Starting a Business in Manchester: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Manchester: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Permits and registrations specific to Manchester, NH
- Town/city licenses — Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire · Town or city clerk: Manchester / Hillsborough County (city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Manchester · Manchester (Hillsborough County) building department (city)
- Renew Manchester business license · City of Manchester City Clerk, Business Licensing and Enforcement (city)
- Form the business: New Hampshire Secretary of State
- Register for state taxes: New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration
- Register as an employer: New Hampshire Employment Security
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Manchester
Based on your selections, this plan has 10 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.
Do these first
- Maintain a registered agent in New Hampshire
- File formation documents with the New Hampshire Secretary of State
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- Register for and file New Hampshire entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Town/city licenses — Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Manchester — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Renew Manchester business license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Known charges: $100.00 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
9 of 10 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 1 step with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.
Common questions about Manchester
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Manchester:
- Real estate licensing: New Hampshire Real Estate Commission
- Alcohol licensing: New Hampshire Liquor Commission
- Child care licensing: New Hampshire DHHS Child Care Licensing Unit
- Health facility licensing: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
- Town/city licenses — Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (Town or city clerk: Manchester / Hillsborough County, city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Manchester (Manchester (Hillsborough County) building department, city)
- Renew Manchester business license (City of Manchester City Clerk, Business Licensing and Enforcement, city)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: Town/city licenses — Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Manchester; Renew Manchester business license. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: sos.nh.gov, revenue.nh.gov, nhes.nh.gov
Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:
- Maintain a registered agent in New Hampshire
- File formation documents with the New Hampshire Secretary of State
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Sources: sos.nh.gov, revenue.nh.gov
Known government fees for your plan: $0.00 one-time and $100.00 per year.
Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.
Sources: sos.nh.gov, revenue.nh.gov
In your plan for Manchester, requirements come from four levels. New Hampshire sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (2): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C
- State (4): Maintain a registered agent in New Hampshire; File Annual Report (New Hampshire); Register for and file New Hampshire entity-level taxes; File the annual unclaimed property holder report (New Hampshire)
- City (3): Town/city licenses — Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Manchester; Renew Manchester business license
Sources: sos.nh.gov, revenue.nh.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with New Hampshire Employment Security.
- Workers' compensation: New Hampshire Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division. Required when: 1 employee
Sources: nhes.nh.gov, dol.nh.gov