How To Get a DBA in New Hampshire in 2 Steps

Your trade name must be different from any other existing business name that is registered with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. It must also be distinguishable from other registered names. A name is distinguishable when it is not overly similar to another business name, according to the state’s naming rules. 

For example, if there’s already a business in New Hampshire with the registered name “Wonderful Lunch Treat,” you can’t claim “A Wonderful Lunch Treat” as your trade name because that’s not considered distinguishable. See New Hampshire’s name availability guidelines for more details on the naming rules.

To compare your desired trade name with existing registered business names, access the New Hampshire business record search database. Keep in mind, though, that the Secretary of State’s Corporation Division staff will make the final decision about whether the name you want is available after they receive your trade name registration application.

You can use your trade name as your internet domain name. Do an internet or ICANN search to see if your desired domain name is available. Also, check with the USPTO to make sure that someone else hasn’t already trademarked your name. You may want to trademark your name to protect it.

To file your application for registration of your New Hampshire trade name, you’ll need to fill out a trade name form or submit information online and pay a filing fee.

Information You’ll Need

To complete the application, you’ll need to have:

• The exact trade name you want to register

• The business address – the street address and the complete mailing address if it’s different from the street address

• The business’s email and phone number

• A brief description of the type of business 

• Date the business was organized, which cannot be a future date

• If the business structure is a corporation or other entity, you’ll need the company name and address and the name, title, and signature of an authorized signer 

  • Authorized signers are

    • An authorized officer if the entity is a corporation

    • A manager or, if no manager, a member if the entity is a limited liability company

    • One or more authorized partners if the entity is a limited liability partnership

• If you’re applying as one or more individuals, each of the business owners will need to provide their name, address, and signature

There are two ways to file a New Hampshire trade name application. You can mail in a form or apply online.

Submitting a Trade Name Application by Mail

To register by mail, fill out Form TN-1, the “Application for Registration of Trade Name” form, which is a PDF form that you can fill out online. When you’ve completed the form, print it out using black ink on 8.5” x 11” paper. Alternatively, you can print out a blank form and fill it out by typing or clearly printing the required information.

Sign the form. Enclose a $50 filing fee. Make checks payable to “State of New Hampshire.”

Mail the signed, original form and the filing fee to:

NH Secretary of State Corporate Division

107 N Main St, Room 204

Concord, NH 03301-4989

Submitting a Trade Name Application Online

To submit your application online, go to the “Register or Update a Trade Name” page in the NH QuickStart system. First, log into your NH QuickStart account. You’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Then, follow the directions to enter the required information. Pay the $50 filing fee with a credit card or a pre-approved ACH account.