-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BGbmFxIWtVhvTiZTujjYaGIkKBQm/nqcSIEJd5PiSWxepFlk10c+0xYaUT/1g59z
 ZIKCFFaEK6C+o6rQSJE8Rg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000899797-09-000033.txt : 20090813
<SEC-HEADER>0000899797-09-000033.hdr.sgml : 20090813
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090813141206
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000899797-09-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090812
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090813
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090813

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RAND CAPITAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000081955
		IRS NUMBER:				160961359
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 RAND BUILDING
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7168530802

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 RAND BUILDING
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			McLeese Willis S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001287583

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-01825
		FILM NUMBER:		091009848

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RAND CAPITAL CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		2200 RAND BUILDING
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14203

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCLEESE WILLIS S
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20040417
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000081955</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RAND CAPITAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RAND</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001287583</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>McLeese Willis S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RAND CAPITAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2200 RAND BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BUFFALO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>810000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Indirect through Colmac Holdings, Ltd.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/Daniel P. Penberthy as Power of Attorney for Willis S. McLeese</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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