How Much Does an LLC Cost in Rhode Island?
A Rhode Island Limited Liability Company (LLC) costs $150 one-time to file, then $450 per year minimum to maintain. That $450 is the $50 annual report plus the $400 Rhode Island Division of Taxation minimum tax, per the Rhode Island Department of State Costs & Fees chart. Registered agent fees are extra.
| Line item | Fee | One-time vs. recurring | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $150 | One-time | RI Dept. of State Costs & Fees chart |
| Annual report | $50/year | Recurring | RI Dept. of State annual report page |
| Minimum annual tax | $400/year | Recurring | RI Division of Taxation (SOS Costs & Fees chart) |
| Name reservation (optional) | $50 | One-time | RI Dept. of State LLC filing guide |
| DBA / fictitious business name (optional) | $50 | One-time | RI Dept. of State Form 624B |
| Registered agent | $0 self / $99–$125 typical market rate | Recurring | Market rate |
| EIN | $0 | One-time | IRS |
What Is the Rhode Island LLC Filing Fee?
Filing your Articles of Organization with the Rhode Island Department of State costs $150. This one-time fee is mandatory for every LLC, per the SOS Costs & Fees chart. The $150 applies regardless of filing method. For context, corporations pay more and simpler structures pay less on the same official chart.
| Entity type | Filing fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LLC (Articles of Organization) | $150 | RI Dept. of State Costs & Fees chart |
| Corporation (Articles of Incorporation) | $230 | RI Dept. of State Costs & Fees chart |
| General partnership / sole proprietor | $20 | RI Dept. of State Costs & Fees chart |
What Is Rhode Island’s $400 Minimum Annual LLC Tax?
Every Rhode Island LLC owes a $400 minimum annual tax to the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. You owe it whether or not the business conducts activity or makes a profit, per the SOS Costs & Fees chart. The tax is not pro-rated for partial years.
This is Rhode Island’s biggest hidden cost and the reason a “cheap” LLC is not cheap to maintain. Rhode Island sets the minimum at $400 by statute under R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-11-2(e), effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017. The Rhode Island Department of State confirms the charge is owed to the Division of Taxation even with zero revenue.
What Does a Rhode Island LLC Cost Every Year?
A Rhode Island LLC costs $450 per year minimum: the $50 annual report plus the $400 minimum tax, per the Rhode Island Department of State. Add $99 to $125 if you hire a professional registered agent. The annual report is due February 1 through May 1 each year.
The $50 report is filed with the Rhode Island Department of State during that window, per the Rhode Island Department of State annual report page, which applies a $25 late fee after May 1. Miss the deadline and you risk late fees, loss of good standing, and administrative revocation. Reinstatement then requires a filing and state fees. Commenda’s compliance calendar tracks the February 1 to May 1 window so it never slips.
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost in Rhode Island?
A registered agent costs $0 if you serve as your own with a Rhode Island street address. Professional services typically run $99 to $125 per year, and premium providers charge $200 to $400. Rhode Island requires a resident or qualified entity available during business hours, per the SOS Register page.
The agent must have a physical Rhode Island street address. P.O. Boxes, shipping-store addresses, and virtual business addresses are not allowed, per the SOS Register page. That rule is why out-of-state founders usually pay for a service.
What Separates One Rhode Island Registered Agent From Another?
Providers differ on privacy, compliance alerts, document scanning, and mail forwarding. A service keeps your home address off the public record and routes state and legal notices to you digitally, which matters most for founders without a physical Rhode Island presence.
How Much Does It Cost to Reserve an LLC Name in Rhode Island?
Reserving a name is optional and costs $50, holding the name for 120 days, per the Rhode Island Department of State LLC filing guide. Most founders skip reservation and claim the name for free during formation. Confirm availability first in the RI Corporate Database.
The Rhode Island Department of State name page confirms the 120-day hold, and R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-10 makes the period non-renewable. You can screen your name in seconds with Commenda’s company name checker before you file.
Do You Need to Pay for an Operating Agreement in Rhode Island?
No. Rhode Island does not legally require an operating agreement, and drafting one yourself costs $0. It is an internal document, not filed with the state, so it does not change your formation cost. Attorney-drafted versions cost extra but remain optional.
An operating agreement still matters. It sets ownership percentages, member roles, and procedures for disputes and dissolution. Banks often ask to see it before opening a business account.
How Much Does an EIN Cost for a Rhode Island LLC?
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) costs $0. The IRS issues EINs for free through the IRS EIN application. Third-party services charge for the same number, and formation platforms often bundle it into a package.
Never pay a standalone fee just to obtain an EIN. If a service charges for an EIN by itself, it is charging you for something the IRS provides at no cost.
How Much Does a DBA Cost in Rhode Island?
A Rhode Island LLC files a fictitious business name statement, also called a DBA (Doing Business As), with the Rhode Island Department of State for $50. It is optional. You need it only when operating under a name different from your registered LLC name.
This is a state-level filing on Form 624B under R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-9. There is no municipal filing layer for the LLC fictitious name.
What Business Licenses Does a Rhode Island LLC Need?
Rhode Island has no general statewide business license. Industry- and location-specific licenses apply and cost extra, so your total depends on your business type. The Rhode Island Department of State Business Assistant tool estimates which licenses your business needs.
Common examples include seller’s permits, health permits for food businesses, and professional board licenses. Some fields carry an extra gate. Engineering services need prior Board of Registration approval before formation, per the SOS Register page.
What Is a Certificate of Good Standing in Rhode Island?
A certificate of good standing is a state-issued document proving your LLC is current on its filings. Banks, lenders, and other states request it. For foreign registration into Rhode Island, the home-state certificate must be dated within 60 days of the Rhode Island filing, per the SOS Register page.
You order a Rhode Island certificate directly from the Rhode Island Department of State. The order fee is not published on the captured official fee chart, so confirm the current amount with the state before you pay.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Foreign LLC in Rhode Island?
Registering a foreign LLC in Rhode Island costs the same $150 filing fee. You need a registered agent with a Rhode Island street address and a certificate of good standing or legal existence from the home state dated within 60 days of the Rhode Island filing, per the Rhode Island Department of State Register Your Business page. The $50 annual report then applies each year.
What Should You Budget to Start an LLC in Rhode Island?
Budget $150 to form the LLC yourself, then $450 for your first annual obligations. With a professional registered agent, expect roughly $250 to $275 up front. The $400 minimum tax hits in Year 1 and is not pro-rated, so a partial first year still owes the full amount.
| Scenario | Formation outlay | Annual obligations | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY Year 1 (self as agent) | $150 | $450 ($50 report + $400 tax) | SOS Costs & Fees chart |
| Typical Year 1 (professional agent) | ~$250–$275 | $450+ | SOS chart + market rate |
| Add-on: DBA (optional) | $50 | — | RI Dept. of State Form 624B |
| Add-on: name reservation (optional) | $50 | — | RI Dept. of State LLC filing guide |
| Every year after | — | $450 minimum + agent fee | SOS Costs & Fees chart |
How Commenda Helps You Form Your Rhode Island LLC
Commenda gives you certainty that your Rhode Island LLC is filed and compliant. Commenda’s incorporation platform files your Articles of Organization, acquires your EIN, provides a registered agent, and tracks annual compliance, so the February 1 to May 1 annual report and the $400 minimum tax never get missed. You know what is due, when, and that it got filed. Pair it with Commenda’s compliance calendar to see every deadline in one place. Book a demo to get a full Rhode Island LLC cost and compliance checklist on the call.
