How to Get a Registered Agent in Rhode Island (2026): 6 Steps and the 3 Best Agents
We would send a new founder in Rhode Island to Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Rhode Island Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and RI Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) for a registered agent in 2026, in that order. Then come 6 steps, one rule at a time.
A Rhode Island resident, or a corporation, limited partnership or LLC formed in Rhode Island or authorized there. The rule is in R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-11.
Step3
Step 3: Get the address right
The address has to be a Rhode Island street address, not a P.O. box, where the agent is available during business hours.
TipOur picks all provide the Rhode Island office address.
Step4
Step 4: Decide: yourself or a service
Serving yourself is allowed when you qualify; hiring one of our picks runs $99 to $149 yearly.
Step5
Step 5: List the agent with the state
The agent's name and address go into the Articles of Organization (Form 400) when you form. To switch later, file a change with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
Official source: Source: docs.sos.ri.gov, confirmed October 2026
Step6
Step 6: Keep the details up to date
Each year, the Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company confirms your details for $50, by May 1. Late filings cost $25. $400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.
Official source: Source: sos.ri.gov, confirmed August 2026
Agent and state costs
Cost item
Paid to
Cost
A professional agent
The service
$99 to $149 a year
From year two
The service
$99 to $149 a year
The yearly report
State office
$50 every year
Minimum yearly tax
State office
$400 a year
For the three-year state total we add the filing fee, the reports in years two and three and any minimum yearly tax.
Why Mainstay Filing comes first
On lesson steps handled, which carries 35%, Mainstay Filing scored above Rhode Island Registered Agent.co.
Rhode Island Registered Agent.co costs less; coverage across states graded higher.
Check your understanding
Do I need a resident agent in Rhode Island?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Can I be my own resident agent?
Yes, provided you meet both rules in steps 2 and 3.
Can I change my resident agent later?
Yes, with a change filing at the Rhode Island Secretary of State (step 5).
What does a registered agent cost in Rhode Island?
$99 to $149 a year among our picks.
What does the LLC pay the state each year?
The Annual Report for a Limited Liability Company, $50 every year, plus the yearly minimum tax.
Which registered agent would you choose?
Mainstay Filing: a flat $149 yearly price wherever the LLC is registered. After it, Rhode Island Registered Agent.co and RI Registered Agent.org.