Rhode Island: key figures
48th
among 50 states for yearly state fees
Rhode Island: the services we would choose
We ordered the list with five criteria, and three-year fees and coverage count most (the
method page covers the rest).
Our #1
1. Mainstay Filing: best for an agent you can keep in any state
$149 for the year, renewing at $149
Mainstay Filing earns the top spot because you pay $149 a year in every state, and the price stays the same at renewal.
Over three years you would pay $150 more than you would with RI Registered Agent.org. Coverage is 26% of the score, though, and handling more filings outweighs that difference.
What your money gets you
- A registered office in Rhode Island, with the address supplied
- Scans anything served on the company the same business day and does not charge for it
- Scans your first three government letters each year at no cost
- Also works for nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs
What works
- $149 a year, the same at renewal
- One provider whatever the state
What to weigh
- $50 extra a year compared with RI Registered Agent.org
- This plan does not file your reports
Local option
2. RI Registered Agent.org: best for a small agent budget
$99 for the year, renewing at $99
RI Registered Agent.org is second for you since $99 a year buys an agent with a registered office inside the state.
What your money gets you
- A street address for the registered office
- Scans of served papers
What works
- A flat $99 a year
- A lower yearly price than Mainstay Filing
What to weigh
- A different state needs a different agent
- Your Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company remains your own job
Local option
3. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: best for Rhode Island businesses with no plans to leave
$99 for the year, renewing at $99
Rhode Island Registered Agent.co is third for you since $99 a year buys an agent with a registered office inside the state.
You pay the same here as at RI Registered Agent.org.
What your money gets you
- A street address for the registered office
- Scans of served papers
What works
- A flat $99 a year
- A lower yearly price than Mainstay Filing
What to weigh
- A different state needs a different agent
- Your Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company remains your own job
The 3 picks compared
Prices as shown on November 13, 2026. The state charges the same no matter which agent you choose.
Upkeep calculator
This adds agent fees to the state's recurring charges (the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company from year 2) and the minimum tax. Formation fees are not included.
How Rhode Island compares with the states near it in the ranking
What Rhode Island law says you need as a resident agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a Rhode Island street address, not a P.O. box, where the agent is available during business hours.
You may choose: A Rhode Island resident, or a corporation, limited partnership or LLC formed in Rhode Island or authorized there. That comes from R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-11.
What Rhode Island charges your LLC each year
Letters about your Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company are sent to your resident agent. The cost is $50 every year, and the deadline is May 1. $400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.
What decided the order
Mainstay Filing pulled ahead of RI Registered Agent.org on upkeep the price covers, which is weighted 26%.
Coverage of all fifty states counted for more than RI Registered Agent.org on our weights.
Common questions
Do I have to name a resident agent for my Rhode Island LLC?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who is allowed to be a resident agent for my Rhode Island LLC?
A Rhode Island resident, or a corporation, limited partnership or LLC formed in Rhode Island or authorized there.
What will registered agent service cost me each year in Rhode Island?
Our picks cost $99 to $149 a year.
Which state fees will I pay every year?
You will pay $450 a year on our yearly measure, which is the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company ($50 every year), plus the minimum tax.
Which registered agents does this page rank?
Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), RI Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and Rhode Island Registered Agent.co ($99 a year), from our first pick to our last.
Which registered agent should I choose?
Our ranking is Mainstay Filing, RI Registered Agent.org and Rhode Island Registered Agent.co.
Where this briefing comes from
- If you want proof of what we say about Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division, open docs.sos.ri.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division, open sos.ri.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about R.I, open webserver.rilegislature.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open sos.ri.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open docs.sos.ri.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Rhode Island registered agent statute, open webserver.rilegislature.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Rhode Island other cost, open tax.ri.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees, open nvsos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source, open corp.delaware.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source, open corp.delaware.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source, open legis.delaware.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, open sec.state.ma.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, open malegislature.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California Secretary of State, open sos.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California Secretary of State, open bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source, open sos.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and, open ftb.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and, open ftb.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- We looked at the Mainstay Filing website on November 13, 2026 to confirm Rhode Island service page
- We looked at the RI Registered Agent.org website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page
- We looked at the Rhode Island Registered Agent.co website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page