To start a business in Rhode Island, file Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation with the Rhode Island Department of State, name a resident agent, get an EIN, and register with the Division of Taxation through the Business Application and Registration (BAR) if you will have employees or retail sales. As of October 2026, an LLC costs $150 to form, and it files a $50 annual report each spring.
Rhode Island has one cost many owners miss: a $400 minimum annual business tax paid to the Division of Taxation by corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships, even in a year with no income. Budget for it from day one.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Business Formation Services in Rhode Island (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming a business in Rhode Island are below, starting with Mainstay Filing. Each entry lists the yearly price and what the service covers.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | RI Registered Agent.org | Rhode Island registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Rhode Island Registered Agent.co | Rhode Island registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Rhode Island. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. RI Registered Agent.org
RI Registered Agent.org is a Rhode Island registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co
Rhode Island Registered Agent.co is a Rhode Island registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Rhode Island at a glance (October 2026)
| Item | Rhode Island detail |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division |
| LLC Articles of Organization (Form 400) | $150 |
| Corporation Articles of Incorporation (Form 100) | $230 |
| Annual report | $50, filed February 1 to May 1 ($25 late penalty from June 1) |
| Minimum business tax | $400 a year for corporations, LLCs and LPs |
| Name reservation | Holds a name for 120 days |
| Trade name (sole proprietors, partnerships) | $20 with the Department of State; free annual renewal |
| Resident agent change | $20 |
| Sales tax | 7% statewide |
| Minimum wage | $16.00 per hour |
Fees are listed on the Department of State’s costs and fees page. Mainstay Filing also tracks Rhode Island LLC costs.
Choosing a structure in Rhode Island
Because of the $400 minimum tax, structure matters a bit more here than in most states:
- Sole proprietorship. No formation filing and no $400 minimum entity tax. Register a trade name if you use a business name. You carry personal liability.
- General partnership. Shared liability, with the same trade name registration.
- LLC. $150 to form, $50 a year for the annual report, plus the $400 minimum tax. Liability protection with flexible taxes.
- Corporation. $230 to form, the same $50 annual report and $400 minimum tax. Suited to companies issuing stock.
If you settle on an LLC, our step-by-step guide to starting an LLC in Rhode Island covers the filing in more detail. For a small side business, the yearly $450 in state costs for an LLC is worth weighing against the liability protection it buys. For most businesses with customers, employees or real risk, the LLC is still worth it.
How to name your Rhode Island business
An LLC name must include “Limited Liability Company” or “L.L.C.” (with or without periods), and the name must be distinguishable from active names in the Department of State’s records. Differences in entity designator, punctuation, capitalization or number style do not count, according to the name availability guidelines.
To check a name:
- Search the Corporate Database, or use our Rhode Island business search guide.
- Check domains and social handles on Namechk.
- Search the USPTO for federal trademarks.
If you need ideas, start with the business name generator. An online name reservation holds an entity name for 120 days.
Trade names and fictitious names
Rhode Island changed its DBA system recently. Trade names for sole proprietors and general partnerships used to be filed with each city or town clerk. All 39 municipalities transferred those records to the Department of State before January 1, 2026, according to the Department of State. Now you register a trade name online with the state for $20 and renew it each year, free, between September 1 and November 30. Cities and towns may still require their own annual registration.
Corporations and LLCs that operate under another name file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the Department of State instead; for corporations, Form 624 costs $50.
Naming a resident agent
Rhode Island calls the registered agent a resident agent. Every LLC and corporation must have one: a Rhode Island resident, or a business entity authorized in Rhode Island, with a Rhode Island street address and available during normal business hours. P.O. boxes, shipping company addresses and virtual addresses are not allowed. Changing your resident agent costs $20.
You can serve yourself if you live in Rhode Island. Many owners prefer a professional service, especially those living in Massachusetts or Connecticut. Mainstay Filing includes a Rhode Island resident agent for the first year with its formation package.
Filing your Articles of Organization
The Department of State accepts LLC formations online through its Corporate Online Filing System or on paper with Form 400. The form asks for:
- The LLC name.
- The resident agent and Rhode Island street address.
- The principal office address.
- An optional later effective date, up to 90 days out.
The fee is $150, and the Department of State says processing takes one to three business days, according to its start your business page. There is no publication requirement. After approval, sign an operating agreement for your records.
Get an EIN
Apply for a free Employer Identification Number from the IRS. You will need it for the BAR registration, payroll and banking.
Register with the Division of Taxation
Businesses with employees or retail sales file the online Business Application and Registration (BAR). One application can open:
- A retail sales permit. Required for businesses making retail sales in Rhode Island; there is no fee for the permit. The sales tax rate is 7%, and lodging businesses also collect a 6% hotel tax, according to the Division of Taxation. Permits must be renewed each year.
- Income tax withholding, for employees.
- Employer accounts for unemployment insurance, Temporary Disability Insurance and the Job Development Fund.
Businesses without employees or retail sales get a tax account when they file their first return. Every LLC and corporation also owes the $400 minimum business tax each year, and it is not prorated for a partial first year.
Hiring in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s minimum wage is $16.00 per hour in 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s state table. Employers register for unemployment insurance and Temporary Disability Insurance through BAR, carry workers’ compensation insurance, and report new hires and rehires within 14 days through the Rhode Island New Hire Reporting Directory.
Licenses and permits
Rhode Island has no general statewide business license. Licenses depend on your activity and location:
- State licenses for professions and trades, such as contractors (Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board), cosmetology and health care.
- Food and alcohol licenses through the Department of Health and your city or town.
- Local zoning, building permits and municipal business registrations in Providence, Warwick, Cranston and other communities.
The Department of State’s free Business Assistant tool builds a checklist for your business type, and the Rhode Island SBDC offers free advising.
Banking and insurance
Open a business bank account with your Articles, EIN and operating agreement, and keep business transactions separate. Insurance to compare includes general liability, professional liability, commercial auto and property coverage, plus the workers’ compensation coverage employers need. Set aside money for the $400 minimum tax and the $50 annual report at the start of each year so neither deadline catches you short or costs you a late penalty.
Filing the Rhode Island annual report
Rhode Island LLCs and corporations file an annual report each year between February 1 and May 1, starting the calendar year after they register, according to the Department of State. The fee is $50, and a $25 late penalty applies from June 1. The Department of State mails a courtesy reminder to your resident agent each January.
A company that does not file its report, or does not keep a resident agent, faces revocation proceedings. Pay the $400 minimum business tax to the Division of Taxation separately; the annual report fee does not cover it.
Getting your Rhode Island business online
Register a domain that matches your business name and launch a simple website. These builders are a good place to begin:
FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Rhode Island?
As of October 2026, filing Articles of Organization for a Rhode Island LLC costs $150 with the Department of State. Each year after that, the LLC files a $50 annual report between February 1 and May 1. Rhode Island LLCs also owe a $400 minimum annual business tax to the Division of Taxation, even with no income.
What is the Rhode Island $400 minimum tax?
Rhode Island charges a minimum annual business tax of $400 to corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships, payable to the Division of Taxation. It is owed even if the business has no activity or profit, and it is not prorated for a partial year. It is separate from the $50 annual report filed with the Department of State.
When is the Rhode Island annual report due?
Rhode Island LLCs and corporations file their annual report between February 1 and May 1 each year, starting the calendar year after they register. The fee is $50, and a $25 late penalty applies from June 1. Companies that fail to file face revocation proceedings by the Department of State.
How do I register a DBA in Rhode Island?
Sole proprietors and general partnerships register a trade name online with the Rhode Island Department of State for $20, and renew it free each year between September 1 and November 30. Corporations and LLCs file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the Department of State instead. Trade names are no longer filed with city and town clerks.
What is the sales tax rate in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island’s sales tax rate is 7% on the retail sale, rental or lease of many goods and services, and there is no local sales tax on top. Hotels and other lodging businesses also collect a 6% hotel tax. Businesses register for a retail sales permit, which has no fee, through the Business Application and Registration.
What is a resident agent in Rhode Island?
A resident agent is Rhode Island’s name for a registered agent: the person or company that accepts legal papers for your business. It must be a Rhode Island resident or an authorized business entity with a Rhode Island street address, not a P.O. box. Changing your resident agent costs $20.
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