How to search Rhode Island records
- Choose name, identification number, or individual name on the search form.
- Open the record's "View Filings" to read annual reports and amendments.
- Fictitious business names are filed with the Secretary of State and appear in search.
Open the official Rhode Island search
Rhode Island SOS, corporation and LLC search
Rhode Island SOS Business Search
The Rhode Island SOS business search is run by the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division through its Business Entity Search. Related queries such as "RI Secretary of State business search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its identification number so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
RI Business Entity Search
An entity search of the Rhode Island business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Rhode Island expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Rhode Island Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "RI corp search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Rhode Island LLC Lookup
Run the Rhode Island LLC lookup with the exact name, then note the identification number. Forming a Rhode Island LLC costs $150 and the annual report is $50. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Rhode Island Business Name Search
A Rhode Island business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Rhode Island lets you hold a name for 120 days for $50. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
Rhode Island Business License Search
A Rhode Island entity record is not a business license. Licenses come from the state board for a regulated trade or from the city or county where the business operates, so check those separately. The business verification checklist lists which official records to pull and in what order.
Search by a person's name
Rhode Island's business search lets you look up entities by name, identification number or an individual's name, which helps when you know the owner but not the company. Annual reports for LLCs share a window from February 1 to May 1 and cost $50.
Rhode Island filing facts
| Record number | Identification number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $150. Articles of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $50, yearly |
| Due | Between February 1 and May 1 |
| Other yearly state cost | $400, Minimum annual business tax (Division of Taxation) |
| Name reservation | $50 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 401-222-3040 |
What a Rhode Island LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Minimum annual business tax (Division of Taxation) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $150 | $0 | $400 | $550 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $50 | $400 | $450 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $50 | $400 | $450 |
| Three-year state total | $1,450 | |||
The minimum business tax
Rhode Island LLCs also owe a $400 minimum business tax to the Division of Taxation, which makes the real yearly cost far higher than the report fee; compare it in the fee directory. Fictitious business names are filed with the Secretary of State. Entities that miss the report are revoked after notice, explained under dissolved entity.
Real yearly cost
With the $50 report and the $400 minimum business tax, a Rhode Island LLC costs about $450 a year to keep. Over three years, add the $150 formation fee for a total of roughly $1,500, putting Rhode Island among the higher-cost states for small LLCs.
How Rhode Island compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $150 | $450 | Yearly | $50 |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500 | Yearly | $30 |
| Connecticut | $120 | $80 | Yearly | $60 |
| New York | $200 | $4.50 | Every 2 years | $20 |
Before you rely on a Rhode Island result
- Rhode Island also charges LLCs a minimum annual business tax through the Division of Taxation.
- Entities that miss the annual report are revoked after a notice period.
Bulk Rhode Island business data
Sold by the state.
Searching beyond Rhode Island
Registries next to Rhode Island: Massachusetts business search, Connecticut business search, New York business search.
Rhode Island business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Rhode Island?
The state filing fee is $150. Articles of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $450 a year in state fees, including the Minimum annual business tax (Division of Taxation) of $400.
When is the Rhode Island annual report due?
Rhode Island calls it the annual report. It costs $50, it is filed yearly, and it is due between February 1 and May 1.
Can I reserve a business name in Rhode Island?
Yes. A name reservation costs $50 and holds the name for 120 days.
How much does a Rhode Island LLC cost per year?
$50 for the annual report plus the $400 minimum business tax, so about $450.
Is the Rhode Island business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Entity Search costs nothing. The Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Rhode Island?
The Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division. Its business line is 401-222-3040, and its free search is the Business Entity Search.
What number identifies a business in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island assigns each entity an identification number. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Rhode Island businesses?
Only by buying it.
Sources
Data Updated Recently