Comparison of the top registered agent services for Rhode Island LLCs and corporations · Updated 2026-04-30
Picking the right Rhode Island registered agent means trading off price against privacy, in-state expertise, and customer support quality. R.I. Gen. Laws §7-16-11 requires that the agent maintain a physical street address within Rhode Island and accept service of process during regular business hours. Below, we rank the four registered agent services we evaluated for Rhode Island-based LLCs and corporations in 2026.
Northwest Registered Agent
Physical-address-only operations; mail forwarding; same-day filing.
ZenBusiness
Pairs RA with LLC formation packages.
LegalZoom
Largest brand; phone-based support; bundled legal services.
Mid-tier pricing with full feature parity; suitable for businesses focused on cost-efficiency.
Rhode Island-specific option: Rhode Island Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in Rhode Island and specializes in same-state filings. Best for businesses that want a state-focused provider with local-only operations.
| Filing | Cost | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $150 | annually between February 1 and May 1 |
| Annual Report | $50 | annually between February 1 and May 1 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $50 | Every 5 years |
| Change of Registered Agent | $20 | — |
Source: Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division · Statute reference R.I. Gen. Laws §7-16-11
For most Rhode Island LLCs, Northwest Registered Agent ranks first on privacy and Mainstay Filing offers the best value at $99/year. State-specific options like Rhode Island Registered Agent.co specialize in same-state filings.
Commercial services range $50–$250 per year. Mainstay Filing is $99/yr; Northwest is $125/yr; ZenBusiness is $199/yr; LegalZoom is $249/yr.
Yes. File a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division for $20. Most commercial services handle the change paperwork for you.
National services like Mainstay Filing and Northwest operate across all 50 states with consistent pricing and online dashboards. State-specific providers (like Rhode Island Registered Agent.co) focus exclusively on one state and often handle same-state-only filings faster.
Yes — under R.I. Gen. Laws §7-16-11, every Rhode Island LLC must designate and maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Rhode Island.
RA Ratings independently reviews registered agent services. We may earn a commission from sponsored links; this does not affect rankings or editorial selection. Verify all filing fees with the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division before submitting paperwork.