The Rhode Island Articles of Organization are the LLC forms that must be completed and filed with the state in order to create an LLC.
We’ll walk you through the process of submitting the Rhode Island LLC Articles of Organization in three simple stages.
Get Forms for Your Articles of Organization
Complete the Articles of Organization.
Keep the Articles of Organization on file.
You may either download and send your Rhode Island Articles of Organization or submit them online.
We will assist you in completing the Rhode Island Articles of Organization form in this phase.
To complete the form, you will need the following information:
Name and kind of entity
Name of the Registered Agent and the Address of the Registered Office
Type of Governing Authority
Business Purpose and Timeline (optional)
Date of Implementation
A unique and clever company name is crucial, but it is not as necessary as a legally valid name.
When selecting a name for your company, you must ensure that the name:
fulfils the naming criteria of Rhode Island
is not already in use by another Rhode Island firm.
Your name must conclude with “limited liability corporation” or the upper or lower case letters “l.l.c.,” with or without punctuation.
If your business is structured as a low-profit, limited liability company, its name must include the phrases “low-profit, limited liability company” or the abbreviation “L3C” or “13c.”
Your LLC’s name cannot include terms that may be confused with a government organisation (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
Certain prohibited terms (e.g., bank, attorney, university) may need extra documentation and the participation of a licenced professional in certain jurisdictions.
Your name must be distinct from any other current company in the state. This covers reserved names in Rhode Island.
Is your name accessible in the state of Rhode Island? Check the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s website to see if the name you desire isn’t already taken.
We suggest that you check to see whether your company’s name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you don’t intend to create a company website right away, you may wish to purchase the URL to prevent others from doing so.
A registered agent receives and transmits legal paperwork on behalf of your LLC. When you form your Rhode Island LLC, you must provide your registered agent and registered office address.
Your registered agent may be someone over the age of 18 who resides in Rhode Island. During normal business hours, your registered agent must always be present at the registered office. A P.O. box cannot be used as your registered office address.
You must pick whether your LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed. To decide the optimal structure for your LLC, read our article on Management by Members or Managers.
You may include extra clauses if you choose. These might contain your LLC’s company goal as well as any anticipated time constraints.
Remember that a business goal including licencing, tax-exemption, or tax-deductible status needs specific wording from the IRS or a professional licence.
Indicate whether you want the Articles of Organization to be effective immediately or at a later date.
You must submit the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State to register your LLC.
You may submit your Articles of Organization in two ways:
Fill out the form online.
After filing your Articles of Organization, you should do the following:
Make a Business Agreement
Obtain an EIN
Establish a Business Bank Account
Purchase Licenses and Permits
Make a Business Agreement
A Rhode Island LLC operating agreement is a legal document that details your LLC’s ownership structure and member functions.
Although an Operating Agreement is not necessary in Rhode Island to incorporate an LLC, it is a good idea to have one. You may begin working on your operating agreement before, during, or after filing your Articles of Organization.
Your operating agreement will be held in the private business records of your LLC; you will not submit it with the state.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your LLC’s equivalent of a social security number. If you want to recruit staff or create company bank accounts, you’ll need an EIN.
You may get your EIN for free by using the IRS website, fax, or mail. Read our What is an EIN article to discover more about EINs and how they might benefit your LLC.
It is critical to use specific business banking and credit accounts to safeguard your company’s corporate veil. When you combine your personal and company accounts, your personal assets (house, vehicle, and other possessions) are at danger if your LLC is sued.
When forming an LLC, you should consider if your company requires any licences or permissions to operate legally. There are a few commercial operations that need licences or permissions on the federal level.
Learn how to secure the licences and permissions required for your company, or hire an expert to handle it for you:
Federal: For federal business licences and permits, see the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
State: Contact the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation to apply for or learn more about licences, permits, and registration.
Local: Inquire with your county clerk regarding local licences and permissions.