The explanation · Rhode Island
3 Best LLC Services in Rhode Island (2026): What You Get
Summary
- State filing charge
- $150, a single payment
- Later years
- $50 per year + $400 yearly minimum tax
- Resident agent
- Required
- Our recommendations
- Mainstay Filing, Rhode Island Registered Agent.co then RI Registered Agent.org
Services we would pick in Rhode Island
Prices come from each company's own pricing page. The ranking is explained on how we pick.1. Mainstay Filing: best for paperwork taken off your hands
Annual price $199, renewal price $199, state fee extra
Mainstay Filing is where we would start in Rhode Island. In short, it files the annual report for you, which none of the others do, for $199 a year.
Three years run $200 higher than Rhode Island Registered Agent.co, and the amount of work covered settles the question.
The Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company is filed for you, and the $50 the state charges is passed through at cost.
Includes
- Formation, filed by Mainstay
- Resident agent for the whole year
- Annual report prepared and filed for you
- EIN application
- State fee passed through as is
Points in its favor
- $199 a year, all included
- Renewal is $199
- Applies for the EIN for you
Where it falls short
- From year two it costs $100 a year more than Rhode Island Registered Agent.co
2. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: best for keeping three-year cost down
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
Our second recommendation, Rhode Island Registered Agent.co, earns it since year one costs $199 and each later year $99.
The Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company is not part of the price, so you will file it on your own.
Includes
- The LLC, filed for you
- Year-one registered agent
Points in its favor
- $199, with the state fee on top
- First-year agent in the price
- $99 each year from year two
Where it falls short
- Filing the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company stays with you
- Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra
3. RI Registered Agent.org: best for one-state companies
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
Our third recommendation, RI Registered Agent.org, earns it since year one costs $199 and each later year $99.
The Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company is not part of the price, so you will file it on your own.
Price for price, it matches Rhode Island Registered Agent.co.
Includes
- The LLC, filed for you
- Year-one registered agent
Points in its favor
- $199, with the state fee on top
- First-year agent in the price
- $99 each year from year two
Where it falls short
- Filing the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company stays with you
- Applying for an EIN costs $99 extra
The picks compared
| # | Company | Year one | Year two on | Total, 3 years | Included in the price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Formation, filed by Mainstay; resident agent for the whole year; annual report prepared and filed for you | Check Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Rhode Island Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed for you; Year-one registered agent | Check Rhode Island Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | RI Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | The LLC, filed for you; Year-one registered agent | Check RI Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Key questions
What does it cost to set up an LLC in this state?
$150 goes to the state, and $199 more if you hire a service in year one.
Counting the recurring report and the minimum tax, the state collects $1,450 in the first three years. docs.sos.ri.gov, confirmed October 2026
- $400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.
Who receives the filing?
A single filing forms the LLC: the Articles of Organization (Form 400), sent to the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
Read the law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-5. docs.sos.ri.gov, confirmed October 2026
Does the state insist on a resident agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A Rhode Island resident, or a corporation, limited partnership or LLC formed in Rhode Island or authorized there.
webserver.rilegislature.gov, confirmed October 2026
Are there costs every year?
What recurs is the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company: annual, $50. In the state's words it falls due May 1, so keep an eye on it. The yearly minimum tax also applies.
A late filing adds $25.
sos.ri.gov, confirmed August 2026
Can I do the filing without help?
Yes, and the cost is then the state's $1,450 over three years.
Services charge $397 to $597 over three years for that work.
Why is the order what it is?
The deciding factor is how much work the price handles (28% of the weight), where Mainstay Filing is strongest.
What three years cost carries 34% and how much work the price handles carries 28%. Three smaller criteria decide close calls.
We give weight to a report that gets filed on time, so the bundle ranks first.
Official Rhode Island requirements
| Requirement | Fee or rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | $150 | docs.sos.ri.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Resident agent | Required | webserver.rilegislature.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Report after formation | $50 every year | sos.ri.gov, confirmed August 2026 |
| Annual minimum tax | $400 a year | tax.ri.gov, confirmed October 2026 |
| Years one to three, state fees | $1,450 | Computed from the lines above |
FAQ
Who takes care of the EIN?
Mainstay Filing applies for it at no extra charge. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co adds $99; RI Registered Agent.org adds $99.
Is there a penalty for a late report?
The late fee is $25.
What are the three-year totals?
Mainstay Filing: $597 | Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: $397 | RI Registered Agent.org: $397 (service fees only).
Where do the numbers come from?
Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, and every figure carries a date.
Is hiring anyone mandatory?
No, you may file on your own if you meet the rules on this page.
Which one should I choose in Rhode Island?
Mainstay Filing is on top because you pay $199 a year and get the formation, the resident agent and the annual report taken care of; Rhode Island Registered Agent.co and RI Registered Agent.org follow.
Where the facts come from
- docs.sos.ri.gov: Rhode Island Department of State (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.ri.gov: Rhode Island Department of State (confirmed August 2026)
- webserver.rilegislature.gov: R.I (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.ri.gov: Rhode Island formation fee: Filing (confirmed October 2026)
- docs.sos.ri.gov: Rhode Island formation fee: Filing (confirmed October 2026)
- webserver.rilegislature.gov: Rhode Island registered agent statute (confirmed October 2026)
- tax.ri.gov: Rhode Island other cost (confirmed October 2026)
- Prices taken from the Mainstay Filing Rhode Island service page on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the Rhode Island Registered Agent.co pricing page on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the RI Registered Agent.org pricing page on November 13, 2026