[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.