Run by the Department of State’s Business Services. It covers corporations, LLCs, and nonprofits.
Rhode Island Secretary of State | Business Entity Search
The Rhode Island Department of State runs a free Corporate Database where you can look a company up by entity name, registered agent, or filing number — and read its annual reports straight from the filing history.
Business Name Availability Check
State of Rhode Island
What the Rhode Island Business Search Covers
Each record lists the ID number, entity type, status, registration date, registered agent, and prior annual reports.
Searching the Corporate Database is free.
How to Search by Business Name
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Open the Rhode Island Corporate Database
Go to the Department of State's Corporate Database search, or use the direct link below. It is free.
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Choose how to search
Search by entity name, registered agent (one field for a person or business), or filing number.
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Read the results
Results show the entity name, ID number, entity type, and status. Click an entity to open its record.
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Review the entity record
The record shows the entity name, type, ID number, registration date, and the registered agent's name and address.
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Open the filing history
The filing history includes annual reports from prior years.
Ready to try it? Open the official Corporate Database and run your query.
Search Rhode Island businesses ↗All the Ways to Search Rhode Island Records
Entity Name
Search by company name; results include the ID number, type, and status. The most common starting point.
Open this search ↗Registered Agent
One field that searches for a named individual or business agent.
Open this search ↗Filing Number
Look up a single document by its unique filing number.
Open this search ↗Filing History
From a record, review the entity's filings, including prior annual reports.
Open this search ↗Rules That Make Your Search Work
- Search by entity name, registered agent, or filing number.
- The registered agent search is a single field for a person or business name.
- Results include the entity name, ID number, type, and status.
- Searching is free.
- The filing history includes prior-year annual reports.
- Rhode Island entities file an annual report between February 1 and May 1 ($50).
Reading the Entity Detail Page
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| ID Number | The identification number the Department of State assigned to the entity. |
| Entity Name | The registered legal name of the business. |
| Entity Type | The structure, such as a Domestic or Foreign LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit. |
| Status | Whether the entity is Active or in another condition. |
| Registration Date | The date the entity was formed in Rhode Island or registered as a foreign entity. |
| Registered Agent | The name and Rhode Island address of the agent designated to receive legal documents. |
| Filing History | A list of the entity's filings, including prior-year annual reports. |
Two official references help you go further:
How to View and Download a Company's Filings
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Open the entity’s record
Search by name, agent, or filing number and open the record.
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Open the filing history
The filing history includes the entity’s prior-year annual reports and amendments.
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View the documents
Open the filings directly from the record. Searching and viewing are free.
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File the annual report
File the annual report online during the filing window, or order a certificate of good standing.
Annual report: Rhode Island entities file an annual report between February 1 and May 1 each year, with a $50 fee. Prior reports appear in the filing history.
Rhode Island Business Search - Common Questions
Is the Rhode Island business search free?
Yes. The Corporate Database search is free to use.
How does the registered agent search work?
It is a single field where you can enter a person's name or a business name to find the entities that agent represents.
Does Rhode Island require an annual report?
Yes. Rhode Island entities file an annual report between February 1 and May 1 each year, with a $50 fee. Prior reports appear in the filing history.
What is the filing number?
It is a number unique to a specific filed document; searching by it returns that single document.
How do I find a company's registered agent?
The registered agent name and address appear on the entity record, and you can also search by registered agent directly.
A name is available in Rhode Island. Does that mean I can use it?
Not necessarily. State availability does not clear a name against federal trademarks. Run a USPTO trademark screen and check domain and social-handle availability before committing.