The 5 Best Registered Agents in Rhode Island (2026)

Full transcript

0:00 The short answer

Dan The 5 best registered agents in Rhode Island in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, RI Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and Rhode Island Registered Agent.co.

Maya This is The Business Formation Podcast. Rhode Island is small. Is the agent rule small too?

Dan Not quite. The state calls it a resident agent, a change costs $20, and the state mails a reminder to that agent each January. If it comes back undeliverable, revocation can start.

0:33 What Rhode Island requires

Maya What does the law say?

Dan Section 7-16-11 says every Rhode Island LLC must have a resident agent for service of process.

Maya Who counts?

Dan An individual who lives in Rhode Island, or a corporation, limited partnership or LLC, either domestic or authorized to do business in the state.

Maya And the address?

Dan A Rhode Island street address. The agent has to be available there during normal business hours.

Maya What's not allowed?

Dan P.O. boxes, shipping or postal company addresses, and virtual business addresses.

Maya I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

Dan Thanks, Maya. On to the five.

1:14 Mainstay Filing

Maya First?

Dan Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, same at renewal.

Maya What's included?

Dan Its Rhode Island address on the public record instead of yours. Papers served on your company are scanned and uploaded the same business day, no fee. The first three government mailings a year are scanned for free.

Maya And a switch?

Dan Mainstay files it for you. The $20 state fee passes through at cost.

Maya What's the catch?

Dan Two agents on the list are $99, so if that's your priority, look at them.

1:46 Northwest Registered Agent

Maya Number two?

Dan Northwest Registered Agent at $125 a year. Its page says the price hasn't changed in 20 years, and up to 10 business-mail scans a year are free.

Maya The catch?

Dan Signup enrolls you in its annual report filing service automatically. It's $100 plus state fees each time, unless you cancel.

Maya What does Rhode Island charge for the report?

Dan $50 on paper, or $52.50 online. So the service is about double the state fee, or more.

2:19 RI Registered Agent.org

Maya Third?

Dan RI Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, same at renewal. Same-day document scanning, compliance reminders, and privacy protection.

Maya How about switching?

Dan Just the $20 state fee.

Maya The catch?

Dan Annual report filing is a separate service.

Maya Versus number one?

Dan $50 a year cheaper, so $150 over three years.

2:45 Bizee

Maya Four?

Dan Bizee, formerly Incfile. The agent is free the first year with any formation package, then $149 a year.

Maya Fine print?

Dan The free year needs a formation order, and the renewal is automatic.

Maya And if my LLC is already formed?

Dan You'd begin at $149. Two years is $298.

3:10 Rhode Island Registered Agent.co

Maya And five?

Dan Rhode Island Registered Agent.co, a flat $99 a year. The resident agent address, scanning of legal correspondence, and reminders ahead of state deadlines.

Maya Different from number three?

Dan On price and on the catch, no. Annual report filing is a separate service.

3:30 Naming the agent at formation

Maya Where does the agent go on the formation filing?

Dan Item 2 of the Articles of Organization, Form 400. It asks for the agent's name and a Rhode Island street address, not a P.O. box.

Maya What does it cost?

Dan $150, or $156 online.

Maya Does the agent sign anything?

Dan No. The state doesn't have a consent filing, and the change form is signed by an authorized person of the LLC.

Maya So the agent's yes is on you.

Dan Right. Ask first, and keep it in writing for yourself.

4:04 Changing the agent

Maya How do I change it?

Dan With Form 642, the Statement of Change of Agent. It's $20, and online it's $2 more.

Maya Who signs?

Dan Any authorized person of the LLC. It's effective when the Secretary of State accepts it.

Maya Can I just change the office address?

Dan Yes. Form 642A is for a change of resident office only, and there's no fee.

Maya Where do I file?

Dan Online, by mail, or in person.

Maya And a later effective date?

Dan You can ask for one. The form and its instructions give different limits, so keep it short.

4:43 The January reminder

Maya What mail goes to the agent?

Dan A courtesy reminder each January, for every active business that owes an annual report.

Maya And what if it bounces?

Dan If the reminder letter comes back undeliverable, the state can start revocation proceedings for failing to maintain a registered office.

Maya So a dead agent address is a real risk.

Dan It is. Form 642 also says other important state correspondence goes to that address, on top of legal service.

5:11 If the agent resigns

Maya What if my agent resigns?

Dan It files a signed resignation with the state, plus a statement that it was delivered or sent to your LLC.

Maya When does it take effect?

Dan Thirty days after it's filed, unless the resignation names a later time.

Maya Is there a fee or a form?

Dan The state's LLC fee schedule lists neither.

Maya So I should name a replacement fast.

Dan Yes. Use that 30 days to file Form 642.

5:38 When there's no agent

Maya What happens if there's no one to serve?

Dan The Secretary of State is appointed your agent for service of process in three situations.

Maya Which?

Dan If no resident agent was ever appointed. If the agent's authority was revoked. Or if the agent can't be found or served after reasonable diligence.

Maya What else does the state say?

Dan Form 642 warns that failing to file an annual report or maintain a registered agent leads to revocation proceedings.

Maya And after revocation?

Dan A revoked entity loses good standing. Reinstatement starts with a $50 letter of good standing from the Division of Taxation.

6:19 The annual report

Maya What's Rhode Island's yearly filing?

Dan The annual report, Form 632. It's $50, or $52.50 online.

Maya When?

Dan Between February 1 and May 1, starting the year after you form.

Maya If I miss it?

Dan There's a $25 penalty after June 1.

Maya Anything else owed?

Dan Yes. There's a $400 minimum tax, filed separately on Form RI-1065 with the Division of Taxation.

6:47 Doing it yourself

Maya Can I be my own resident agent?

Dan If you live in Rhode Island and have a street address, yes. You have to be reachable there in regular business hours.

Maya The filing guide gives hours?

Dan It says 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Maya And the downside?

Dan Your address is public, and the state mail and every lawsuit come there.

Maya What's the agent's job?

Dan To accept all legal service for the entity. Form 642 describes it in those words.

7:14 Before you switch

Maya Is there a right order for switching?

Dan Yes. Get the new agent's yes first. Then file Form 642 and wait for the state to accept it. Then update any address you use for the LLC's mail.

Maya Why wait?

Dan The change is effective when the Secretary of State accepts the statement, so until then the old agent is the one on record.

Maya And if I only moved the office?

Dan Then Form 642A covers it, and it costs nothing.

7:44 Picking one

Maya How does a Providence or Warwick owner choose?

Dan Three questions. Does the price hold, is the address a real Rhode Island street address, and who files the change.

Maya And your pick?

Dan Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Rhode Island, at $149 a year.

8:05 The five in a row

Maya All five again?

Dan One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, RI Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: $99 flat.

Maya The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.