Rhode Island Business Entities

Rhode Island Department of State Business Services Division maintains Rhode Island's state business registry, and records new business formations and ongoing business registration activity. The division also provides thoughtful guidance and comprehensive services to those looking to start and maintain a business or non-profit in Rhode Island.

According to Rhode Island General Laws, most business structures need to register with the RI Department of State. All businesses need to register with a unique business name. A registered agent is an individual or entity that receives official and legal documents on behalf of a business. The agent must be a Rhode Island resident or an entity qualified to do business in this state. Professional Service Corporations and Professional Service Benefit Corporations are required to show proof of liability insurance upon registration. The business structures include Limited Liability Company (LLC), Business Corporation, Limited Partnership (LP), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), Benefit Corporation, Professional Service Corporation, Professional Service Benefit Corporation, Low-Profit Limited Liability Company (L3C), Workers' Cooperative, Producers' Cooperative, Consumers' Cooperative. General Partnerships and Sole Proprietorships do not register with the RI Department of State. Most foreign entities that conduct business in RI must register with the RI Department of State, Business Services Division. The charter types include your entity type: Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC), Foreign Business Corporations, Foreign Limited Partnership (LP), Foreign Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). According to Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 7-6, non-profit corporations should register with the RI Department of State.

This dataset includes all businesses and non-profits registered with Department of State Business Services Division. The information for each entity includes corporation number, corporation name, elected name, location address, incorporration date, charter, chapter, state of incorporation, registered agent and address, officers and officer addresses, etc.

Limited Liability Companies, Business Corporations, Benefit Corporations and Non-profit corporations are required to file an annual report starting the calendar year after they register their business with the State of Rhode Island. All filings are public records under Rhode Island General Law Sections 38-2-1, et seq., which means all information is available to the public by a variety of methods including, without limitations, inspection, telephone inquiries and electronically through online database. The Department of State Open Government Center is a modern gateway connecting Rhode Islanders with their government.