The agencies state $14,480 in initial fees across 6 of the 10 items; 1 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a bar in New Hampshire?
$14,480 in state fees the agencies state, across 6 of the 10 licenses, permits and registrations; 1 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a bar in New Hampshire
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $14,480initial fees across 6 of 10 items
- Free items
- 1no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 3by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 10in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Certificate of formation (LLC) and the annual report New Hampshire Secretary of State Premium only Trade name registration (DBA) New Hampshire Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Business tax accounts (Business Profits Tax, Business Enterprise Tax) and the Meals and Rentals operator’s license New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration Premium only No state business license; local permits Your city or town clerk Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your town’s planning board or zoning officer and code enforcement office Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Food service license New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Premium only Certified food protection manager New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee Restaurant license (beverage and wine, or beverage and liquor), or restaurant with cocktail lounge license New Hampshire Liquor Commission Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation New Hampshire Employment Security Premium only
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
Secretary of State LLC forms and fees (RSA 304-C:191); Corporation Division annual report FAQs; Secretary of State form TN-1 (RSA 349); IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue Administration Meals and Rentals Tax booklet and form CD-3 (RSA 78-A:4); business tax pages (RSA 77-A, RSA 77-E); Office of Planning and Development municipal guidance; town ordinances; RSA 155-A (State Building Code); RSA 674 (local land use planning); town ordinances; DHHS fee schedule for permitting of food service establishments (January 2023); food service license application (RSA 143-A; He-P 2300); He-P 2303.02 (requirements for food protection manager certification); He-P 2300 adoption of the 2017 FDA Food Code; RSA 178:29 (fees); Liquor Commission initial license application (LIQ-A1) and restaurant license type worksheet (LTW-03); rule Liq 703.06 (prorated fees); Employment Security employer claims and taxes pages and tax rate chart; Employment Security business compliance page (new hire reporting); Department of Labor workers’ compensation pages (RSA 281-A). Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.