How to Form an LLC in Tennessee
For $99 a year, get a Tennessee agent with a registered address on file, same-day scanning of legal documents, and compliance reminders before state deadlines.
Forming an LLC in Tennessee is one filing, one required agent, and a short list of yearly follow-ups. The state fee scales with how many members your LLC has, though most small companies pay the $300 minimum. Below you will find the fee math, the official form, each formation step in order, and what our service handles for you.
Set Up Your Tennessee LLC for $199
Pay $199 once and we take care of preparation, review, and submission to the Tennessee Secretary of State.
What a Tennessee LLC Is (and Why People Form One)
A limited liability company separates your personal assets from your business obligations while keeping taxes simple by default. For most Tennessee small businesses it is the natural choice: real liability protection without corporate formalities like boards and share ledgers.
Tennessee LLC Filing Fee: $300 Minimum
Tennessee prices its Articles of Organization by membership. The instructions on the official form put it plainly: "The filing fee for Articles of Organization is $50.00 per member in existence on the date of the filing, with a minimum fee of $300.00 and a maximum fee of $3,000.00." Since the $300 minimum covers one to six members, the typical new LLC pays $300 even.
A 2025 proposal to flatten the fee to $300 for every LLC was withdrawn before passage, so the per-member schedule is still what the Secretary of State charges. The fee authority sits at Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-249-1007, with the formation filing itself governed by § 48-249-202.
Tennessee LLC Fees at a Glance
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Articles of Organization, Form SS-4270) | $50 per member, $300 minimum, one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Tennessee LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $50 per member, $300 minimum, yearly |
Our $199 covers the filing service. State fees go to the Tennessee Secretary of State. Registered agent service bills at $99 annually, separate from formation.
Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270)
The document that creates your LLC is the Articles of Organization, filed on Form SS-4270 with the Tennessee Secretary of State. It asks for the company name, principal office address, the registered agent's name and Tennessee street address, whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed, and organizer details.
You can e-file through the state's online filing portal at tncab.tnsos.gov or submit the official Form SS-4270 PDF by mail or walk-in. Online card and e-check payments add a small convenience charge; a mailed check avoids it.
Tennessee LLC Formation Steps
- Choose a compliant name. It must include an LLC designator (LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company) and be distinguishable from every entity already registered. Search the Secretary of State's records before you commit. Words implying a regulated business, such as banking or insurance terms, need separate approval.
- Line up your registered agent. Every Tennessee LLC must continuously maintain an agent at a physical street address in the state, present during normal business hours. The agent's name and address become part of the public record. Ours can stand in for yours at $99 per year.
- File the Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270). Submit online or by mail and pay the state $50 per member, $300 minimum. This is the filing that legally creates the company.
- Adopt an operating agreement. The state does not collect it, but it is the document that records ownership percentages, decision rules, profit splits, and exit terms. Skip it and Tennessee's default statute fills the gaps, whether or not those defaults suit you.
- Get an EIN from the IRS. The federal tax ID is required for banking, payroll, and tax filings. Apply free at IRS.gov; the number is issued at the end of a short online session. Never pay a third party for this.
- Set up the compliance calendar. File the state annual report each year (due the first day of the fourth month after your fiscal year closes, April 1 for calendar-year LLCs, at a $300 minimum), keep the agent current, keep business and personal finances separate, and stay on top of taxes.
Rather hand it off? $199 and our team files the whole thing.
Registered Agents in Tennessee
The agent requirement has no exceptions: every Tennessee LLC keeps one on file from formation onward. The agent must:
- Maintain a physical Tennessee street address; a PO box alone does not qualify
- Be present during normal business hours to accept service of process
- Pass along lawsuits and state notices quickly enough that deadlines are never in danger
List your home address and it becomes permanently searchable in the state's records. For $99 per year our address takes that exposure instead, and everything that arrives is scanned to you the same day.
Tennessee LLC FAQ
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Tennessee?
The state filing fee is $50 per member with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum, so an LLC with six or fewer members pays $300. The annual report that follows each year uses the same per-member schedule and the same $300 minimum.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Tennessee?
The state does not publish a guaranteed turnaround. Online filings through the portal are processed ahead of mailed paperwork, so e-file when timing matters.
Does Tennessee require an annual report?
Yes, every year. It runs $50 per member with a $300 minimum and comes due the first day of the fourth month after your fiscal year ends, which is April 1 for calendar-year companies. Details on our annual report page.
Do I need a registered agent for my Tennessee LLC?
Yes. The requirement applies continuously from the day you form until the day you dissolve, and the agent must have a Tennessee street address.
Can I form an LLC in Tennessee if I live in another state?
Yes. Residency is not required to own a Tennessee LLC. You simply need an in-state registered agent, which is exactly what our $99 per year service provides.
File Your Tennessee LLC With Our Help
You are always free to file directly with the Tennessee Secretary of State; the agent requirement applies either way, and the state still collects its per-member fee. If you would rather not manage the paperwork, $199 covers our preparation and submission, and $99 per year covers the registered agent role, same-day scanning, and deadline alerts.
Just want the registered agent role? The registered agent option comes to $99/year individually.
Have more questions about Tennessee LLC formation or how the agent role works? See the FAQ or contact us while the office is open.
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The yearly fee handles your agent needs — registered address, document scans, and deadline tracking.