Best LLC Service in Rhode Island (2026): Top Picks for RI Formation
Budget pick: Bizee - $0 + $150 state fee. Free RA year one. Shares data with marketing partners.
$39 service fee + $150 state fee = $189 total year one. Registered agent included free year one, then $125/year. Family-owned since 1998, A+ BBB, does not sell your data.
Form Your Rhode Island LLC with Northwest →Rhode Island LLC At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formation document | Articles of Organization |
| Filing agency | Rhode Island Secretary of State |
| State filing fee | $150 |
| Processing time | 1-3 business days |
| Annual requirement | Annual Report (Form 632), filed February 1 - May 1 each year. Late penalty: $25 (after May 31). |
| Annual fee | $50 (annual report) + $400 minimum annual tax (paid separately to RI Division of Taxation) |
| State income tax | Graduated: 3.75% to 5.99% on LLC pass-through income |
| Franchise / minimum tax | $400 mandatory minimum annual tax paid to the RI Division of Taxation (applies to all LLCs via Form RI-1065, regardless of income or activity) |
| Registered agent required | Yes, physical Rhode Island address required |
Rhode Island compliance note: Two annual obligations require tracking: (1) Annual Report ($50, Secretary of State, February 1-May 1) and (2) $400 minimum annual tax (RI Division of Taxation, March 15). A formation service only tracks the Secretary of State filing. Your CPA or tax professional must separately track the $400 minimum tax. Budget $450+ in annual compliance costs, not counting registered agent fees.
Rhode Island LLC Formation Services Compared
| Service | RI Service Fee | State Fee | RA Year 1 | RA Renewal | Year-1 Total | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $39 | $150 | $0 (included) | $125/yr | $189 | ~$739 |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 | $150 | $199/yr add-on | $199/yr | $150 + $199 RA | Higher |
| Bizee Basic* | $0 | $150 | $0 (included) | $119/yr | $150 | Moderate |
| Inc Authority | $0 | $150 | $0 (included) | $179/yr | $150 | Moderate |
| LegalZoom Pro | $249 | $150 | Not included | $249/yr | Highest | Highest |
*Bizee Basic: articles of organization filing only. RA free year one, then $119/year. Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. LegalZoom RA never included; auto-renewal traps apply on add-on services. Rates verified June 2026.
Northwest Registered Agent: Top Pick for Rhode Island
Northwest Registered Agent
Service fee: $39 • State fee: $150 • Year-1 total: $189
Northwest has formed LLCs since 1998. Family-owned, A+ BBB, physical offices in all 50 states. They do not sell customer data, which is a genuine differentiator. The $39 formation fee includes a free year of registered agent service (then $125/year), an operating agreement template, and same-day filing.
For Rhode Island: Northwest files your Articles of Organization with the Rhode Island Secretary of State and sends compliance reminders for your annual report deadline. For Rhode Island, they track both the Secretary of State annual report deadline and alert you to the Division of Taxation obligations. Their Business Identity suite (added January 2026) also includes business address and phone services.
Not included: EIN assistance is a $50 add-on. Get your EIN free at IRS.gov in 15 minutes.
Form Your Rhode Island LLC with Northwest →ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
Service fee: $0 (Starter) • State fee: $150 • RA: $199/year add-on (auto-renewing)
ZenBusiness offers $0 formation on its Starter plan, but registered agent service is $199/year and not included. On a 3-year total basis, most Rhode Island LLC owners needing registered agent service pay more with ZenBusiness than with Northwest. The dashboard and compliance alert system are good; watch for auto-renewing subscriptions at checkout.
Bizee (formerly Incfile)
Bizee
Service fee: $0 (Basic) • State fee: $150 • RA: Free year 1, then $119/year
Bizee offers $0 formation with free registered agent for year one (then $119/year). Caveat: Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. If data privacy matters to you, this is a meaningful drawback. Bizee is a reasonable budget option on cost alone but falls short on privacy.
View Bizee →Inc Authority
Inc Authority
Service fee: $0 • State fee: $150 • RA: Free year 1, then $179/year
Inc Authority offers $0 formation with free first-year registered agent. The $179/year renewal is higher than both Bizee ($119) and Northwest ($125), making it more expensive long-term despite the free formation. Aggressive upselling during checkout is a known issue.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom
Service fee: $249+ • State fee: $150 • RA: $249/year, never included
LegalZoom's Pro plan costs $249 and registered agent is never included at any price point. Auto-renewal traps on bookkeeping and attorney trial add-ons are well-documented. Brand recognition does not translate to better formation quality than Northwest at $39. Not recommended for Rhode Island LLC formation on cost or value grounds.
DIY Filing in Rhode Island
You can file your Articles of Organization directly with the Rhode Island Secretary of State without a formation service:
- Search the Rhode Island business entity database for name availability
- Complete and submit the Articles of Organization online or by mail
- Pay the $150 filing fee
- Designate yourself or a service as registered agent
DIY saves the $39 service fee but requires tracking compliance deadlines independently. For most new LLC owners, the $39 Northwest fee is worth it for same-day filing, compliance tracking, and a free year of registered agent service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $150. Using Northwest Registered Agent adds $39, for $189 year one including a free first year of registered agent service. Budget additionally for $450 in annual costs: $50 annual report plus $400 minimum annual tax.
Every Rhode Island LLC must pay a $400 minimum annual charge to the RI Division of Taxation each year, filed on Form RI-1065. This applies regardless of revenue, income, or business activity - even an LLC with zero revenue owes $400. It is due March 15 for calendar-year LLCs. It is a separate obligation from the $50 annual report filed with the Secretary of State.
The annual report (Form 632) filing window runs February 1 through May 1 each year. A $25 penalty applies to filings submitted after May 31. The first annual report is due the year after your LLC's formation. Note: this deadline changed from the old September 1-November 1 window in 2022.
Rhode Island does not use the term 'franchise tax,' but its $400 mandatory minimum annual charge on LLCs (via Form RI-1065) functions equivalently. All LLCs pay $400 per year to the Division of Taxation regardless of income, on top of the $50 annual report to the Secretary of State.
Rhode Island taxes LLC pass-through income at graduated rates from 3.75% to 5.99%. LLC members report their share of income on their personal Rhode Island returns (Form RI-1040). The LLC itself files Form RI-1065 and pays the $400 minimum annual charge.
Related Guides
- How to Form an LLC in Rhode Island (2026)
- Northwest Registered Agent Review
- Bizee Review
- Compare All LLC Formation Services
- All State LLC Formation Guides
Why I Choose Northwest Registered Agent
After forming 3 LLCs myself and helping clients through the process, I keep coming back to Northwest Registered Agent. Here is why:
- Remarkable Customer Support: Quick, human responses every time.
- Caring & Privacy-Focused: Genuine service with full respect for your privacy.
- Lightning-Fast Formation: Often faster than promised.
- Incredible Value: $39 includes free business address, mail scanning, phone line, business email, domain name, website, and brand protection.
- Clear & Transparent: No hidden fees or surprises.
Ready to form your business? Choose Northwest today!
Frédéric has founded and operated businesses across multiple countries, including 3 LLCs formed using Northwest Registered Agent. He holds certifications as a holistic coach and therapist trainer, is a published author, and has been featured in Le Parisien, IMDb, Goodreads, and international encyclopedias.
FTC Disclosure: OnlineLLCGuide.com earns affiliate commissions when you use our links. These commissions do not affect our ratings, rankings, or editorial positions. We independently evaluate each service. , OnlineLLCGuide.com