How to Start 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.
Opening an LLC in Tennessee is more procedural than complicated — there's one filing to do, one agent to keep on file, and a few yearly steps to remember. $300 covers the state filing, the state takes around roughly a week to process it, and you settle into a yearly compliance schedule. Below: each step explained, the cost picture, and what our service covers.
Set Up Your Tennessee LLC — $199
Pay $199 once and we handle everything: prep, review, submission to Tennessee Secretary of State. Roughly a week from filing to active.
Set Up Your Tennessee LLC — $199
What A Tennessee LLC Is (and Why People Form One)
A LLC-style liability company is a flexible business form that limits owner liability while keeping tax filing relatively simple. Small businesses across Tennessee default to the LLC structure for liability protection that doesn't come with corporate-level formality.
Tennessee LLC Costs at a Glance
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Tennessee Secretary of State) | $300 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Tennessee LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $300/year |
Our $199 handles the filing service. State fees route to Tennessee Secretary of State. The agent product runs $99 annually, separate from filing.
Important Tennessee-specific notes: Effective July 1, 2025: flat $300 yearly report fee regardless of member count (previously $50/member, min $300, max $3,000). Formation fee is also $300 flat (was $50/member). Franchise tax: $0.25 per $100 of net worth (combined F&E minimum $300). Excise tax: 6.5% of net earnings.
Tennessee LLC Formation: Each Step
1. Select a Name That Meets Tennessee Rules
Tennessee entity name requirements: include an LLC indicator (LLC, L.L.C., Limited Liability Company), avoid duplicating any existing registered business name. Tennessee Secretary of State keeps an online searchable database of registered entities; checking it before you file is the smart move.
Restricted name terms include the obvious ones — 'bank,' 'insurance,' 'trust,' 'agency' (when implying government). If you're not licensed in those areas, leave them out.
2. Line Up Your Registered Agent
Every Tennessee LLC is necessary to maintain a continuously appointed agent with an in-state actual address and reliable presence within the normal workday. Once filed, the agent designation is searchable in Tennessee Secretary of State's publicly searchable records — including the agent's address.
Our agent product runs $99 per year in Tennessee. Our address is what appears on the public filing.
3. File Articles of Organization with Tennessee Secretary of State
This is the filing that creates the entity: file Articles of Organization at Tennessee Secretary of State and remit $300 to the state. Required content: the company name, the primary business address, the agent's name with street address, whether members or managers run the LLC, and organizer information.
Online filing through the Tennessee business filings portal is the standard channel and usually moves faster than paper submissions.
Expect about roughly a week for state processing. An expedited option is sometimes offered for a surcharge.
4. Document the Operating Agreement
The state doesn't ask for an operating agreement at filing time, but you should write one before the LLC opens for business. It documents who owns what, how decisions get made, how profits are split, and what happens at member exit or LLC dissolution. Without one, Tennessee's default LLC statute steps in — and those defaults may not match what you and your co-owners actually want.
5. Apply for the LLC's EIN
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your LLC's federal-level tax ID. It's required for business banking, payroll, and federal taxes. Visit IRS.gov and apply at no cost. Plan on about ten minutes for the form; the EIN issues at the end.
Skip paying for EIN help from outside services — EINs come free from the IRS in a quick online process.
6. Manage the Recurring Obligations
Post-formation, you're responsible for the following ongoing items:
- Maintain the agent of record at a Tennessee street address year in and year out
- Turn in your annual report when it's due each year
- Maintain a true divide between business cash flow and personal cash flow (separate banking and separate ledgers)
- Stay on top of all federal and state tax requirements by their deadlines
Tennessee Secretary of State can dissolve LLCs that fall out of compliance. After dissolution, the liability shield disappears until you reinstate.
Skip the busywork: pay $199 once and our team handles the Tennessee filing.
Registered Agents in Tennessee
Tennessee law makes the RA a requirement for every LLC, with no exemption available. The agent's job is to:
- Hold a physical street address in Tennessee (PO box alone isn't acceptable)
- Be at the address during the regular workday for service of process
- Transmit legal mail and state notices promptly so deadlines aren't missed
Using your home address as agent address makes it part of the state record. Process servers, marketers, and anybody interested can pull it up at will.
We provide that Tennessee address and the staffing behind it for $99/year. Our team and address handle the public-facing side so your personal address stays private.
Tennessee LLC FAQ
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Tennessee?
The state's filing fee is $300. That's among the higher state filing fees in the country. In addition, the yearly report fee is $300/year.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Tennessee?
Typical turnaround at Tennessee Secretary of State is roughly a week.
Does Tennessee require an annual report?
Yes, every year. The yearly report fee comes to $300/year.
Do I need a registered agent for my Tennessee LLC?
Yes, the agent provision applies to every Tennessee LLC: a registered agent located in Tennessee. The rule applies continuously starting at formation.
Can I form an LLC in Tennessee if I live in another state?
Yes. An in-state agent is the one requirement. Our $99/year plan handles it. Non-residents can form Tennessee LLCs without any extra steps.
File Your Tennessee LLC With Our Help
You're free to file directly through Tennessee Secretary of State by submitting through the Tennessee business filings portal. An agent is still mandatory — the state collects $300.
We act as the registered agent listed on your filing. For $99 a year, that covers the public address, same-day scanning of anything that arrives, and compliance notifications for upcoming filings.
Build Your Tennessee LLC — $199
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.
Ready to get started?
The yearly fee handles your agent needs — registered address, document scans, and deadline tracking.