Register Your Business with the State of Rhode Island
Gather required information
Name of Company
All businesses need to register with a unique business name. If your name already exists in Rhode Island, you will need to conduct business under a different 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.
Registered Agent
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.
Registered Agent Address
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 (including virtual business addresses) do not meet this standard and are not allowed.
Get proof of good standing or legal existence
A certificate of good standing/legal existence from your business’s state or country of formation, dated within 60 days of the date of filing, must accompany most applications.
Use our interactive map to find out where to order the required certificate.
Register your business
The chart below outlines your filing obligations with the RI Department of State to register certain business structures in Rhode Island.
| Business Structure | Paper Filing | Fee |
|---|---|---|
Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 7-16 |
$150 | |
Foreign Business Corporation R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 7-1.2 |
$310 | |
Foreign Limited Partnership (LP) R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 7-13 |
$100 | |
Foreign Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 7-12 |
$1,000 |
Register with the RI Division of Taxation
The RI Division of Taxation’s Taxpayer Portal is an easy way for your business to file and pay taxes, apply for a Letter of Good Standing, or renew a tax license. Depending on the nature of your business, you can register in one of two ways.
If you do NOT have employees or make retail sales, call the Division of Taxation hotline at (401) 574-8484 to set up your Portal account.
If you have employees or make retail sales, submit a Business Application and Registration (BAR) form online to create your business tax accounts.
Confirm your filing
Confirm your registration filing was accepted. Your filing may take between one to three business days to process.
Welcome to Rhode Island! What’s next?
Learn more about maintaining your good standing status.