampshire's sales tax situation is: No sales tax. Even so, some local jurisdictions levy their own tax, and other taxes may apply to your gross receipts — confirm your obligations with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration before your first invoice.
Open a business bank account under the registered name, then invoice from a tool that applies NH tax per line item and accepts cards. Glo Invoice sends invoices by text with a one-tap pay link, and Tap to Pay lets you charge on site before you leave the job.