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Rhode Island · How-To Guide

How do I get a business license?

Rhode Island Secretary of State, Business Services (entity formation) / Rhode Island Division of Taxation (tax registration) / Local municipality for local licenses
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Determine your business structure: sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership
  2. Register your business entity with the Rhode Island Secretary of State (for LLCs, corporations, and LPs) - file online at business.sos.ri.gov (RI Business Registration portal); Rhode Island offers online filing
  3. Obtain an EIN from the IRS at irs.gov
  4. Register with the Rhode Island Division of Taxation for applicable state taxes at tax.ri.gov:
  5. - Rhode Island Sales and Use Tax Permit (if selling taxable goods/services)
  6. - Employer Withholding Tax registration (if hiring employees)
  7. - Other applicable RI taxes (corporate income tax, personal income tax for pass-throughs)
  8. Register through the RI Division of Taxation portal or through RI ONE STOP (ristatewide.ri.gov)
  9. Check with your CITY or TOWN for LOCAL BUSINESS LICENSES - Rhode Island has NO county government; all local licensing is at the municipal level; Providence, Cranston, Warwick, Pawtucket, and other RI cities may require local business licenses or "victualing licenses" for restaurants; contact your city/town
  10. Check for industry-specific state licenses: contractors (RI Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board - crb.ri.gov); health professionals (RI Department of Health - health.ri.gov/licenses); cosmetologists, real estate, engineers through the RI Department of Business Regulation (DBR) - dbr.ri.gov
  11. Renew entity annual report with RI SOS; renew local licenses; renew professional licenses per board schedule
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Business name and type of activity
  • RI business address and registered agent
  • Entity formation documents
  • EIN or SSN
  • Industry-specific certifications
Fee
LLC formation: $150 (online); corporation: $230 (online - higher than most states); ANNUAL REPORT: $50 (LLC); Domestic Corporation: $50; Sales Tax Permit: free; local license: varies by city/town RENEWAL: Annual report due by March 1 each year (all entities); local license: annual per municipality ONLINE OPTION: Yes - business.sos.ri.gov (RI Business Registration); tax.ri.gov (RI Taxation registration); ristatewide.ri.gov (RI One Stop) WHERE TO GO: RI Secretary of State (entity formation); RI Division of Taxation (tax registration); City/Town (local license); RI DBR (professional/occupational licenses)
Online Option
Yes - business.sos.ri.gov (RI Business Registration); tax.ri.gov (RI Taxation registration); ristatewide.ri.gov (RI One Stop)
Where to Go
RI Secretary of State (entity formation); RI Division of Taxation (tax registration); City/Town (local license); RI DBR (professional/occupational licenses)
Rhode Island Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Corporation formation: $230 - on the higher end nationally for domestic corporations.
  • LLC formation: $150 - moderate.
  • Annual report due March 1 for all RI entities.
  • RI SALES TAX: 7% statewide (no local option) - one of the highest single-rate sales taxes in the nation; but simple - no additional local rates.
  • RI income tax: graduated up to 5.99% for individuals; flat 7% for corporations.
  • CONTRACTORS' REGISTRATION: RI Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRB) - all contractors doing $1,000+ in work must register; crb.ri.gov | (401) 222-1268.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
RI Secretary of State, Business Services - business.sos.ri.gov | (401) 222-3040; RI Division of Taxation - tax.ri.gov | (401) 574-8829; RI DBR (professional licenses) - dbr.ri.gov | (401) 462-9500