Home / Business Foundation / Rhode Island

How to start a business in Rhode Island

The fees, filing links and deadlines for forming and registering a business in Rhode Island, with the official page for each step.

Last verified October 24, 2026 General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Each fee shows the date we checked it on the official page. Fees change, so confirm on the official page before you pay.

LLC filing fee: $150
LLC, first year (state fees): Varies; see the notes below
$50 annual report due by May 1 next year
Corporation filing fee: $230
Annual report: $50
DBA filed with: State
General state license: No
Newspaper notice: No

How much does it cost to form an LLC or corporation in Rhode Island?

To form an LLC, file Articles of Organization with the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division for $150 (checked Oct 24, 2026) Filing online may add an access fee that goes to RI.gov; no official page states its amount for this filing. Filing by mail or in person adds nothing.. You can file online. A corporation files Articles of Incorporation for $230 (checked Oct 24, 2026). That filing fee is not the whole bill: see what it costs in the first year.

What does an LLC really cost in its first year in Rhode Island?

Filing fees are only part of the cost. Here is every state fee and minimum tax we found that a new LLC must pay to form and stay in good standing for its first year. Example: Single-member LLC owned by one individual, filed online at standard speed, operating from day one with no employees; licenses every business must hold are counted, sales tax permits are listed separately.

State fee	Cost	When	Checked
Articles of Organization filing fee	$150	at filing	Oct 24, 2026
Online access fee (goes to RI.gov) When filing online (the baseline); filing by mail or in person avoids it	Note No official page states whether this fee applies to Articles of Organization or how much it is; the annual report page lists $2.50.	at filing	Check when you file
$400 annual charge (Division of Taxation)	$400	for the formation year, even a partial one; due with Form RI-1065 on the owner's due date (April 15 of the next year for an individual owner)	Oct 24, 2026

First-year total: some fees are set locally or shown only at checkout
$50 annual report due by May 1 next year At least $550: formation $150 plus the $400 annual charge for the formation year (due April 15 of the next year for an individual owner). Filing the formation online also carries an RI.gov access fee whose amount no official page states; filing on paper avoids it. The first $50 annual report, due February 1 to May 1 of the next year (filing it online adds $2.50), is shown below the total, not counted in it. Excludes the free sales permit, fictitious business names, city and town licenses, registered agent services and expedite fees.

After the first year: Each year: the $50 annual report (February 1 to May 1, $2.50 more online, $25 late from June 1) and the $400 annual charge, so at least $450. The sales permit renews free by February 1.

Fees that apply only in some cases

State fee	Cost	When	Checked
Permit to make sales at retail If you sell taxable goods or services at retail	$0	before making sales; renew free by February 1 each year	Oct 24, 2026
Fictitious business name statement If the LLC does business under a name other than its legal name; no renewal	$50	before using the name	Oct 24, 2026
Employer withholding and unemployment/TDI registration If you hire employees in Rhode Island	$0	when you hire	Oct 24, 2026

Not included: city or county licenses, a registered agent service if you hire one, and optional extras such as expedited filing. Fees can change after the date shown; confirm on the official page before you pay.

Do I need to register a DBA in Rhode Island?

If you do business under a name that isn’t your legal name, register it as an assumed name (DBA) with the state for $20 (checked Oct 24, 2026).

How to file a DBA

Does Rhode Island require an annual report?

Yes. The fee is $50 (checked Oct 24, 2026) The fee table also says "plus $3.00 to file online" beside the late penalty, without explaining it.. Between February 1 and May 1 each year, starting the calendar year after formation. Filing online adds a $2.50 access fee; a $25 penalty applies from June 1.

Initial report: No. (checked Oct 24, 2026) No initial report. The first filing after formation is the $50 annual report due February 1 to May 1 of the next year.

Does Rhode Island have a franchise or privilege tax?

Every LLC, single-member LLCs included, owes the Division of Taxation a $400 annual charge for each year it exists, including the year it forms, even with no income or activity; it is not prorated. LLCs taxed as partnerships file Form RI-1065 by March 15 (Form RI-1120S if taxed as an S corporation). A single-member LLC uses its owner's due date, April 15 for an individual owner. LLCs taxed as corporations, and corporations, pay the greater of 7% of net income or $400. Starting with tax year 2027, a new high-income surtax applies to personal income over $1 million (1% in 2027, 2% in 2028, 3% from 2029); the $400 charge is unchanged.

How do I register for state taxes in Rhode Island?

Register with the state revenue agency for sales tax and withholding, and open an unemployment insurance account once you hire your first employee.

Does Rhode Island require a general business license?

No. Rhode Island doesn’t issue one general business license; what you need depends on your activity and where you operate.

Rhode Island has no statewide general business license; required licenses depend on the activity and come from various state agencies. The free RI Business Assistant builds a checklist of state licenses and costs and points to the chosen city or town for local licenses and zoning. Retail sellers need a permit to make sales at retail; by law it is free, and it must be renewed each year by February 1, also free. One online form (the BAR) registers the sales permit, employer withholding and unemployment/TDI accounts together; only a cigarette dealer's license on that form carries a fee.

What local licenses will I need in Rhode Island?

Cities and counties set their own licenses, zoning and permits. Call your city or county clerk with your business type and address before you open.

Providence (city)
The Board of Licenses handles the city's business licenses, with applications online only; staff review each application and schedule a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners. The page does not say which businesses need a city license or what it costs; the license list is on the city's online portal.

When do I need workers’ comp in Rhode Island?

1 or more employees.

Individual owners and partners are exempt. Most corporate officers are covered unless they file a DWC-11 waiver with the Department of Labor and Training. Independent contractors file a free DWC 11-IC form for each hiring business, valid one year. Going without required coverage can bring fines of $1,000 per day, possible felony charges ($10,000 fine and two years in prison) and closure of the business.

What else should I know about starting a business in Rhode Island?

LLCs pay $150 to form and $50 for each annual report; the Department of State says to expect at least $450 a year in state taxes and fees counting the $400 annual charge. Filings take one to three business days. Business corporations pay $230 to form and file the same $50 annual report. An LLC or corporation that wants to use another name files a fictitious business name statement ($50, no renewal). Since January 1, 2026, sole proprietors and general partnerships register trade names ($20) with the Department of State instead of city or town clerks; each trade name covers one city or town, and a free renewal is due every September 1 to November 30 starting the year after registration. Paying online by card adds a 3% convenience fee on trade name filings. Professional service corporations must show proof of liability insurance when filing, and engineering firms need prior approval from the engineering licensing board.

What to double-check for Rhode Island?

A few details below aren't spelled out on the state's own pages. Confirm them on the official page before you file.

Note The Department of State says online filings carry an access fee that goes to RI.gov, but no official page states whether it applies to Articles of Organization or its amount; filing by mail or in person adds nothing. https://business.sos.ri.gov/corp/payment/accessfee2.asp
Note The annual report fee table lists a $2.50 online fee and also says "plus $3.00 to file online" beside the $25 late penalty, without explaining the difference; late online filings may cost $3.00 instead of $2.50. https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/ri-business/file-your-annual-report
Note The Department of Labor and Training's pages do not say whether LLC members are exempt from workers' compensation coverage the way individual owners and partners are. https://dlt.ri.gov/workers-compensation/employers
Note https://docs.sos.ri.gov/documents/BusinessServices/LLC_Welcome_Packet.pdf
Note They are linked from https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services and https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/business-assistant.
Note https://providenceri.viewpointcloud.com/

What to do next

Want help setting up in Rhode Island? Contact us

Another state

Sources

Official pages checked on October 24, 2026.