By StartBusinessByStatePublisher: Robert SmithResearch process
Make your Rhode Island business official. Have your LLC paperwork prepared and filed so you can focus on getting your business off the ground.
- Your business name checked before filing.
- Your formation paperwork prepared and submitted.
- Your formation documents together in an online account.
$0 service fee + $150 state filing fee
Filing service by ZenBusiness. Choose Starter for the $0 service fee. State follow-up charges and optional services and renewals are separate.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Get the paperwork handled and your company underway
With ZenBusiness, you provide the details and its team handles the Rhode Island formation filing. You get electronic documents and customer support by phone, chat and email.
Use your approved LLC records to open a company bank account, organize your ownership agreement and do business under the company name. The state-specific costs and next steps below help you plan what comes after approval.
What it costs to start a Rhode Island LLC
A Rhode Island LLC costs $150 to file with Rhode Island Department of State, Division of Business Services. After formation, budget the $50 DOS annual report and the separate $400 Division of Taxation minimum annual charge.
Start with the official filing office: Rhode Island Department of State, Division of Business Services. Government charges are separate from anything a formation company bills you.
| Expense | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing (Articles / Certificate) | $150 | Required when forming the LLC |
| Typical formation base | $150 | Excludes optional purchases |
| Annual report (Form 632) | $50 | Feb 1–May 1 (+ small online access fee) |
| Late annual report penalty | $25 | Applied June 1 if unfiled |
| Division of Taxation minimum annual charge | $400 | Separate from DOS—often with RI-1065 |
| Online access fee (Articles) | About $6; confirm at checkout | Confirm RI.gov checkout |
Budget example: $150 to form, then about $450 recurring ($50 DOS annual report + $400 Taxation minimum) before insurance or permits.
The $400 minimum annual charge is administered by the RI Division of Taxation (R.I. Gen. Laws §44-11-2(e)) and is separate from the Department of State $50 annual report.
Choose the services you want with your filing
Starter’s base formation service does not renew. Registered-agent service, an EIN service, an operating agreement and faster preparation are optional purchases.
The preselected website-builder trial renews at $15/month after 30 days; you can remove it at checkout. Optional Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year and renews at $199/year. Registered-agent service is listed separately at $199/year; first-year promotions may differ.
Review the services and renewal terms in your order. Provider details checked October 14, 2026 against ZenBusiness’s formation plans.
How to start your Rhode Island LLC
Use your company details to get the formation paperwork prepared and submitted. Here is how the filing service works:
- Enter your business details. Choose Rhode Island, your company name and the information requested for the filing.
- Review your services and order. Select Starter for the $0 base service fee. ZenBusiness prepares and submits the formation document from your answers.
- Save your approved company records. Once the filing office accepts the paperwork, use the documents to finish your banking and business setup.
Your Rhode Island filing checklist and required next steps
- Check the name. Search the state business database and include a required LLC designator. Filing acceptance is not a trademark clearance.
- Gather addresses and agent consent. Have registered-agent details and principal-office information ready.
- Decide who manages the company. Confirm member-managed vs manager-managed as required on the formation form.
- File the formation document. Prefer RI Business Services Online and pay $150 (plus any listed extras).
- Confirm acceptance. Save the filed document and receipt, then calendar recurring compliance.
Check your proposed name in the Rhode Island business search.
How long does approval take?
Online preferred; paper Form 400 mail/in person. A service’s preparation time is separate from Rhode Island’s review. ZenBusiness lists standard preparation at 7–10 business days before state processing; state review follows the service’s preparation.
Can I file directly with Rhode Island?
Yes. You can prepare and submit the filing yourself through the Rhode Island official LLC filing service. A formation service handles preparation and submission from the information you provide. The government charges and required follow-up steps above still apply.
Choose your Rhode Island registered agent
Maintain a Rhode Island registered agent/office. Agent consent is required on Form 400.
Plan your address use before filing. State records are public. Ask which address fields the agent service covers. Supply accurate information in every field.
Rhode Island LLC annual report and minimum tax
File the $50 annual report between February 1 and May 1 (Form 632). Separately, most LLCs owe at least a $400 annual charge with their Division of Taxation return—even with little activity. Paying one does not satisfy the other.
Rhode Island’s ongoing cost stack is easy to under-budget: $50 to the Department of State and $400 to the Division of Taxation are different agencies, different portals, and different due dates. Put both on your calendar in the formation year.
Online Articles checkout may show a small RI.gov enhanced access charge on top of the $150 statutory fee—confirm the total before you submit. Form 400 remains the paper path if you prefer mail or in-person filing.
Get your Rhode Island LLC filing underway
Put the formation paperwork in ZenBusiness’s hands. Starter has a $0 service fee plus the applicable Rhode Island charges detailed above.
Continue to ZenBusiness to enter your details and review your order. Optional services and renewal details.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Put your approved LLC to work
- Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Rhode Island’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.Use the basic LLC operating agreement tool as a starting point.
- Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. A paid EIN service handles the application for you. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
- Open your business bank account. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
- Complete taxes and operating approvals. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
- Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly for the current rule.
Insurance guidance for your Rhode Island business
Match coverage to your services, employees, equipment and client contracts. Start with the relevant guide:
Continue with the Rhode Island business guide for the broader startup process.
Rhode Island LLC questions before you start
What is the cheapest way to form a Rhode Island LLC?
The state filing fee is $150 (Rhode Island Department of State, Division of Business Services). You can file directly or use ZenBusiness Starter, which offers a $0 formation service fee plus the same $150 state fee.
Is the $50 annual report the same as the $400 LLC fee?
No. The $50 annual report goes to the Department of State. The $400 minimum annual charge goes to the Division of Taxation with your annual tax return. Most Rhode Island LLCs owe both.
Can I be my own Rhode Island registered agent?
Yes. Maintain a Rhode Island registered agent/office. Agent consent is required on Form 400.
Does forming an LLC give me a Rhode Island business license?
Formation creates the entity with Rhode Island Department of State, Division of Business Services. Industry licenses and tax registrations are separate.
Can I get an EIN without buying a service?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs free. Form the LLC first, then use the IRS application if eligible.
This guide is for creating a new Rhode Island LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Rhode Island’s foreign-entity registration requirements before creating a second company.
Page updated October 14, 2026. State-source review: September 14, 2026. ZenBusiness package terms checked October 14, 2026.