Step 1: Choose a name Rhode Island will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Rhode Island Department of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Rhode Island against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $52.50 online ($50 by mail), for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Rhode Island who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Rhode Island companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Rhode Island Department of State. The fee is $156 online ($150 by mail). File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. One to three business days. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Rhode Island doesn't require one (R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-2(23)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Rhode Island LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Rhode Island has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Rhode Island LLC annual report
Fee: $50 (Form 632) plus $2.50 enhanced access fee online; $25 late penalty applied June 1. Due: Between February 1 and May 1 each year, starting the calendar year after formation; failing to file or keep a registered agent leads to revocation proceedings. (Source: File your annual report, sos.ri.gov.)
| After formation | Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $52.50 online ($50 on paper) each year (due February 1 to May 1) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | $400 minimum annual tax |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $22 online ($20 in person or by mail) |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Rhode Island certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Rhode Island
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing (online) | $156 |
| First year, state fees | $156 |
| Each year after | $452.50 |
Over five years, Rhode Island's state fees come to $1,966. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Business forms fee schedule (PDF), docs.sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Name availability guidelines, sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Your name, sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Costs and fees, sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Costs and fees, sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
File your annual report, sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Start your rhode island business, sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-09
400 articles of organization (PDF), docs.sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
100 articles of incorporation (PDF), docs.sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Form 624B, fictitious business name statement (LLC) (PDF), docs.sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
RI trade names, sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Trade name online filing guide (PDF), docs.sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Claim your trade name (PDF), docs.sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Order certificates, sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Logs vs cogs (PDF), docs.sos.ri.gov, checked 2026-10-07
webserver.rilegislature.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Rhode Island
- Choose a name Rhode Island will accept and check it against the Rhode Island Department of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Rhode Island.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Rhode Island Department of State (from $150).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Rhode Island?
From $150 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $156 in the first year and $452.50 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Rhode Island?
The Rhode Island Department of State gives one to three business days.
Do I need an operating agreement in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island doesn't require one (R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-2(23)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Rhode Island online?
Yes. The Rhode Island Department of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for from $150.
When is the Rhode Island LLC annual report due?
Between February 1 and May 1 each year, starting the calendar year after formation; failing to file or keep a registered agent leads to revocation proceedings.
Does Rhode Island require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Rhode Island's recurring filing: $52.50 online ($50 on paper) each year (due February 1 to May 1).