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When forming an LLC in New Hampshire, there are certain words which are “restricted”. You either cannot use these words in your LLC name. Or, you must get approval from a certain state agency.
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| Word/Phrase | Required Documentation | Example(s) | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architect, Architecture, or any derivative thereof regardless of the intended meaning | Certificate of Formation filing must be accompanied by a certificate from the Board of Architects saying the entity is licensed. | Cement Architecture LLC must submit their license or Certificate of Authorization. "Regardless of intended meaning" means that even if your LLC won't be a building architect, this rule still applies. If your desired name was Smith Software Architects LLC, you would still need this certificate. | N.H. Rev. Stat 310-A:42-a |
| Auction, Auctioneer, or Auctioneering | Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by a Certificate of Authorization from the Board of Auctioneers | Bader Auctioneers LLC must submit their license or Certificate of Authorization. Declutter Estate Sales LLC would not need a license. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 311-B:4 |
| Bank | Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by an approval from the Banking Department and/or Board of Trusts. This applies to any filing with the word Bank in either the name or purposes, and which indicates it is performing services as a Bank, non-depository, depository bank or a NH guaranty trust company (as opposed to a NH Investment Trust). | Central NH Bank LLC would need a letter of approval from the Banking Department. Nashua Blood Bank LLC would not need a letter, because it's purpose is blood donation coordination, not blood banking activities. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 383-A:3-304 |
| City or municipality names, government agencies, other words that make your LLC sound like it is a city, municipality or government agency | If the name suggests it's part of or associated with a city/town office or any government agency, a letter of consent from that office or agency is required. | Manchester Mayor's Fund LLC would require a consent letter from the Manchester Mayor's Office. Manchester Motors LLC would not require a letter, because it doesn't imply that the car dealer is connected with the city government. | |
| Cooperative | No company may use the word "cooperative" unless the company is formed under either N.H. Rev. Stat. Chapter 301 or 301-A.
| Family Dairy Farms Cooperative LLC must be formed under Chapter 301 and requires Attorney General Approval. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 301:43 & 301-A:34 |
| College, University | If there is an indication that your LLC is granting degrees, the Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by approval from the Department of Education or Division of Higher Education. | Eastern NH University LLC would need a letter of approval from the Department of Education. University Logo Apparel LLC would not need a letter of approval, because it's purpose is not granting degrees. | |
| Credit Union | No company can use the term "Credit Union" unless the company is formed under N.H. Rev. Stat. Chapter 383-E. Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by an approval from the Banking Department and/or Board of Trusts. This applies to any filing with the word Credit Union in either the name or purposes. | Lincoln Credit Union LLC must be formed under Chapter 383-E and would require approval from the Banking Department. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 383-B |
| Dartmouth | Any company name including the word Dartmouth must be accompanied by consent from Dartmouth College and is subject to special review. | Dartmouth Dart Team LLC would require consent from the college. Big Green Dart Team LLC would not require consent from the college. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 383-E:3-303 |
| Engineer, Engineering, or any derivative thereof regardless of the intended meaning | Certificate of Formation filing must be accompanied by a certificate from the Board of Engineers saying the entity is licensed. | Rochester Engineering LLC must submit their license or Certificate of Authorization. "Regardless of intended meaning" means that even if your LLC won't be an engineering firm, this rule still applies. If your desired name was Social Media Engineering LLC, you would still need this certificate. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 310-A:20 |
| Farmer's Market | No company may use the term "Farmers' Market" unless the company purposes meet the definition at N.H. Rev. Stat. 21:34-a(V) | Cheshire County Farmers Market LLC (which has 10 vendors selling produce to the public in a public location) is an allowable use of the term. | |
| Federal, State, other words that make your LLC sound like it is a federal or state government program | The Secretary of State will reject a filing if the name suggests or sounds like the company could be a federal or state program or department. | State Bureau of Road Construction LLC would be rejected by the Secretary of State, because it sounds like a division of the NH Highway Department. Free State Road Paving LLC would likely be approved by the Secretary of State, because it sounds like a private road paving company, despite using the word "state". | |
| Fire Department, other words that make your LLC sound like it's connected to the fire department | If the name of the company suggests it's part of a fire department, the Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by a letter of consent from the fire department. | Canterbury Fire Dept Fund LLC would require a letter of approval from the Canterbury Fire Department. Sleek Fire Dept Gear LLC would not need a letter of approval, because it does not imply that the company is connected to a specific fire department. | |
| Forestry, Forester, or any derivative thereof | Certificate of Formation filing must be accompanied by a certificate from the Board of Foresters saying the entity or individual is licensed. | Kline Forestry LLC would require a license from the Board of Foresters. Shadowy Forest Farm LLC would likely not require a license, because it doesn't seem to offer forestry services. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 310-A:98 |
| Health Club | After the Secretary of State approves the Certificate of Formation, Health Clubs must register with the Department of Justice | Flexifit Health Club LLC must register with the Department of Justice after formation. And Dance To Fitness LLC (a health club) must register with the Department of Justice after formation even though its name doesn't contain "health club". | N.H. Rev. Stat. 358-I:2 |
| Home Health Care | Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by a letter from Department of Health Facilities Administration saying the entity has applied for licensure. This requirement applies to any filing which the name or the purposes suggests home health care. Triggering words include (but are not limited to): "in home hospice", "home health aid", "home health care", "in home rehabilitation", "home therapeutic assistance" | Sunshine Home Health Aides LLC would require written approval from the Department of Health Facilities Administration. Healthy Home Cleaners LLC would not require a letter from the Department. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 151:2-c |
| Institute, Academy, School, if they make your LLC sound like it is a school | If the name or purposes indicate that your LLC is a school (any/all grades between Kindergarten and 12th), the Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by a letter of approval from the Department of Education. | ABC Primary School LLC would require a letter of approval from the Department of Education. Academy of Dance Performances LLC would not require a letter, because the "academy" provides dance lessons, not K-12 education. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 194-B |
| Insurance (but not "Insurance Company") | If the name or purpose of your LLC indicates that it's an insurance agency or insurance broker, there is no documentation required. | Blue Mountain Insurance Brokers LLC would not require any documentation from the Insurance Department. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 401:15 |
| Insurance Company | Insurance Companies must be licensed by the Insurance Department. Certificate of Formation filing must be accompanied by the license and letter of approval. | State Surety Insurance LLC must provide approval from the Insurance Department. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 401:15 |
| Martial Arts | After the Secretary of State approves the Certificate of Formation, Martial Arts Schools must register with the Department of Justice | Dragon Martial Arts LLC must register with the Department of Justice after formation. And Black Belt Judo LLC (a martial arts school) must register with the Department of Justice after formation even though its name doesn't contain "martial arts". | N.H. Rev. Stat. 358-S:2 |
| PAC, P.A.C., Political Action Committee | If the name or purpose of your LLC sounds like a Political Action Committee, it is subject to additional review by the Secretary of State. New Hampshire election laws limit (and in some cases prohibit) registration of PACs. | Sanders 2020 PAC LLC would require additional review and might be rejected. PAC 12 Basketball Trainers LLC would not require additional review, because it is a basketball training company not a political action committee. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 664:3 |
| Police, other words that make your LLC sound like it's connected to the police department | If the name of the company suggests it's part of a police department, the Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by a letter of consent from the police department. | Lebanon Police Fund LLC would require a letter of approval from the Lebanon Police Department. Retired Police Dog Rescue LLC would not need a letter of approval, because it does not imply that the company is connected to a specific police department. | |
| Political party names | If your name uses the name of any political party organized under N.H. Rev. Stat 652:11, you must have written consent from the political organization. | Derry Democrats LLC would require approval from the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Conservative Elephant Club LLC would not require approval from the New Hampshire Republican Party, because it doesn't use the name "republican". | N.H. Rev. Stat. 304-c:32(I)(f) |
| Post Office, Postal, Mail | If the name of the company suggests or sounds like it's connected with the post office, the Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by written consent from the United States Post Office. | Concord Post Office Service LLC would require written approval from the USPS. Mail Box Designs LLC would not require written approval, because it doesn't imply a connection to the post office. | |
| Professional Association, Professional Corporation | Professional Associations or Professional Corporations are formed under a combination of N.H. Rev. Stat. Chapters 293-A and 294-A. (N.H. Rev. Stat. 293-A makes them a corporation, N.H. Rev. Stat. 294-A gives them the professional status). The purposes are limited to only the professions allowed in N.H. Rev. Stat. 294-A:2. The name must END in a professional designation (such as Professional Association, Professional Corporation, PA, P.A., PC, P.C.). If they form as a regular corporation they cannot amend to become a PC - the PC must be FORMED under Chapter 294-A. On the other hand, a PC may chose to stop rendering "professional" services, they can file an Amendment - they have to state they are no longer rendering professional services, and are thereby deleting any reference N.H. Rev. Stat. 294-D and changing the name. They have to change their designator (like PC) to a regular corporation designation (like Corp. or Inc.). | An LLC not formed for professional purposes cannot use these terms. | |
| Professional LLC, PLLC, P.L.L.C. | Professional LLC are formed under a combination of N.H. Rev. Stat. Chapters 304-C and 304-D. (304-C makes them a LLC status and 304-D gives them the Professional status). The purposes are limited to only the professions listed in N.H. Rev. Stat. 304-D:2. The name must END in a professional designation (such as Professional Limited Liability, PLLC, P.L.L.C.) If they form as a regular LLC they cannot amend to become a PLLC - the PLLC must be FORMED under 304-D. On the other hand, a PLLC may chose to stop rendering "professional" services, they can file an Amendment - they have to state they are no longer rendering professional services, and are thereby deleting any reference N.H. Rev. Stat. 304-D and changing the name. They have to change their PLLC designation to a regular LLC. | An LLC not formed for professional purposes cannot use these terms. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 304-D:1 VI |
| Rail Road, Railroad, RR | If the company's name or purposes suggest it's a rail road, the Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by approval from Rail and Transit (which is part of NH Department Transportation). | Northern Railroad LLC would require approval from the Department of Transportation. Scenic Railroad Photography LLC would not require approval, because it doesn't serve as a rail service. | |
| Surveying, Surveyor, or any derivative thereof regardless of the intended meaning | Certificate of Formation filing must be accompanied by a certificate from the Board of Surveyors saying the entity is licensed. | Starlight Surveyors LLC must submit their license or Certificate of Authorization. "Regardless of intended meaning" means that even if your LLC won't be a land surveyor, this rule still applies. If your desired name was Sociology Surveying LLC, you would still need this certificate. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 310-A:69 |
| Trust (that is not a trust company) | The use of the word "trust" depends on what type of trust your LLC is. For example, a realty trust, investment trust, or foreign business trust can use the word "trust" without other authorization. But if the company name uses the word "trust" and implies that the company is a bank, the Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by written approval from the Banking Department. | Prudent Grandchildren Trust LLC would not need approval from the Banking Department, because it is an investment trust and not a bank. | |
| Trust Company | A trust company is a bank. Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by an approval from the Banking Department and/or Board of Trusts. This applies to any filing with the word trust in either the name or purposes, and which indicates it is performing services as a Bank, non-depository, depository bank or a NH guaranty trust company. | N.H. Rev. Stat. 383-C | |
| Visiting Nurse, VNA | Certificate of Formation must be accompanied by a letter from Department of Health Facilities Administration saying the entity has applied for licensure. This requirement applies to any filing which the name or the purposes suggests home health care. Triggering words include (but are not limited to): "visiting nurse", "VNA", "visiting nurse aid", "home nurse" | Caring Visiting Nurses LLC would require written approval from the Department of Health Facilities Administration. Lactation and Nursing Consultants LLC would not require written approval from the Department of Health (although this company might require other Department of Health licenses for the type of services offered). | N.H. Rev. Stat. 151:2-c |
Source: New Hampshire Revised Statutes
After you’ve reviewed this table, you can return to the New Hampshire LLC Name lesson.
New Hampshire Secretary of State Contact Info
If you have any questions, you can contact the New Hampshire Secretary of State at 603-271-3246 (Monday – Friday: 8am – 4:30pm).
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NEW HAMPSHIRE LLC GUIDE
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