How to File a DBA in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire a DBA is a trade name registered with the Secretary of State for $50, valid five years with no newspaper publication required. Attorney review available.
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Introduction
In New Hampshire, a DBA is registered as a trade name, the public filing that lets a person or business use a name different from the owner's legal name, and it creates no separate legal entity. Unlike states that file at the county level, New Hampshire registers a trade name statewide with the Secretary of State, Corporation Division. Every sole proprietor doing business under a name other than the sole proprietor's own name, and every partnership, trust, or association doing business in the state, must register the trade name (RSA 349:1). The filing fee is $50 (RSA 349:7). Registering a trade name does not create a corporation or an LLC, does not shield the owner from liability, and does not give a trademark or an exclusive right to the name. New Hampshire does not require you to publish the registration in a newspaper. A New Hampshire trade name registration is effective upon filing and continues in force for a period of five years after the date of filing (RSA 349:6), and you renew it for another five years, with a renewal fee of $50 (RSA 349:7). Before filing, confirm the name is available by searching the state business name database, since a trade name cannot be registered if it is the same as or deceptively similar to a name already on file. DocDraft builds your New Hampshire trade name registration from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.
Key Things to Know
- 1
In New Hampshire a DBA is a trade name filed with the Secretary of State for $50 and effective five years before renewal. It lets you use a business name different from your legal name and creates no separate legal entity.
- 2
You register a trade name statewide with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division. There is no county filing for a New Hampshire trade name.
- 3
Every sole proprietor doing business under a name other than the owner's own name, and every partnership, trust, or association doing business in the state, must register the trade name (RSA 349:1).
- 4
The New Hampshire trade name filing fee is $50, and the renewal fee is also $50 (RSA 349:7). You confirm the current amount and any expedite charge with the Secretary of State.
- 5
New Hampshire does not require newspaper publication of a trade name registration. There is no notice to publish and no affidavit of publication to file.
- 6
A New Hampshire trade name registration is effective upon filing and stays in force for five years from the date of filing (RSA 349:6). You renew it every five years to keep using the name.
- 7
A trade name does not give you any ownership of or exclusive right to the name, and it does not limit your liability. A sole proprietor with a trade name is still personally responsible for the business.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a DBA (Doing Business As) in New Hampshire, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The DBA (Doing Business As) guide walks through them.
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New Hampshire Requirements for DBA (Doing Business As)
Register With the Secretary of State
In New Hampshire a DBA is a trade name registered statewide with the Secretary of State, Corporation Division, not with a county (RSA 349:1). New Hampshire has one statewide trade name filing.
The 50 Dollar Filing Fee
The New Hampshire trade name filing fee is 50 dollars, and the renewal fee is also 50 dollars (RSA 349:7). You can file online through the state business portal or by mail, and you confirm the current amount with the Secretary of State.
The Trade Name
The exact trade name to register. It cannot be the same as or deceptively similar to a name already on file, and it must not include a word such as Corporation, Incorporated, LLC, or Limited unless the registrant is that type of entity.
Registrant and Owners
The full legal name and address of the registrant, the type of registrant, and the name and address of each owner. Every sole proprietor, partnership, trust, or association doing business under a trade name must register (RSA 349:1).
Principal Place of Business
The address of the principal place of business in New Hampshire and the nature of the business conducted under the trade name. File a new application with the Secretary of State if the business address later changes.
No Newspaper Publication
New Hampshire does not require newspaper publication of a trade name registration. There is no notice to publish and no affidavit of publication to file after the Secretary of State issues the certificate.
Five-Year Term and Renewal
A New Hampshire trade name registration is effective upon filing and continues in force for five years after the date of filing (RSA 349:6). Renew it every five years with the Secretary of State to keep using the name.
No Entity, No Trademark, No Liability Shield
A New Hampshire trade name is only a name registration. It creates no separate legal entity, gives no exclusive right or trademark in the name, and does not limit the personal liability of a sole proprietor or partner.