State hub · Rhode Island
Rhode Island LLC true cost (2026)
Rhode Island state side: $150 formation filing, $50 for Department of State Annual Report in the 3-year model, ~$1,500 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #48 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Rhode Island state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Rhode Island Department of State – Business Services. Filings go through www.sos.ri.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $150 | Articles of Organization (Form 400) $150 (RI Department of State). |
| Department of State Annual Report | $50 | SOS annual report $50; online enhanced-access fee $2.50 often applies. Late penalty $25 from June 1. |
| Division of Taxation minimum annual tax (LLC) | $400 | RI Dept of State costs chart: LLCs owe $400 minimum annual tax to Taxation whether or not business is conducted. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $1,500 | Formation $150 + 3× (SOS annual report $50 + Taxation minimum tax $400) = $1500. Excludes online access surcharges. |
When Rhode Island actually bills you
Rhode Island's recurring filing is due February 1–May 1 each year starting the calendar year after registration — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Rhode Island charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $150 | $150 |
| Year 1 cycle | Department of State Annual Report | $50 | $200 |
| Year 2 cycle | Department of State Annual Report | $50 | $250 |
| Year 3 cycle | Department of State Annual Report | $50 | $300 |
Provider + Rhode Island state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Rhode Island state subtotal of $1,500.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $1,789 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $1,997 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $1,798 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $2,247 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How Rhode Island ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Rhode Island sits at #48 — the 48th cheapest three-year state charter — at $1,500 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $1,465 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $1,220 above the $280 median, and $1,010 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Rhode Island lands in the pricier half of the table.
- Just cheaper: Nevada ($1,475), Delaware ($1,310).
- Just pricier: Tennessee ($1,500), Massachusetts ($2,000).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (Rhode Island)
- Registered agent/office in Rhode Island required.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Rhode Island state fees is $1,500, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not Rhode Island, is about 16% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- $400 Taxation minimum is the dominant recurring cost — separate from the $50 SOS annual report.
- Both agencies must be kept current.
Who Rhode Island is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Rhode Island-operating businesses that need a domestic RI LLC despite high minimum tax.
Often a poor fit when…
- Passive/holding LLCs shopping for lowest annual state tax burden.
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Rhode Island LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Rhode Island?
$150 to Rhode Island Department of State – Business Services for the formation filing. Articles of Organization (Form 400) $150 (RI Department of State). That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing Rhode Island LLC fees after year one?
$50 for the Department of State Annual Report, due February 1–May 1 each year starting the calendar year after registration. SOS annual report $50; online enhanced-access fee $2.50 often applies. Late penalty $25 from June 1. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a Rhode Island LLC really cost over three years?
$1,500 in Rhode Island state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $1,789 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $2,247 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Rhode Island.
Do I need a registered agent in Rhode Island?
Yes. Registered agent/office in Rhode Island required. Confirm Rhode Island's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with Rhode Island Department of State – Business Services before you file — a home address here becomes public record. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every Rhode Island figure above.
Is Rhode Island a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Rhode Island ranks #48 of 51 at $1,500 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the Rhode Island three-year number is built
Formation $150 + 3× (SOS annual report $50 + Taxation minimum tax $400) = $1500. Excludes online access surcharges. Figures are re-derived from the cited Rhode Island sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Rhode Island state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- Provider checkout upsells: see the national comparison page.
- Re-check live Rhode Island Department of State – Business Services fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
- RI Dept of State Costs and Fees
- RI Form 400 Articles of Organization
- RI File Your Annual Business Report
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Rhode Island's $1,500 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Rhode Island math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.