Rhode Island in brief
48th
on the 50-state list of three-year state fees
Fee the state takes at filing
$150
Recurring report
$50 / yr
Deadline, as the state states it: May 1. Per
sos.ri.gov, confirmed August 2026
Cost of missing the deadline
$25
Tax owed every year
$400
What the state collects in 3 years
$1,450
The fee to file and two years of upkeep, and the yearly minimum tax in all three years
Who we recommend in Rhode Island
Five weighted criteria set the order (see the
method): three-year fees 33%, filings covered 26%, and then renewal terms, fit with Rhode Island rules and a clear state fee.
Our top choice
1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who want a low-maintenance LLC
$199 a year, renewing at $199
Mainstay Filing earns the top spot because a $199 yearly price replaces three separate jobs: the Rhode Island formation, the resident agent and the annual report.
Compare it with Rhode Island Registered Agent.co and the three-year bill is $200 higher, with more of the filings handled.
When the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company comes due it is handled for you, with the $50 state fee added at cost.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your formation papers and files them
- Acts as your resident agent all year
- Prepares and files your annual report
- Applies for your EIN
- The state fee carries no markup
What works
- Still $199 next year
- $199 a year with nothing left out
- You pay nothing extra for the EIN
What to weigh
- Its renewal is $100 above Rhode Island Registered Agent.co's
One state
2. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: best for a no-frills Rhode Island formation
$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $99 a year from year 2
In second place we put Rhode Island Registered Agent.co. Getting started costs $199 with the agent paid for in year 1; each year after is $99.
You send in the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company on your own, every year.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your formation filing
- First year of agent service
What works
- $199 and the state fee
- The first agent year is free
- The agent renews at $99
What to weigh
- The Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company lands on your desk each time it is due
- $99 more for the EIN
One state
3. RI Registered Agent.org: best for forming close to home
$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $99 a year from year 2
In third place we put RI Registered Agent.org. Getting started costs $199 with the agent paid for in year 1; each year after is $99.
You send in the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company on your own, every year.
On price it is exactly level with Rhode Island Registered Agent.co.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your formation filing
- First year of agent service
What works
- The agent renews at $99
- $199 and the state fee
- The first agent year is free
What to weigh
- The Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company lands on your desk each time it is due
- $99 more for the EIN
Prices side by side
These are the prices each company showed on November 13, 2026. The state's $150 is not counted in the figures above.
Rhode Island LLC cost calculator
Pick how many years you want to total and which provider you would use. What the state takes is built from its own schedule: $150 when you form, then the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company from year 2 and a minimum tax every year.
How Rhode Island compares with the states near it in the ranking
Rhode Island filing fee for 2026
The way to form the LLC is the Articles of Organization (Form 400) at the Rhode Island Secretary of State for $150; the statute is R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-5. The amount is the same whoever files for you.
$400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.
The Rhode Island Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company: cost, due date and late penalty
You file the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company every year, and the state words the deadline as May 1; the fee is $50. If you are late, you pay $25. A word about tax: $400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.
Our reasoning
In Rhode Island, Mainstay Filing beat Rhode Island Registered Agent.co on upkeep the price covers (26%).
On our weights, covering the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company counts for more than a lower price.
Quick answers
How much will Rhode Island charge me to form an LLC?
Filing costs $150 at the state office. Provider fees come to $199.
What will I pay for the Rhode Island Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company?
You pay $50, every year, and the deadline reads May 1. Filing late costs $25.
Is Rhode Island a low-cost state for LLCs?
Rhode Island ranks 48th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $1,450. Rank 1 is the lowest total.
Will I need a resident agent in Rhode Island?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Does the state tax my LLC every year?
$400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.
Which LLC service should I choose?
Mainstay Filing comes first and Rhode Island Registered Agent.co and RI Registered Agent.org follow. What separates them is upkeep the price covers.
Where this briefing comes from
- Our figures on Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division come from docs.sos.ri.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division come from sos.ri.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on R.I come from webserver.rilegislature.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source come from sos.ri.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source come from docs.sos.ri.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Rhode Island registered agent statute come from webserver.rilegislature.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Rhode Island other cost come from tax.ri.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on 6 Del come from delcode.delaware.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on Delaware formation fee: Filing fee, official source come from delcode.delaware.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source come from corp.delaware.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source come from corp.delaware.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source come from legis.delaware.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source come from nvsos.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Nevada formation fee: Fees at formation, official source come from leg.state.nv.us. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees come from nvsos.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 12 come from sec.state.ma.us. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source come from sec.state.ma.us. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source come from sec.state.ma.us. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth come from sec.state.ma.us. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth come from malegislature.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on Cal come from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on California Secretary of State come from sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on California Secretary of State come from bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
- Our figures on California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source come from sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and come from ftb.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- Our figures on California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and come from ftb.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
- You can see Rhode Island service page for Mainstay Filing on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
- You can see pricing page for Rhode Island Registered Agent.co on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
- You can see pricing page for RI Registered Agent.org on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026