In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in New Hampshire
New Hampshire issues a Certificate of Good Standing through the Department of State’s Corporation Division. Log in to QuickStart, the Secretary of State’s online filing system, choose Order Certificate of Good Standing, select your LLC or corporation and pay $2.00: a $0.00 filing fee plus a $2.00 handling charge. The state does not publish a processing time. Only entities current on their Annual Report qualify.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing
- Issued by: New Hampshire Secretary of State (Department of State), Corporation Division
- Fee: $2.00 total ($0.00 filing fee plus $2.00 handling charge) for LLCs and corporations
- How to order: Online through QuickStart, Order Certificate of Good Standing
- Turnaround: Not published by the state
- Free status check: Search your entity free in QuickStart
- What keeps you in good standing: File the Annual Report by April 1 each year and keep a registered agent
New Hampshire keeps its good standing certificate simple: one document, one online system, one small fee. The work is in staying eligible, because the Corporation Division marks an entity Not in Good Standing the day after a missed April 1 Annual Report deadline. This page covers the QuickStart order steps, the fee, and the Annual Report rules. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a New Hampshire Certificate of Good Standing Is
A New Hampshire Certificate of Good Standing is an official document from the Department of State, Corporation Division, confirming that your LLC or corporation is registered in New Hampshire and current on its Annual Report. An entity that missed the April 1 deadline shows as Not in Good Standing and cannot get the certificate until it files.
The certificate answers one question for a third party: is this business active with the state right now? The parties who ask include:
- Banks opening an account or renewing a credit line
- Other states, when you register your New Hampshire LLC as a foreign entity there
- Lenders and investors in due diligence
- Payment processors verifying a merchant
- Buyers in the sale of the business
- State and municipal licensing agencies
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in New Hampshire
New Hampshire sells the certificate online through QuickStart, the Secretary of State’s filing system. You need a QuickStart account to place the order.
- Go to the QuickStart Order Certificate of Good Standing login.
- Log in, or create a QuickStart account if you do not have one.
- Search for your LLC or corporation by name and select it.
- Confirm the entity’s status. Only entities in good standing qualify.
- Pay the $2.00 total.
- Save the certificate once QuickStart issues it.
The Secretary of State lists no mail or walk-in route for this certificate on the QuickStart fee page. For order questions, call the Corporation Division at 603-271-3246 or read the Secretary of State’s business FAQs.
New Hampshire Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| QuickStart online order, LLC | $2.00 ($0.00 filing fee plus $2.00 handling) | Not published by the state |
| QuickStart online order, profit corporation | $2.00 ($0.00 filing fee plus $2.00 handling) | Not published by the state |
The QuickStart fee table applies the same $2.00 total to every entity type, including domestic LLCs and profit corporations. The cost that matters is the Annual Report, covered below.
How to Check New Hampshire Good Standing Status for Free
You can see an entity’s status without placing an order. Open QuickStart, use the business search, and open the entity record. The status reads Good Standing, Not in Good Standing, or Administratively Dissolved. If it reads anything other than Good Standing, file the missing Annual Report before you order the certificate. Our New Hampshire business entity search guide walks through each search field.
How a New Hampshire LLC Stays in Good Standing
New Hampshire has one recurring filing for LLCs and profit corporations: the Annual Report.
- Due date: April 1 of each year, starting the year after the entity registered.
- Fee: $100 plus a $2 handling charge, $102 total through QuickStart.
- Late fee: $50 for any report filed after April 1. The Secretary of State does not waive it.
- Status change: a domestic entity that misses April 1 moves to Not in Good Standing.
- Dissolution: a domestic entity that does not file for two consecutive years is administratively dissolved.
- Registered agent: every New Hampshire entity must keep a registered agent on record with the Secretary of State.
Put April 1 on your calendar every year. A report filed on April 2 costs $152 instead of $102. To compare due dates and fees across states, see our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your New Hampshire Business Is Not in Good Standing
The fix depends on how far the entity has fallen behind.
- Check the entity’s status in QuickStart.
- If the status is Not in Good Standing, file the missing Annual Report in QuickStart with the $100 fee, the $2 handling charge and the $50 late fee.
- If the status is Administratively Dissolved or Suspended, contact the Corporation Division at 603-271-3246. The Secretary of State’s business FAQs direct dissolved and suspended entities to the Division for the steps that apply to them.
- After the record shows Good Standing, order a new certificate through QuickStart.
For the general reinstatement process across states, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
New Hampshire Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Corporation Division certificate covers registration status only. It says nothing about taxes. New Hampshire’s Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) issues its own documents, listed on its page for Certificate Statements of Withdrawal, Dissolution, and Good Standing. A lender or buyer who wants proof that your business taxes are current asks for the DRA statement. A bank or another state asks for the Secretary of State certificate. Request the DRA statement directly from the DRA through that page.
Using a New Hampshire Certificate in Another State
When a New Hampshire LLC registers to do business in another state, that state’s filing office asks for a current Certificate of Good Standing from New Hampshire with the foreign registration. At $2.00 through QuickStart, order a fresh one for each filing so it reflects your current status. For how the certificate relates to the authority the other state grants, see certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
New Hampshire Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much does a New Hampshire Certificate of Good Standing cost?
The QuickStart fee table lists $2.00 total: a $0.00 filing fee plus a $2.00 handling charge. The same fee applies to LLCs and profit corporations.
How do I order a New Hampshire Certificate of Good Standing?
Log in to QuickStart, the Secretary of State’s online filing system, and choose Order Certificate of Good Standing. Select your entity, pay $2.00 and save the certificate once it issues.
When is the New Hampshire Annual Report due?
The Annual Report is due April 1 of each year following the year of registration. The fee is $100 plus a $2 handling charge through QuickStart.
What happens if I file the New Hampshire Annual Report late?
A $50 late fee applies after April 1 and the Secretary of State does not waive it. A domestic entity that misses April 1 moves to Not in Good Standing and cannot get a certificate until it files.
When is a New Hampshire LLC administratively dissolved?
A domestic entity that does not file its Annual Report for two consecutive years is administratively dissolved. Contact the Corporation Division at 603-271-3246 to restore a dissolved entity.
Fees verified against official New Hampshire sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the New Hampshire Secretary of State site before you order.
