All businesses need to register with a unique business name. Check name availability by using the RI Department of State Corporate Database. For more information on name availability, please visit the RI Department of State Name Availability Guidelines.
A registered agent is an individual or entity that receives official and legal documents on behalf of a business. The agent must be a Rhode Island resident or an entity qualified to do business in this state.
A registered agent must have a Rhode Island street address and must be available at the given address during normal business hours to accept service of process. P.O. Boxes or shipping/postal company addresses do not meet this standard and are not allowed.
The chart below outlines how to file with the RI Department of State to register certain business structures. You can learn more about these structures by reviewing our Business Structures chart.
If you are looking to start a General Partnership or Sole Proprietorship, please contact the city or town where you wish to do business. General Partnerships and Sole Proprietorships do not register with the RI Department of State.
| Business Structure | Online Filing | Paper Filing | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Limited Liability Company (LLC) R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 7-16 |
File Online | $150 | |
Business Corporation R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 7-1.2 |
File Online | $230 | |
Limited Partnership (LP) R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 7-13 |
File Online | $100 |
Before proceeding to Step 4, be sure to confirm your registration filing was accepted. Your filing may take between one to three business days to process.
Your EIN is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify your business.
The RI Division of Taxation’s Taxpayer Portal is an easy way for your business to pay corporate taxes, apply for Letters of Good Standing, or submit a Business Application and Registration (BAR) form to create a sales tax account.