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<v Dan>The 5 best registered agents in Rhode Island in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest

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<v Dan>Registered Agent, RI Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and

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<v Dan>Rhode Island Registered Agent.co.

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<v Maya>This is The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>Rhode Island is small. Is the agent rule small too?

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<v Dan>Not quite. The state calls it a resident agent, a change costs $20, and the state

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<v Dan>mails a reminder to that agent each January.

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<v Dan>If it comes back undeliverable, revocation can start.

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<v Maya>What does the law say?

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<v Dan>Section 7-16-11 says every Rhode Island LLC must have a resident agent for

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<v Dan>service of process.

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<v Maya>Who counts?

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<v Dan>An individual who lives in Rhode Island, or a corporation, limited partnership or

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<v Dan>LLC, either domestic or authorized to do business in the state.

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<v Maya>And the address?

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<v Dan>A Rhode Island street address.

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<v Dan>The agent has to be available there during normal business hours.

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<v Maya>What's not allowed?

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

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

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<v Dan>Thanks, Maya. On to the five.

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<v Maya>First?

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

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<v Maya>What's included?

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<v Dan>Its Rhode Island address on the public record instead of yours.

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<v Dan>Papers served on your company are scanned and uploaded the same business day, no

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<v Dan>fee. The first three government mailings a year are scanned for free.

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<v Maya>And a switch?

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

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<v Maya>What's the catch?

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

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<v Maya>Number two?

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<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent at $125 a year.

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<v Dan>Its page says the price hasn't changed in 20 years, and up to 10 business-mail scans

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<v Dan>a year are free.

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<v Maya>The catch?

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<v Dan>Signup enrolls you in its annual report filing service automatically.

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<v Dan>It's $100 plus state fees each time, unless you cancel.

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<v Maya>What does Rhode Island charge for the report?

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<v Dan>$50 on paper, or $52.50 online.

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<v Dan>So the service is about double the state fee, or more.

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<v Maya>Third?

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<v Dan>RI Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>Same-day document scanning, compliance reminders, and privacy protection.

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<v Maya>How about switching?

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<v Dan>Just the $20 state fee.

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<v Maya>The catch?

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<v Dan>Annual report filing is a separate service.

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<v Maya>Versus number one?

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

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<v Maya>Four?

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<v Dan>Bizee, formerly Incfile. The agent is free the first year with any formation

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<v Dan>package, then $149 a year.

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<v Maya>Fine print?

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

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<v Maya>And if my LLC is already formed?

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

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<v Maya>And five?

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<v Dan>Rhode Island Registered Agent.co, a flat $99 a year.

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<v Dan>The resident agent address, scanning of legal correspondence, and reminders ahead of

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<v Dan>state deadlines.

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<v Maya>Different from number three?

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<v Dan>On price and on the catch, no.

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<v Dan>Annual report filing is a separate service.

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<v Maya>Where does the agent go on the formation filing?

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<v Dan>Item 2 of the Articles of Organization, Form 400.

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<v Dan>It asks for the agent's name and a Rhode Island street address, not a P.O.

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<v Dan>box.

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<v Maya>What does it cost?

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<v Dan>$150, or $156 online.

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<v Maya>Does the agent sign anything?

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<v Dan>No. The state doesn't have a consent filing, and the change form is signed by an

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<v Dan>authorized person of the LLC.

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<v Maya>So the agent's yes is on you.

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

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<v Maya>How do I change it?

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<v Dan>With Form 642, the Statement of Change of Agent.

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<v Dan>It's $20, and online it's $2 more.

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<v Maya>Who signs?

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<v Dan>Any authorized person of the LLC.

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<v Dan>It's effective when the Secretary of State accepts it.

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<v Maya>Can I just change the office address?

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

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<v Maya>Where do I file?

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<v Dan>Online, by mail, or in person.

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<v Maya>And a later effective date?

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

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<v Dan>short.

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<v Maya>What mail goes to the agent?

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<v Dan>A courtesy reminder each January, for every active business that owes an annual

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<v Dan>report.

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<v Maya>And what if it bounces?

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<v Dan>If the reminder letter comes back undeliverable, the state can start revocation

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<v Dan>proceedings for failing to maintain a registered office.

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<v Maya>So a dead agent address is a real risk.

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<v Dan>It is. Form 642 also says other important state correspondence goes to that address,

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<v Dan>on top of legal service.

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<v Maya>What if my agent resigns?

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<v Dan>It files a signed resignation with the state, plus a statement that it was delivered

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<v Dan>or sent to your LLC.

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<v Maya>When does it take effect?

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

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<v Maya>Is there a fee or a form?

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<v Dan>The state's LLC fee schedule lists neither.

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<v Maya>So I should name a replacement fast.

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<v Dan>Yes. Use that 30 days to file Form 642.

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

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<v Dan>The Secretary of State is appointed your agent for service of process in three

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<v Dan>situations.

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<v Maya>Which?

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<v Dan>If no resident agent was ever appointed.

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<v Dan>If the agent's authority was revoked.

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<v Dan>Or if the agent can't be found or served after reasonable diligence.

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<v Maya>What else does the state say?

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<v Dan>Form 642 warns that failing to file an annual report or maintain a registered agent

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<v Dan>leads to revocation proceedings.

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<v Maya>And after revocation?

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<v Dan>A revoked entity loses good standing.

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<v Dan>Reinstatement starts with a $50 letter of good standing from the Division of

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<v Dan>Taxation.

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<v Maya>What's Rhode Island's yearly filing?

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

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<v Maya>When?

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

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<v Maya>If I miss it?

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

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<v Maya>Anything else owed?

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

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<v Dan>of Taxation.

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<v Maya>Can I be my own resident agent?

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<v Dan>If you live in Rhode Island and have a street address, yes.

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<v Dan>You have to be reachable there in regular business hours.

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<v Maya>The filing guide gives hours?

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

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<v Maya>And the downside?

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

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<v Maya>What's the agent's job?

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<v Dan>To accept all legal service for the entity.

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<v Dan>Form 642 describes it in those words.

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<v Maya>Is there a right order for switching?

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<v Dan>Yes. Get the new agent's yes first.

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<v Dan>Then file Form 642 and wait for the state to accept it.

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<v Dan>Then update any address you use for the LLC's mail.

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<v Maya>Why wait?

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<v Dan>The change is effective when the Secretary of State accepts the statement, so until

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<v Dan>then the old agent is the one on record.

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<v Maya>And if I only moved the office?

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

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<v Maya>How does a Providence or Warwick owner choose?

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<v Dan>Three questions. Does the price hold, is the address a real Rhode Island street

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<v Dan>address, and who files the change.

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<v Maya>And your pick?

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

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<v Maya>All five again?

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<v Dan>One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel.

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<v Dan>Three, RI Registered Agent.org: $99

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<v Dan>flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then

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<v Dan>$149. Five,

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<v Dan>Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: $99 flat.

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<v Maya>The links are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.