Start an LLC by State

Start an LLC by State › Rhode Island

Starting an LLC in Rhode Island: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in Rhode Island, file the Articles of Organization (400) with the Rhode Island Secretary of State and pay the $150 state fee. Rhode Island LLCs file an Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company every year, due May 1, for $50. Every Rhode Island LLC must keep a resident agent with a Rhode Island street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in Rhode Island

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Rhode Island Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a resident agent: a Rhode Island resident, or a corporation, limited partnership or LLC formed in Rhode Island or authorized there.
  3. File the Articles of Organization (400) with the Rhode Island Secretary of State and pay $150.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Rhode Island LLCs file an Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company every year, due May 1, for $50.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Rhode Island’s fees.

Rhode Island LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$150
Formation document
Articles of Organization (400)
Yearly filing
Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company, every year, $50
Due
May 1
Registered agent
Required. A Rhode Island resident, or a corporation, limited partnership or LLC formed in Rhode Island or authorized there.
Agent address
The address has to be a Rhode Island street address, not a P.O. box, where the agent is available during business hours.
Other required costs
$400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.
Filing fee rank
37th lowest of 50 (36 states charge less, 11 charge more)
Best overall for a Rhode Island LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Rhode Island’s $150 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Rhode Island compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Rhode Island$150$50 / yr
Connecticut$120$80 / yr
Massachusetts$500$500 / yr

All 50 states

Rhode Island LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Rhode Island?

$150 to the state to file. Rhode Island LLCs file an Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company every year, due May 1, for $50. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Rhode Island require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Rhode Island LLCs file an Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company every year, due May 1, for $50.

Do I need a registered agent in Rhode Island?

Yes. A Rhode Island resident, or a corporation, limited partnership or LLC formed in Rhode Island or authorized there.

Can I form a Rhode Island LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization (400) directly with the Rhode Island Secretary of State and pay the $150 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources