---
title: "Rhode Island DBA: How to File, $50 State Fee, Renewal | MCC"
description: "To file a DBA in Rhode Island, register the trade name with the state or county, depending on who owns it ($50 at the state). Company filings: no expiry."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/dba-rhode-island"
---

Business names · Rhode Island

# Registering a DBA in Rhode Island

Where the trade name is filed, what it costs, when it has to be renewed, from the official pages.

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**Short answer.** Sole proprietors and other unincorporated owners register a trade name with the city or town clerk. LLCs, corporations and nonprofits file a fictitious business name with the Secretary of State. Cost: Secretary of State: $50 for a for-profit entity, $20 for a nonprofit. City or town trade name: $20, with no renewal fee. A city or town trade name is renewed every year between September 1 and November 30, or it can be cancelled.

## At a glance

Called

trade name (individuals); fictitious business name (entities)

Where to file

Depends on the owner

Filing fee

Secretary of State: $50 for a for-profit entity, $20 for a nonprofit. City or town trade name: $20, with no renewal fee.

Local fees vary

No

How long it lasts

Individuals: see the rule; entities: no expiry

## Individuals and companies file in different places

Sole proprietors and other unincorporated owners register a trade name with the city or town clerk. LLCs, corporations and nonprofits file a fictitious business name with the Secretary of State.

Setting up the books for the new name? [A free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check).

## Renewal, with dates

A city or town trade name is renewed every year between September 1 and November 30, or it can be cancelled. An entity's fictitious name doesn't need yearly renewal; it stays while the entity is in good standing.

For a registration filed on Friday, November 20, 2026:

- **Sole proprietor or partnership:** A city or town trade name is renewed every year between September 1 and November 30, or it can be cancelled.
- **LLC or corporation:** no expiry date

Your own date: [open the calculator set to Rhode Island](/bookkeeping/dba-renewal-date-calculator?state=ri).

**Not stated on the pages we read:** a newspaper notice and online filing.

## Official sources

- [Rhode Island Secretary of State: Fictitious name vs trade name](https://docs.sos.ri.gov/documents/BusinessServices/Fictitious_Name_vs_Trade_Name.pdf) (checked November 2026)
- [Rhode Island Secretary of State: Trade name costs and fees](https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/ri-trade-names/trade-name-basics/costs-and-fees) (checked November 2026)

General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the pages above. Fees and forms change, and a county or town office can add its own steps, so confirm with the filing office before you file. We don't file DBAs or trade names for anyone.

## Questions people ask

**Where is a DBA filed in Rhode Island?**

It's called a trade name (individuals); fictitious business name (entities). Sole proprietors and other unincorporated owners register a trade name with the city or town clerk. LLCs, corporations and nonprofits file a fictitious business name with the Secretary of State.

**What does it cost to register a business name in Rhode Island?**

Secretary of State: $50 for a for-profit entity, $20 for a nonprofit. City or town trade name: $20, with no renewal fee.

**How long does a Rhode Island trade name last?**

A city or town trade name is renewed every year between September 1 and November 30, or it can be cancelled. An entity's fictitious name doesn't need yearly renewal; it stays while the entity is in good standing.

All states: [DBA registration by state](/bookkeeping/dba-registration-by-state) · [Pennsylvania](/bookkeeping/dba-pennsylvania) · [South Dakota](/bookkeeping/dba-south-dakota)

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## Want the books set up for the new name?

[See bookkeeping services](/bookkeeping/)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)