ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Compare the best Rhode Island Registered Agent services below as reviewed by ZenBusiness.
*SPECIAL OFFER: $99 + RI state fees for the first year when you switch to ZenBusiness! Renews at $199/yr, subject to change.
Last Updated: May 27, 2025
Founded in 2017, ZenBusiness has quickly become a top player in the business formation and compliance space. With over 800,000 businesses formed and a strong reputation, our registered agent service offers solid value and top-tier support in Rhode Island.
✔ First year is 50% off at $99 plus state fees (renews at $119/year)✔ 60-day money-back guarantee✔ 22549+ reviews with a 4.8 average rating✔ Responsive, award-winning customer support via phone, email, and chat✔ Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
✘ Registered agent service is not included with formation packages✘ No multi-state discount for businesses operating in more than one state
Rocket Lawyer is a legal services platform that also offers registered agent services as part of its suite of tools. While not the cheapest option, it may appeal to users who want bundled legal help. If you find value in their legal services plan, Rocket Lawyer is an intriguing choice for registered agent services in Rhode Island. If you don’t need its subscription service, you can probably find a more suitable alternative.
✔ Includes access to legal documents and attorney consultations✔ 30-day money-back guarantee✔ Discount of 50% with legal plan subscription
✘ Registered agent service is basic and lacks advanced features✘ Higher ongoing costs unless you’re on a subscription✘ Not a core focus of their platform — limited functionality compared to standalone services
Bizee, formerly known as Incfile, has been a popular choice for business formation and compliance services in Rhode Island since 2004. With over 1 million businesses served, Bizee is best known for its basic LLC formation package (only pay Rhode Island state fees), which includes one year of registered agent service.
✔ Free 1st year with LLC formation✔ $119/year after the first free year✔ Good value for basic compliance needs
✘ Registered agent service must be manually renewed✘ Customer support is slower and less detailed than top competitors✘ No refund policy on services once submitted
LegalZoom is a household name in online legal services, with over 3 million businesses served. Its registered agent service is backed by brand trust and comes with useful compliance tools. While its registered agent service comes at a higher price, the added perks and company reputation may justify the cost for some Rhode Island business owners.
✔ Compliance calendar and deadline reminders included✔ 60-day money-back guarantee✔ Large support team with extended hours
✘ $249/year pricing is one of the highest on this list✘ No first-year discount or bundling options✘ Less value for cost compared to smaller, more focused competitors
Northwest Registered Agent has been offering registered agent services since 1998 and is known for being a solid choice in Rhode Island. Northwest Registered Agent now has thousands of registered agent service subscribers across the country.
✔ $125/year pricing✔ Scans all mail, not just government documents
✘ Not the cheapest option for LLC formation✘ Limited refund policy✘ No online compliance dashboard or automation tools
If you want to receive personalized registered agent service at reasonable price points, Northwest Registered Agent might be worth a look. However, keep in mind that Northwest charges at least $39 to form an LLC, so there are many cheaper options for that service in Rhode Island.
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Every business entity in the state of Rhode Island is required to have a resident agent. In fact, you won’t be allowed to finish the formation process for your company until you designate your resident agent.
The most important aspect of this role is receiving document deliveries from the state government and process servers, then alerting your business of the delivery before forwarding the documents to you. The role of the resident agent is so important because it establishes a point of contact for your business with the state and others so that they have a reliable place to get in touch with an official representative of your company at any time.
The Rhode Island Department of State does not provide a comprehensive or partial list of resident agents in the state. However, they do offer a search tool. If you know part of an agent’s name, you can use the “search by agent” option to pull up more detailed information, including contact info. The tool is only helpful if you know part of the name, though, so you’ll have to do some of your own research. But between your legwork and this guide, you’ll be set to go.
Each state has its own rules and regulations surrounding resident agents. For the most part, these laws are fairly similar, but it’s always worth taking a look to see what Rhode Island requires.
In Rhode Island, we’ll need to take a look at the Rhode Island Business Corporation Act, which says:
All of the companies we discussed above meet these regulations and are options for Rhode Island resident agent service. When you’ve made your choice, you can indicate your resident agent’s name and address on your Articles of Organization.
As you’ve probably noticed, the resident agent services we’ve listed here serve businesses across the country. But if you Google “Rhode Island Resident Agent,” you’ll probably see results for local services, too. These can be local entrepreneurs with a knack for clerical tasks, offices dedicated to serving businesses in their counties, or statewide companies.
On one hand, using a local service can have its advantages. Some will be cheaper than nationwide firms (but not always). And each state has its own nuances for business compliance requirements, Rhode Island included. A resident agent service that services Rhode Island alone may have detailed knowledge about those requirements. Granted, most national services do an excellent job of understanding local requirements. But they might not give you the same “homegrown Rhode Island” feeling as a local agent service.
That said, national businesses like ZenBusiness give you streamlined solutions. Let’s say you’re using a local Rhode Island-only resident agent service, but it’s time to add locations in Connecticut. You could search for an additional agent that services Connecticut businesses. But that’s going to require a lot of additional paperwork, including new receipts, new automatic payments, more emails…you get the idea. But if you’re using a national service, you can cut down the “new” paperwork and focus on what really matters: growing your business.
Ultimately, the choice is up to you, and there’s no “wrong” answer. The most important thing is that you appoint one so you can run a compliant Rhode Island business.
The role of a Rhode Island resident agent is critical to your company’s compliance and legal standing. This position requires dealing with seemingly simple tasks, yet if they’re handled incorrectly, they could cost you a considerable amount of money in fines and could even potentially see the state dissolve your business.
While you can always change your resident agent down the line, we think it’s essential to pick the right resident agent for your business starting at the formation phase. You should also keep an eye on your compliance standing to ensure nothing goes awry along the way.
With ZenBusiness, you can purchase reliable resident agent service at an affordable rate, leaving this role in the hands of experts while you focus on growing your business.
In Rhode Island, there aren’t many complicated requirements for resident agent eligibility. Any individual or business entity authorized to conduct business in the state can serve as your company’s resident agent. The only requirements are that they have a permanent address in Rhode Island and that your company itself can’t serve as its own resident agent (although you or one of your co-owners may assume this role individually).
Like most states, Rhode Island does not have an explicit age requirement (some states require the appointed agent to be at least 18 years of age). That said, we do recommend that you pick a responsible individual you trust or one of the services listed above. If the resident agent does not fulfill their duties completely and accurately, it can cause unnecessary hassle for a business. Most responsible adults can fill this role easily, but we do recommend careful consideration while you make this appointment.
Yes. If your resident agent is an individual, that person must live in Rhode Island. If your agent is a business entity, that company must either be a domestic Rhode Island business or one with the authority to conduct business in the state.
Rhode Island keeps the process of changing your resident agent pretty simple. All you have to do is download the right Change of Agent form for your entity type, fill it out, and submit it to the Secretary of State. There is a $20 filing fee (plus a $2 enhanced fee, if applicable).
If your resident agent chooses to resign and no longer serves as your agent, they will notify both you and the Secretary of State by drafting a Statement of Resignation. The state does not provide a standard form for this; each agent drafts their own. There is a fee of $10 for this process. As soon as your agent notifies you of their resignation, you will need to find a replacement.
As long as you appoint a new agent in a timely manner, you won’t incur any additional penalties or fees for letting your resident agent coverage lapse. That keeps the fee to change your agent at just $20.
One common option is to serve as your company’s own resident agent or enlist the assistance of a trusted friend or family member. The other route is to hire an attorney or accountant to handle this role. Maybe you prefer the added professionalism these people can provide, maybe you have an existing relationship with an attorney or accountant you trust, etc.
The best place to learn more about forming a Rhode Island LLC is our step-by-step guide. You might also be interested in checking out our list of the best best Rhode Island LLC formation service.
Rhode Island Business Resources
Best Registered Agent Services Reviewed in All States
We break down the best registered agent services in every state. View all of our guides below.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 800,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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