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

The Tennessee Articles of Organization filing fee is at least $300, paid to the Tennessee Secretary of State. Your total first-year costs reach $700 once you add the $300 annual report fee due by April 1 and the $100 minimum franchise and excise tax. For example, if you form your LLC in June 2026, your first annual report and its $300 minimum fee will both be due by April 1, 2027. Additional costs may include registered agent services, operating agreement preparation, and any required state or local business licenses. Tennessee also imposes a franchise and excise tax on most LLCs with a $100 annual minimum, so budget for that ongoing cost. Exception: LLCs with six or fewer members pay $50 per member up to the $300 cap, so a two-member LLC pays the same $300 as a six-member LLC, but LLCs with more than six members pay an additional $50 per member beyond six. File online at sos.tn.gov to avoid mail transit delays, Tennessee publishes no standard processing time, so there's no turnaround to count on.

How long does it take to form an LLC in Tennessee?

Tennessee publishes no standard processing time for Articles of Organization, so nobody can honestly quote you one. The Tennessee Secretary of State doesn't publish a standard turnaround time or an expedited-service fee for LLC filings. Articles of Organization may be e-filed through TNCaB, mailed, or submitted at the walk-in counter. The Tennessee Secretary of State also publishes no paid expedite option, so there's no way to buy a guaranteed date either. File online where the state offers it. Every state that discusses the difference says online is faster than mail, and treat any specific day count you see quoted for Tennessee as unsourced.

Do I need a Tennessee address to form an LLC?

No, you don't need to live in Tennessee or maintain a Tennessee business address to own a Tennessee LLC. However, you must designate a registered agent with a physical Tennessee street address, P.O. boxes aren't permitted, to receive legal documents and official notices on your behalf. For example, an entrepreneur based in California can form a Tennessee LLC by hiring a professional Tennessee registered agent service. The registered agent's name and address are listed publicly in your Articles of Organization filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State. Exception: if you personally have a Tennessee street address and are consistently available there during regular business hours on weekdays, you may serve as your own registered agent and avoid the annual registered agent fee. File at sos.tn.gov to submit your formation documents quickly from anywhere in the country.

What are Tennessee's annual LLC requirements?

Tennessee LLCs must file an annual report with the Tennessee Secretary of State by April 1 each year, accompanied by a $300 minimum fee. Unlike many states that tie the annual report deadline to each LLC's formation anniversary, Tennessee uses a universal April 1 deadline for all active LLCs. For example, an LLC formed in September 2026 must file its first annual report and pay at least $300 by April 1, 2027, just seven months after formation. The report confirms your LLC's registered agent details, principal office address, and current member or manager information and can be filed online. In addition, Tennessee LLCs owe a franchise and excise tax with a $100 annual minimum, filed separately with the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Exception: newly formed LLCs may receive a prorated first-year obligation depending on formation date. Confirm with the Secretary of State. File at sos.tn.gov.

Does Tennessee have publication requirements for LLCs?

No, Tennessee doesn't require LLCs to publish formation notices in local newspapers or legal publications of any kind. This is a meaningful cost advantage compared to states with mandatory publication requirements. For example, New York requires publication in two local newspapers for six consecutive weeks, at rates the newspapers set, and Arizona requires three consecutive newspaper publications unless the LLC's statutory agent has a street address in Maricopa or Pima County, where the state currently posts the notice online for free. Tennessee founders avoid all of those fees and delays, your Articles of Organization filed directly with the Tennessee Secretary of State are the only required public disclosure for forming a Tennessee LLC. Exception: certain regulated industries in Tennessee (such as financial services, healthcare, or law), may have additional disclosure requirements imposed by their professional licensing boards rather than the Secretary of State. To confirm whether any publication rule applies to your profession, check with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance before finalizing your filing.

Can a single person form an LLC in Tennessee?

Yes, Tennessee fully permits single-member LLCs. One person can own, manage, and operate the entire company while still receiving the personal liability protection that separates business debts from personal assets. The formation process for a single-member LLC is identical to that of a multi-member LLC: file Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State, pay the $300 minimum filing fee, and designate a registered agent with a physical Tennessee street address. Exception: single-member LLCs are treated as disregarded entities by default for federal tax purposes, meaning all profits pass through to the owner's personal tax return, however, you can elect S-corp or C-corp taxation if that structure reduces your overall tax burden. File online at sos.tn.gov to get started.

How to Start an LLC in Tennessee: $300 Minimum Filing Fee

Get your Tennessee business legally protected and operational with our comprehensive step-by-step formation guide.

By Edmond Hui · Last updated: October 2026

Filing an LLC in Tennessee costs $300 upfront and has an annual report due April 1 (from $300). Tennessee publishes no standard processing time. See breakdown below.

Tennessee publishes no LLC turnaround, and it lists no expedited service either, so its $300 minimum filing fee buys a filing rather than a date

The Tennessee Secretary of State publishes neither a standard turnaround nor a paid expedite option. Treat any specific day count you see quoted for Tennessee with suspicion. It didn't come from the state. With no standard figure and nothing to buy, build slack into any date that depends on the LLC existing.

Source: MyStateLLC 50-state primary-source processing verification, July 2026

Read this guide for another state:

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Form your LLC with Northwest ($39 + state fee)Includes a year of registered agent service. After year one, registered agent service is $125/yr. That enrolls you by default in annual report filing at $100 plus state fees, charged automatically to your saved payment method and cancellable any time.

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Quick Facts

State filing fee	$300
Processing time	Not published by the state
Annual report due	April 1
Annual report fee	from $300
State income tax	No personal income tax. The LLC itself owes franchise and excise tax, with a $100 annual franchise minimum

Source: Tennessee Secretary of State (verified June 2026)

Step diagram for forming an LLC in Tennessee, showing the 7 required steps, $300 state filing fee, from $300 annual report. — The 7 steps to form an LLC in Tennessee, with the state's own filing fee and annual report cost. Source: Tennessee Secretary of State, verified June 2026.

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

1
Choose a Unique LLC Name
Your Tennessee LLC name must be unique and include 'LLC' or 'Limited Liability Company'. Check name availability using the Tennessee Secretary of State's business search tool. The name can't be misleading about your business activities or suggest government affiliation.
How to search Tennessee's business entity records →
Pro tip: Consider reserving your chosen name for 120 days ($20 fee) if you're not ready to file immediately.
2
Appoint a Registered Agent
Tennessee law requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a Tennessee street address (not a P.O. box) to receive legal documents. You can serve as your own registered agent or hire a professional service. The agent must be available during business hours.
Tennessee registered agent rules, costs and options →
Pro tip: A professional registered agent service puts its address, not yours, on the registered agent line of the public filing, and accepts legal papers during business hours.
3
File Articles of Organization
Submit your Articles of Organization to the Tennessee Secretary of State online or by mail with the $300 minimum filing fee. Include your LLC name, registered agent information, organizer details, and management structure.
What You File in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the formation document is the Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270), filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. The state filing fee is at least $300. Tennessee lets you fill in and file the Articles of Organization online. The form itself requires the LLC's name, the registered agent's name, the registered office address, the principal office address, the organizer's name, whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed, a business purpose, the LLC's duration, the county and an email address. Every line of the Articles of Organization, field by field →
Processing Times
- Online: Not published, Tennessee Secretary of State states no standard turnaround for online filings
- Mail: Not published, Tennessee Secretary of State states no standard turnaround for mailed filings, and every state that comments says mail is slower than online
- Expedited: No paid expedite option is published for LLC filings
Pro tip: File online at sos.tn.gov for faster processing and immediate confirmation of your submission.
4
Create an Operating Agreement
This page has not confirmed whether Tennessee law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement. A written agreement signed by every member is worth having either way: it records who owns what share, who makes decisions and how profits are divided. This document outlines ownership percentages, management structure, profit distribution, and procedures for major decisions. A written agreement helps prevent disputes between members.
Tennessee LLC operating agreement: what to include →
Pro tip: Even single-member LLCs benefit from an operating agreement as it demonstrates the separation between personal and business activities.
5
Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Apply for an EIN from the IRS online, by phone, or by mail. This free federal tax ID number is required if your LLC has employees or multiple members, and is needed to open business bank accounts. A single-member LLC with a U.S. owner, no employees, no excise tax filings and no corporate tax election can use the owner's SSN or ITIN, but an EIN is still recommended.
How to get your LLC's EIN from the IRS, free →
Pro tip: Apply for your EIN online at irs.gov for immediate approval during business hours.
6
Open a Business Bank Account
Separate your personal and business finances by opening a dedicated business bank account. Have your Articles of Organization, EIN documentation, and operating agreement ready. Tennessee has no additional banking requirements beyond standard federal banking regulations.
Business bank accounts for Tennessee LLCs →
Pro tip: Shop around for business banking packages - many Tennessee banks offer perks for new LLCs like waived fees for the first year.
7
Obtain Business Licenses and Permits
Research federal, state, and local licensing requirements for your specific business type. Tennessee requires various professional licenses for regulated industries like healthcare, real estate, and construction. Contact your city or county clerk for local business licenses and permits.
Does your Tennessee LLC need a business license? →
Pro tip: The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website provides industry-specific licensing information and application portals.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each Secretary of State publishes for forming 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, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

: The Tennessee Articles of Organization filing fee is at least $300, paid to the Tennessee Secretary of State. Your total first-year costs reach $700 once you add the $300 annual report fee due by April 1 and the $100 minimum franchise and excise tax. For example, if you form your LLC in June 2026, your first annual report and its $300 minimum fee will both be due by April 1, 2027. Additional costs may include registered agent services, operating agreement preparation, and any required state or local business licenses. Tennessee also imposes a franchise and excise tax on most LLCs with a $100 annual minimum, so budget for that ongoing cost. Exception: LLCs with six or fewer members pay $50 per member up to the $300 cap, so a two-member LLC pays the same $300 as a six-member LLC, but LLCs with more than six members pay an additional $50 per member beyond six. File online at sos.tn.gov to avoid mail transit delays, Tennessee publishes no standard processing time, so there's no turnaround to count on.
: Tennessee publishes no standard processing time for Articles of Organization, so nobody can honestly quote you one. The Tennessee Secretary of State doesn't publish a standard turnaround time or an expedited-service fee for LLC filings. Articles of Organization may be e-filed through TNCaB, mailed, or submitted at the walk-in counter. The Tennessee Secretary of State also publishes no paid expedite option, so there's no way to buy a guaranteed date either. File online where the state offers it. Every state that discusses the difference says online is faster than mail, and treat any specific day count you see quoted for Tennessee as unsourced.
: No, you don't need to live in Tennessee or maintain a Tennessee business address to own a Tennessee LLC. However, you must designate a registered agent with a physical Tennessee street address, P.O. boxes aren't permitted, to receive legal documents and official notices on your behalf. For example, an entrepreneur based in California can form a Tennessee LLC by hiring a professional Tennessee registered agent service. The registered agent's name and address are listed publicly in your Articles of Organization filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State. Exception: if you personally have a Tennessee street address and are consistently available there during regular business hours on weekdays, you may serve as your own registered agent and avoid the annual registered agent fee. File at sos.tn.gov to submit your formation documents quickly from anywhere in the country.
: Tennessee LLCs must file an annual report with the Tennessee Secretary of State by April 1 each year, accompanied by a $300 minimum fee. Unlike many states that tie the annual report deadline to each LLC's formation anniversary, Tennessee uses a universal April 1 deadline for all active LLCs. For example, an LLC formed in September 2026 must file its first annual report and pay at least $300 by April 1, 2027, just seven months after formation. The report confirms your LLC's registered agent details, principal office address, and current member or manager information and can be filed online. In addition, Tennessee LLCs owe a franchise and excise tax with a $100 annual minimum, filed separately with the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Exception: newly formed LLCs may receive a prorated first-year obligation depending on formation date. Confirm with the Secretary of State. File at sos.tn.gov.
: No, Tennessee doesn't require LLCs to publish formation notices in local newspapers or legal publications of any kind. This is a meaningful cost advantage compared to states with mandatory publication requirements. For example, New York requires publication in two local newspapers for six consecutive weeks, at rates the newspapers set, and Arizona requires three consecutive newspaper publications unless the LLC's statutory agent has a street address in Maricopa or Pima County, where the state currently posts the notice online for free. Tennessee founders avoid all of those fees and delays, your Articles of Organization filed directly with the Tennessee Secretary of State are the only required public disclosure for forming a Tennessee LLC. Exception: certain regulated industries in Tennessee (such as financial services, healthcare, or law), may have additional disclosure requirements imposed by their professional licensing boards rather than the Secretary of State. To confirm whether any publication rule applies to your profession, check with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance before finalizing your filing.
: Yes, Tennessee fully permits single-member LLCs. One person can own, manage, and operate the entire company while still receiving the personal liability protection that separates business debts from personal assets. The formation process for a single-member LLC is identical to that of a multi-member LLC: file Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State, pay the $300 minimum filing fee, and designate a registered agent with a physical Tennessee street address. Exception: single-member LLCs are treated as disregarded entities by default for federal tax purposes, meaning all profits pass through to the owner's personal tax return, however, you can elect S-corp or C-corp taxation if that structure reduces your overall tax burden. File online at sos.tn.gov to get started.

Sources

7 documents

Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified Tennessee sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so.

sos.tn.gov/businessesTennessee Secretary of State: business entity filings
sos.tn.gov/businesses/services/business-forms-feesTennessee LLC filing fees
law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-48/chapter-249/part-10/section-48-249-1017/Tennessee statutory text, unofficial mirror: Annual Report
sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/SS-4270%20LLC_0.pdfTennessee agency guidance: Annual Report
tn.gov/content/dam/tn/revenue/documents/tax_manuals/june-2025/Frachise-Excise-Tax-Manual.pdfTennessee agency guidance: Franchise and Excise Tax
tn.gov/content/dam/tn/revenue/documents/forms/fae/fae170instructions2022.pdfTennessee agency guidance: Franchise and Excise Tax
tn.gov/revenue/taxes/franchise---excise-tax.htmlTennessee Department of Revenue: file the Franchise and Excise Tax

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$39 with Northwest, plus your $300 state fee. Northwest's $39 includes a year of registered agent service.

Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Prefer to file directly? File yourself at the Secretary of State → ($300 state fee, no service fee)

Not sure which service is right? Compare formation services →

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.

How we check facts

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose a Unique LLC Name

Appoint a Registered Agent

File Articles of Organization

What You File in Tennessee

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Open a Business Bank Account

Obtain Business Licenses and Permits