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Start an LLC by State › Tennessee

Starting an LLC in Tennessee: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in Tennessee, file the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (SS-4270) with the Tennessee Secretary of State and pay the $300 state fee. $50 per member, with a $300 minimum (one to six members) and a $3,000 maximum. Tennessee LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year, for $300. Every Tennessee LLC must keep a registered agent with a Tennessee street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in Tennessee

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Tennessee Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: a Tennessee resident, or a business entity formed in Tennessee or authorized there with an office at the registered office street address.
  3. File the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (SS-4270) with the Tennessee Secretary of State and pay $300.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Tennessee LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year, for $300.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Tennessee’s fees.

Tennessee LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$300
$50 per member, with a $300 minimum (one to six members) and a $3,000 maximum.
Formation document
Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (SS-4270)
Yearly filing
Annual Report, every year, $300
Due
On or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year
Registered agent
Required. A Tennessee resident, or a business entity formed in Tennessee or authorized there with an office at the registered office street address.
Agent address
The address has to be a Tennessee street address, with the county. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Filing fee rank
47th lowest of 50 (46 states charge less, 2 charge more)
Best overall for a Tennessee LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Tennessee’s $300 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Tennessee compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Tennessee$300$300 / yr
Alabama$236None
Arkansas$45$150 tax report
Georgia$110$60 / yr
Kentucky$40$15 / yr
Mississippi$50$0 / yr
Missouri$50None
North Carolina$125$200 / yr
Virginia$100$50 fee

All 50 states

Tennessee LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Tennessee?

$300 to the state to file. $50 per member, with a $300 minimum (one to six members) and a $3,000 maximum. Tennessee LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year, for $300. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Tennessee require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Tennessee LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year, for $300.

Do I need a registered agent in Tennessee?

Yes. A Tennessee resident, or a business entity formed in Tennessee or authorized there with an office at the registered office street address.

Can I form a Tennessee LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (SS-4270) directly with the Tennessee Secretary of State and pay the $300 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources