How to File Tennessee's Articles of Organization
What goes on Tennessee's Articles of Organization, what is filed with it and what it costs, read from Tennessee government sources.
The short answer. To form an LLC in Tennessee, you file the Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. The state filing fee is at least $300. Of the 15 items this page tracks, the form requires 10, asks for 1 only in some cases, makes 1 optional and leaves out 3.
The Tennessee Articles of Organization at a Glance
| What Tennessee calls it | Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270) |
| State filing fee | from $300 |
| Processing time | Check with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations |
| Where to file | Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations |
| File online | Yes, online, open the filing portal |
| Blank form | Download it from the state |
| Law that sets its contents | Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-249-202 |
| Filed with it or right after | 3 filings, listed below |
Read from a Tennessee government source, last checked September 23, 2026. The filing fee and processing time come from our Tennessee cost record. See the sources.
What Goes on Tennessee's Articles of Organization
Each row is one of the 15 items this page tracks, with what Tennessee's Articles of Organization asks for. "Not on the form" means we checked and found no place for it on the Articles of Organization. "Not checked" means we have not confirmed it either way.
| Item | On the form |
|---|---|
| LLC name | Required |
| Registered agent's name | Required |
| Registered office address | Required |
| Principal office address | Required |
| Mailing address | Only when the LLC's mailing address is different from its principal office address. |
| Organizer's name | Required |
| Members' names | Not on the form |
| Managers' names | Not on the form |
| Member-managed or manager-managed | Required |
| Business purpose | Required |
| Duration | Required |
| Effective date | Optional |
| County | Required |
| Email address | Required |
| Registered agent's consent | Not on the form |
These entries are confirmed public record: LLC name, registered agent's name, registered office address, principal office address, mailing address, organizer's name, member-managed or manager-managed, business purpose, duration, effective date, county and email address.
The registered agent rows are covered in more depth in Tennessee's registered agent requirements, and the steps before and after this filing are in how to start an LLC in Tennessee.
What the LLC's Name Must Include
The LLC's name must include an LLC ending. Accepted endings include "Limited Liability Company", "LLC" and "L.L.C."; we have not confirmed whether that is the full list. We have not confirmed whether the ending has to come last.
Rule: Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-249-106.
File These With It or Right After
Tennessee has 3 more filings that go with it or follow it.
| Filing | Required? | When |
|---|---|---|
| Written Consent for Use of Indistinguishable Name | Only when the chosen name is not distinguishable from an existing business name. | Filed together with the Articles of Organization. It carries its own $20 fee. |
| Obligated Member Entity Addendum | Only when the LLC elects to register as an obligated member entity. | Signed by each obligated member and attached to the Articles of Organization. |
| Litigation financier bond | Only when the LLC is designated a litigation financier. | Submitted with the Articles of Organization. |
Draft Your Articles of Organization
The generator below starts with Tennessee selected and drafts the document from what you enter. Compare the draft with the state's current form before you file.
MyStateLLC.com is not a law firm, not an attorney, and not a document preparation service. This is a self-service tool: it formats information you enter into a state template, and no one at MyStateLLC reviews, corrects, or files it for you. This tool and the document it generates are informational and are not legal, financial, or tax advice, and are not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney. MyStateLLC cannot give legal advice, does not prepare or file documents itself, and communications with MyStateLLC are not privileged. Using this tool does not create an attorney-client relationship. LLC laws vary by state and this document is not reviewed by anyone before you file it. Consult a licensed attorney or CPA in your state before you sign or file it.
Where are you forming your LLC?
After It Is Approved
| Certified copy of the filed Articles of Organization | $20 |
| Changing it later (Articles of Amendment to Articles of Organization) | $20 |
Where these fees come from: the sources.
Professional LLCs in Tennessee
In Tennessee, a professional LLC is formed with the same Articles of Organization. Your profession's licensing board may have requirements of its own, so check with it before you file.
Worth Knowing in Tennessee
Everything written on the Tennessee form is public record, including the business email address and the registered agent's email. A certified copy costs $20 for each set of documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/SS-4270%20LLC_0.pdfArticles of Organization Limited Liability Company (SS-4270)
- sos.tn.gov/businesses/services/business-forms-feesBusiness Forms and Fees (TN Secretary of State)
- sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/SS-4461.pdfRequest for a Certificate or Request for Certified Copies (SS-4461)
- sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/202504_SS-4451%20P3_0.pdfArticles of Amendment to LLC Articles of Organization (SS-4451)
- tncab.tnsos.govTNCaB online filing (TN Secretary of State)
The rows and fees on this page were read from the Tennessee government sources above, not from a formation service, and anything we could not confirm there is marked Not checked. See our editorial policy for how these are verified and corrected.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each state's filing office publishes about the document that forms an LLC, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you what your own filing needs: fees and forms change between our reviews, several occupations cannot use an ordinary LLC at all and must use a professional entity or a separate professional form, and your city or county may require a registration of its own. Confirm the current fee and form with the filing office named on this page before you send anything.
Edmond Hui · Founder, MyStateLLC
Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.