Skip to content
Formation ClassClass is in session: LLC paperwork, state by state.

Class 3 · Rhode Island

Foreign LLC Registration Class, Rhode Island (2026): 5 Assignments and the 3 Best Services

Graded for 2026, the best help with registering an LLC from another state in Rhode Island comes from Mainstay Filing ($199), Rhode Island Registered Agent.co ($199) and RI Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. Registering takes 5 assignments and a $150 state fee, with $50 due on each later report.

Taught by the Formation Class faculty

Need-to-know facts

Fee at the state office$150Look at docs.sos.ri.gov for yourself; we read it in October 2026
Certificate from your home state60 daysMust be issued within
Recurring report$50Annual report
Three-year state cost$1,450Registration, reports and any minimum tax
Assignment count5One by one

Class goals

  • When registration is required
  • How the filing gets made
  • Staying in good standing
  • Which services we recommend and why

Class favorites in Rhode Island

Five weighted criteria set the order (see how we grade), and three-year tuition and homework done count most.
Highest grade

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one provider for both states

$199 plus fees; renewal $149 yearly

The class favorite is Mainstay Filing, because $199 on top of the state fee in any state, with year one of the agent included.

Next to Rhode Island Registered Agent.co the three-year premium is $100, which the 34% weight on homework done outweighs.

Agent service past the first year is $149 yearly.

Covered by the tuition

  • The registration filing
  • The same price in each state

Strengths

  • One price anywhere
  • $199 plus the state fee

Weak spots

  • Rhode Island Registered Agent.co charges $50 less for the agent
Rhode Island specialist

2. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: best for adding just Rhode Island

$199 plus fees; renewal $99 yearly

Our second pick, Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: $199 above the state fee, first agent year covered, and $99 a year afterward.

Covered by the tuition

  • The registration filing
  • One year of agent service is part of the price

Strengths

  • No agent fee in year one
  • $99 a year for the agent after that
  • $199 and the state fee

Weak spots

  • Rhode Island only; your home state needs its own agent
Rhode Island specialist

3. RI Registered Agent.org: best for Rhode Island-only registrations

$199 plus fees; renewal $99 yearly

Our third pick, RI Registered Agent.org: $199 above the state fee, first agent year covered, and $99 a year afterward.

It charges exactly what Rhode Island Registered Agent.co charges.

Covered by the tuition

  • The registration filing
  • One year of agent service is part of the price

Strengths

  • $199 and the state fee
  • No agent fee in year one
  • $99 a year for the agent after that

Weak spots

  • Rhode Island only; your home state needs its own agent

The services compared

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Rhode Island Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Rhode Island Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3RI Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit RI Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's posted price on November 13, 2026. None of the rows includes the $150 state fee.

The class, assignment by assignment

  1. Assignment
    1

    Find out whether you have to register

    An LLC formed in another state has to register with Rhode Island before it does business there. Ignore the rule and this follows: An LLC that has not registered cannot be a plaintiff here (R.I. Gen. Laws 7-16-54(a)). Signed contracts keep their force (R.I. Gen. Laws 7-16-54(b)).

    Textbook page: Look at docs.sos.ri.gov for yourself; we read it in October 2026

  2. Assignment
    2

    Collect the document from the home state

    Get certificate of Good Standing or Letter of Status, dated within 60 days.

    Request it close to the date you plan to file.

  3. Assignment
    3

    Name a resident agent for Rhode Island

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a Rhode Island street address, not a P.O. box, where the agent is available during business hours.

    Each of the graded services serves as the resident agent.

    Textbook page: Look at webserver.rilegislature.gov for yourself; we read it in October 2026

  4. Assignment
    4

    Draw up the Application for Registration for a Foreign Limited Liability Company

    To register, hand the Application for Registration for a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 450) to the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division with $150.

    Textbook page: Look at docs.sos.ri.gov for yourself; we read it in October 2026

  5. Assignment
    5

    Look ahead to the recurring filing

    The repeat assignment is the annual report, $50, between February 1 and May 1. Then there is the tax: $400 a year minimum tax to the Division of Taxation (Form RI-1065), owed whether or not the LLC makes a profit.

The bill

What forWho gets paidAmount
Filing to registerGoes to the state$150
Annual reportGoes to the state$50
Minimum tax each yearGoes to the state$400 a year
Paid helpYour service$199 in year one
Three years of state feesGoes to the state$1,450
Rows for the state use Rhode Island's published fee schedules (see the textbook pages beneath the table), and each service row uses that company's own price. Over three years the state row adds the filing, the year-two report, the year-three report and any minimum tax.

Why the list runs this way

On homework the price does (34% of the grade) came out on top, with close behind.

The LLC is active in two states, and reach decided the order.

What students ask

What is Rhode Island's fee for an out-of-state LLC?

$150 as the official fee. The graded services add $199.

Which form do I file to register?

Look for the Application for Registration for a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 450); it goes to the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division.

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

Yes: certificate of Good Standing or Letter of Status, issued within 60 days of filing.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

An LLC that has not registered cannot be a plaintiff here (R.I. Gen. Laws 7-16-54(a)). Signed contracts keep their force (R.I. Gen. Laws 7-16-54(b)).

What is due after registering?

Look ahead to the annual report, which costs $50.

Which service should handle the registration?

Pick Mainstay Filing: a $199 service fee plus Rhode Island's own fee, then $149 a year for the agent. Then Rhode Island Registered Agent.co and RI Registered Agent.org.

See also

Textbook pages and extra reading

  1. Study tip for Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: everything above comes from docs.sos.ri.gov, which we reread in August 2026. Open it and follow along.
  2. Study tip for Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division: everything above comes from sos.ri.gov, which we reread in August 2026. Open it and follow along.
  3. Study tip for R.I: everything above comes from webserver.rilegislature.gov, which we reread in August 2026. Open it and follow along.
  4. Study tip for Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: everything above comes from sos.ri.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  5. Study tip for Rhode Island formation fee: Filing fee, official source: everything above comes from docs.sos.ri.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  6. Study tip for Rhode Island registered agent statute: everything above comes from webserver.rilegislature.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  7. Study tip for Form 450, Application for Registration: everything above comes from docs.sos.ri.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  8. Study tip for R.I: everything above comes from webserver.rilegislature.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  9. Study tip for R.I: everything above comes from webserver.rilegislature.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  10. Study tip for Form 452, Certificate of Cancellation: everything above comes from docs.sos.ri.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  11. Study tip for Rhode Island other cost: everything above comes from tax.ri.gov, which we reread in October 2026. Open it and follow along.
  12. Mainstay Filing's Rhode Island service page, read on November 13, 2026
  13. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co's pricing page, read on November 13, 2026
  14. RI Registered Agent.org's pricing page, read on November 13, 2026