5 Best LLC Formation Services in Rhode Island

When you’re thinking about forming a business in Rhode Island there are a lot of different aspects to consider. Among those is what kind of business structure you want. 

Along with deciding on a structure you also need to choose from several options to get the best LLC services, as well as registered agent services. That can increase your peace of mind and make getting started a lot easier. Here’s what to think about when you’re deciding between the 5 best LLC formation services for Rhode Island business formation.

Disclaimer: the rates and offerings below are subjected to changes made by the service providers.

Basics of an LLC

By choosing a Limited Liability Company, or LLC, you can have a structure that’s specifically designed to protect you as the owner from the debts of your new business. Along with things like advertising and getting a business license, your business’ structure can be one of the most important choices you’ll make.

As you create an operating agreement and form your LLC you’ll get the characteristics of a partnership or sole proprietorship, mixed in with the characteristics of a corporation. 

However, different states have different requirements as to how to form and operate this kind of company. You’ll need to follow the rules where you live, or in the state where you want your LLC to be based. When forming an LLC in Rhode Island, the Secretary of State for RI has some guidance on their website.

Tailor Brands

Forming an LLC is easier with the right help, and Tailor Brands has a range of support and information options to get your LLC up and running quickly and efficiently. There are valuable legal service options for your business, along with plenty of choices that will help you manage and grow your new LLC, as well. You can get everything in one place from Tailor Brands, from setting up your articles of organization all the way through preparing and filing an annual report.

Services and offerings

The main focus area for Tailor Brands is helping you with your business. That means the company has other services and offerings beyond LLC formation. They also offer all kinds of complementary legal services you can use to get your business going and make sure it stays in compliance. That includes operating agreements, registered agents, insurance, tax consultancy, licenses and permits, and other aspects of your business arrangement. You can also get branding help, such as marketing, design, logos, and websites.

Pricing 

With Tailor Brands you can start forming your LLC for $0, plus the cost of state fees ($156 for RI) with the “Lite” plan. That means you’ll only pay the fees that the state requires for LLC creation, and the business isn’t taking a fee on top of that. This is a great way to lower your costs and stick to a smaller budget for your company when you’re first getting started. 

With the “Essential” plan, for $199, you can also get legal compliance and expedited processing, creation and filing of the reports required to remain legally compliant, and operating agreement.

With the “Elite” plan, for $249, you will get all of the above, plus a branding and marketing tools and services.

Overall

Customer reviews are very important, and people like Tailor Brands for their Rhode Island LLC formation needs. On Trustpilot, the company has a 4.5 out of 5 rating, and over 8,000 people have left a review. Happy customers talk about efficiency and consistency, along with how easy it is to get answers to their questions. It’s fast and easy, too, so you can have your LLC ready to go within a few days.

RocketLawyer

Services and offerings

RocketLawyer also provides LLC formation services, registered agent services, and other supportive options. You’ll have options to create an NDA, ask an attorney for legal advice, and a lot more. Rocket Copilot is the company’s AI support system, and it can help you with business name generation, logo creation, and other tasks. The goal is to get your business established quickly, so you can focus on branding and getting recognized.

Pricing

If you want to start your LLC for $0 plus state fees you’ll need a membership to RocketLegal+. That costs $19.99 per month or $239.88 per year. If you don’t want a monthly commitment when you’re first starting out, pricing on form your LLC starts at $99.99 plus fees. With a RocketLegal+ membership you may be able to save approximately $2,500 per year, since it includes a lot of additional support options you won’t have to pay extra for. However, it’s important to recognize what kind of budget your LLC has, and this may be more expensive than you want right at the beginning.

Overall

Customers enjoy what RocketLawyer has to offer. They see that it’s well-established and feel like they can trust the name and reputation. It has a 4.7 Trustpilot rating from over 8,100 reviews, and customers say they like the option to have documents and forms created without hassle. Customer service is important to this company, and most customers give high marks for responsiveness and helpfulness.

Swyft Filings

Services and offerings

Swyft Filings provides many of the same services as other LLC formation companies. You can get your business created, get an EIN, file an annual report, get a registered agent, and secure the right licenses. You can also create other types of business entities, such as corporations and nonprofits, through this service. The company has three different packages to choose from, to ensure you can get the type and level of services you need to start and manage your LLC.

Pricing

Like other LLC formation companies, you can use Swyft Filings to start your LLC for $0 plus state fees. That’s the basic package, and includes a lifetime of customer support. If you want more than the basics there’s a standard package for $199 plus state fees or a premium package for $299 plus state fees. Both of these improve your timeline, with faster creating, filing, and shipping.

Overall

If you’re looking for more security and customization the standard package from Swyft Filings can provide that, and if you want document templates and a host of other business options, premium could be right for you. No matter which package they choose, customers seem to be happy overall with the service they receive. Swyft Filings has a 4.7 rating on Trustpilot with more than 6,700 reviews, and customers appreciate the level of care and support they receive.

LegalZoom

Services and offerings

LegalZoom is a popular site for people who have law questions or who are looking for information. A lot of people don’t realize that it’s more than just an information source, and also offers legal services such as help to form your Rhode Island LLC. You can start your business, get a registered agent, develop a website, and even get an EIN, all in one place. There are also legal forms you can customize and options for eSignature to choose from, but those do cost extra and aren’t part of the basic LLC creation package.

Pricing

You can get LLC formation for $0 plus state fees on LegalZoom, just like you can with many of its competitors. There are also options beyond the basics, such as the ‘Pro’ option. This is more expensive than similar offerings from other companies, and that could be a deterrent for anyone who’s deciding which LLC formation service to use. For business creators who aren’t as budget-conscious, though, the ‘Premium’ options comes at an additional cost but offers the option to receive support from an attorney.

Overall

LegalZoom has strong ratings on Trustpilot, with a 4.4 and nearly 4,000 reviews. Customers are confident they can get their questions answered, and they like that they can get everything done in one place. The three different package options make it easier for anyone who wants to develop an LLC to decide on what they need and can afford, and then choose what works for them.

Northwest Registered Agent

Services and offerings

When working with Northwest Registered Agent you can start an LLC, get a domain and website, and get legal documents. You can also choose a registered agent, set up privacy options, and look into corporate guides that make it easier to understand your opportunities. There’s trademark services, phone service, EIN help, and mail forwarding, as well.

Pricing

Northwest Registered Agent has free LLC creation. You can also get a package starting at $39 plus state fees, which offers an operating agreement, a year of registered agent service, a business address, a website and domain, and mail forwarding, which can be a good options for a low-cost way to get a lot of services in one place.

Overall

This company has an A+ BBB rating, along with a Google rating of 4.7 from almost 900 reviews. LLC University gives it a 4.9 rating, as well, but over 90 reviews on Trustpilot only bring its rating on that site to 3.1. Customers who aren’t happy with the company seem to be mostly concerned about the responsiveness and customer service, but there are many good reviews from satisfied customers, too.

Can You Form Your LLC in Rhode Island by Yourself?

Yes, you can form your LLC on your own. To do that, though, you have to know what’s needed for legal and tax purposes, make sure you get all the right licenses and permits, and go through every procedure Rhode Island requires. Using an LLC formation service takes away all the stress and hassle, so you can just focus on operating your new business.

Conclusion

The bottom line when forming an LLC in Rhode Island is that it’s important to get things right, right from the start. That reduces any anxiety you may have over starting up your business, and ensures you’re compliant with state laws. Working with professionals who know all the guidelines, means you can get your LLC formed and ready to go, more efficiently than you expected.