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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

Chapter 1 · Rhode Island

Rhode Island LLC Formation Chapter (2026): 8 Sections and the 3 Best LLC Services

Summary for 2026: to handle forming an LLC in Rhode Island with outside help, choose among Mainstay Filing ($199), Rhode Island Registered Agent.co ($199) and RI Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. The chapter has 8 sections. Rhode Island charges $150 to file, and the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company follows every year.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Key facts for this chapter

Formation fee $150 docs.sos.ri.gov (edition of October 2026)
Recurring report $50 a year Filing period, in the state's words: May 1
Yearly minimum tax $400 tax.ri.gov (edition of October 2026)
State fees across three years $1,450 No service fee included
Sections in this chapter 8 Taken one at a time

Chapter objectives

  • How an LLC is formed in Rhode Island
  • The resident agent requirement
  • Recurring obligations
  • Which services are recommended and why

If you want someone else to file

The editorial board's five criteria are explained on how we grade and determine the order.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for new owners who want the work handled

Top recommendation
$199 a year, renewing at $199

This chapter recommends Mainstay Filing above the others, because one annual payment, $199, completes the filing, the resident agent and the annual report; renewal is $199.

Over three years it costs $200 above Rhode Island Registered Agent.co, in exchange for more of the work done.

The owner never prepares the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company; the $50 state fee is passed through unchanged.

Price covers

  • Filing delivered to the state
  • Resident agent for the full year
  • Annual report prepared and filed
  • The EIN application is part of the price
  • Official fee with nothing added

Advantages

  • No increase at renewal ($199)
  • $199 a year covers filing, agent and report
  • The EIN application is prepared as well

Limitations

  • After year one it costs $100 more annually
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: best for a basic formation

Single-state plan
$199 in year one, $99 afterward

The second recommendation, Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: forming a Rhode Island LLC costs $199 and the agent for year one is part of that price; the agent renews at $99.

The Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company is not in the price, so the owner files it every year.

Price covers

  • Formation filing
  • One year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $99 a year after that
  • The first agent year is free
  • $199 plus the state fee

Limitations

  • Whoever owns the LLC prepares the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company
  • It charges $99 for the EIN section
Visit Rhode Island Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. RI Registered Agent.org: best for owners who prepare their own reports

Single-state plan
$199 in year one, $99 afterward

The third recommendation, RI Registered Agent.org: forming a Rhode Island LLC costs $199 and the agent for year one is part of that price; the agent renews at $99.

The Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company is not in the price, so the owner files it every year.

On price, it matches Rhode Island Registered Agent.co.

Price covers

  • Formation filing
  • One year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $199 plus the state fee
  • $99 a year after that
  • The first agent year is free

Limitations

  • Whoever owns the LLC prepares the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company
  • It charges $99 for the EIN section
Visit RI Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3 services, side by side

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $199$199/yr$597 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Rhode Island Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit Rhode Island Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 RI Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit RI Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Company prices as listed on November 13, 2026. Each row still owes Rhode Island's $150 fee.

The sections

  1. Section 1

    Confirm the name is not taken

    Name availability is decided by the Rhode Island Secretary of State, so the search belongs at the front of the process.

    A spare name saves a second search later.

  2. Section 2

    Name your resident agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Rhode Island resident, or a corporation, limited partnership or LLC formed in Rhode Island or authorized there.

    The address has to be a Rhode Island street address, not a P.O. box, where the agent is available during business hours.

    You may use any recommended service for this section.

    Reference: webserver.rilegislature.gov (edition of October 2026)

  3. Section 3

    File alone or pay for assistance

    Without a service the charge is the state's $150. With a recommended service it grows by $199.

  4. Section 4

    The filing to prepare is the Articles of Organization

    The Articles of Organization (Form 400) goes to the Rhode Island Secretary of State with a fee of $150; the governing law is R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-5. Once accepted, the LLC exists.

    Reference: docs.sos.ri.gov (edition of October 2026)

  5. Section 5

    One further Rhode Island condition

    • $400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.

    Reference: tax.ri.gov (edition of October 2026)

  6. Section 6

    Obtain an EIN

    With the state's approval in hand, the company can ask the IRS for a federal tax number; opening a business bank account depends on it. The Mainstay Filing annual price already includes this section.

  7. Section 7

    Write the operating agreement

    Ownership and management rules belong in the operating agreement, an internal record that is separate from the Rhode Island filing.

  8. Section 8

    Keep the LLC in good standing

    Every year the LLC files the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company and pays $50; the deadline is May 1. Late filers owe $25. The state also levies a tax: $400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.

    Reference: sos.ri.gov (edition of August 2026)

The price list

EntryWho is paidPrice
Section on formation Government$150
State report Government$50 every year
Late charge Government$25
Tax due annually Government$400 a year
Service fees (optional) Your chosen service$199 at the start
State fees across years one to three Government$1,450

The filing fee, two later reports and any minimum tax make up the state's three-year total; the bibliography shows where each figure came from.

Why the list is in this order

finished ahead of on chapters the price completes, which counts for 30%.

Rhode Island Registered Agent.co costs less, but the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company would remain the owner's task.

Common questions

How much does it cost to file a new LLC in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island charges $150. Service charges among the ranked companies fall between $199.

Which form creates the LLC?

When the Rhode Island Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization (Form 400), the LLC exists.

Is a resident agent required?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

What does Rhode Island require each year?

Rhode Island requires the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company every year, at $50, with timing described as May 1. A yearly minimum tax also applies.

Can I form the LLC without a service?

Nothing prevents it. Rhode Island asks $150, and the LLC must name a resident agent, which the owner can be or can hire out.

Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?

Mainstay Filing, because for $199 a year the owner receives the filing, resident agent service and the annual report, renewing at $199. After it come Rhode Island Registered Agent.co and RI Registered Agent.org.

Next chapter

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Cited for Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: docs.sos.ri.gov, edition of August 2026.
  2. Cited for Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: sos.ri.gov, edition of August 2026.
  3. Cited for R.I: webserver.rilegislature.gov, edition of August 2026.
  4. Cited for Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.ri.gov, edition of October 2026.
  5. Cited for Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: docs.sos.ri.gov, edition of October 2026.
  6. Cited for Rhode Island registered agent statute: webserver.rilegislature.gov, edition of October 2026.
  7. Cited for Rhode Island other cost: tax.ri.gov, edition of October 2026.
  8. November 13, 2026: Mainstay Filing's Rhode Island service page was consulted for the price tables
  9. November 13, 2026: Rhode Island Registered Agent.co's pricing page was consulted for the price tables
  10. November 13, 2026: RI Registered Agent.org's pricing page was consulted for the price tables