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New Hampshire · 14 statewide requirements covered

Business licences and permits in New Hampshire

New Hampshire has neither a sales tax nor a general business licence, and a new business need not register with the revenue department at all unless it crosses a real income threshold.

What applies everywhere in New Hampshire

14 requirements are set by New Hampshire itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.

Requirements set by New Hampshire that apply in every jurisdiction in the state, with the issuing agency, the published fee and the date each was last checked against its source
Annual ReportNew Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division$100 a year; a late fee of $50 is added after 1 AprilOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Articles of IncorporationNew Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division$100 one-time filing; a $2 handling charge applies to any electronic filingOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Barbering, Cosmetology or Esthetics Shop LicenceNew Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification$110 to apply or renew, plus a $100 inspection feeTo every business2026-09-04
Business Profits Tax and Business Enterprise TaxNew Hampshire Department of Revenue AdministrationNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Certificate of Formation (LLC)New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division$100 one-time filing; a $2 handling charge applies to any electronic filingOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Certified Food Protection ManagerNew Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Food Protection SectionNo feeTo every business2026-09-04
Child Care Programme LicenceNew Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing UnitFee not found — the current 85-page rule imposes fines for violations but states no dollar figure for the licence itselfTo every business2026-09-04
Electrician LicenceNew Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification$270 to renew a master electrician's licence; a journeyman's renewal is $150, and either application is $50Only in some cases2026-09-04
Food Service Establishment LicenceNew Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Food Protection Section$100–$875 a year, banded by seating and categoryTo every business2026-09-04
General Business Licence and Sales Tax (not required by New Hampshire)New Hampshire Department of Revenue AdministrationNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Plumbing LicenceNew Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification$310 to apply for a master plumber's licence; renewal is $300, and a journeyman is $190 to apply or $180 to renewOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Repairer RegistrationNew Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles$48 for the first plate; each additional plate is $18 — a further $250 applies only if the shop also sells vehiclesOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Vehicle Inspection Station LicenceNew Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles$25 a yearOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Veterinary Facility Permit (not required by New Hampshire)New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and CertificationNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04

Which New Hampshire city are you opening in?

We do not yet publish a New Hampshire city. The statewide requirements above are verified as far as they go, but a city or county adds its own — a local business tax receipt, a food permit, a building sign-off — and we will not guess at those. The jurisdictions we do cover are listed in full.

Is there a single New Hampshire business licence?

No. New Hampshire has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.

The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.

Who issues permits in New Hampshire?

By industry

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.