Best LLC Formation Services in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is one of the few states that allows anonymous LLCs. You can keep member and manager names off the public Articles of Organization, which is useful if you want ownership privacy without forming in Delaware or Wyoming.

Compared to neighboring Connecticut ($120 filing fee, no minimum entity tax) and Massachusetts ($500 filing fee, $500 minimum annual tax), Rhode Island sits in the middle on formation cost but closer to Massachusetts on annual tax burden. That $400 annual minimum tax is hard to avoid and applies even if your LLC has zero revenue.

Rhode Island requires your registered agent to be either an individual resident of the state or a business entity authorized to operate there, with a physical street address. P.O. boxes are not accepted.

There is no expedited filing option available through the state. Every filing goes through the same 1-to-3-day queue, so paying a formation service extra for "rush processing" at the state level is not possible here.

Your Annual Report is due between February 1 and May 1 each year, with a $50 fee. Miss it and you face a $25 late fee and potential revocation of your LLC's registration.

1. Get your EIN from the IRS (free, immediate online). You need this before opening a bank account or hiring employees. Apply directly at IRS.gov at no cost.
2. File for a Retail Sales Permit if selling taxable goods or services. Rhode Island has a 7% sales tax, and the Division of Taxation requires a permit before you collect it. There is no fee to apply.
3. Pay the $400 minimum annual business tax to the RI Division of Taxation. This is due regardless of income. File Form RI-1065 (partnerships) or the applicable return based on your tax election. Missing this payment results in penalties and potential loss of good standing.
4. File your Annual Report between February 1 and May 1. The fee is $50 per year. Late filings incur a $25 penalty, and continued failure can lead to revocation of your LLC.
5. File your federal BOI (Beneficial Ownership Information) report with FinCEN. LLCs formed in 2024 or later must file within 90 days of formation. There is no fee, but penalties for non-compliance are steep.
6. Draft an operating agreement. Rhode Island does not legally require one, but banks often ask for it when opening a business account, and it protects your limited liability status in disputes.

• $400 Minimum Annual Tax - Every Rhode Island LLC owes this to the Division of Taxation each year, even with zero income.
• $50 Annual Report Fee - Due between February 1 and May 1 each year, with a $25 late fee for missing the deadline.
• $100+ Reinstatement Fee - If your LLC is revoked for non-compliance, reinstatement costs $100 plus all delinquent annual report fees and a $50 penalty per year of revocation.
• $50 Name Reservation Fee - If you want to hold your LLC name for up to 120 days before filing, Rhode Island charges $50 for the reservation.