By StartBusinessByStatePublisher: Robert SmithResearch process
Make your Tennessee business official. Have your LLC paperwork prepared and filed so you can focus on getting your business off the ground.
- Your business name checked before filing.
- Your formation paperwork prepared and submitted.
- Your formation documents together in an online account.
$0 service fee + $300 minimum state filing fee
Filing service by ZenBusiness. Choose Starter for the $0 service fee. State follow-up charges and optional services and renewals are separate.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Get the paperwork handled and your company underway
With ZenBusiness, you provide the details and its team handles the Tennessee formation filing. You get electronic documents and customer support by phone, chat and email.
Use your approved LLC records to open a company bank account, organize your ownership agreement and do business under the company name. The state-specific costs and next steps below help you plan what comes after approval.
What it costs to start a Tennessee LLC
A Tennessee LLC costs $300 minimum to file Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State. Member count drives both formation and annual report fees.
Start with the Form SS-4270 and the Tennessee Secretary of State filing resources. These are government charges, separate from anything a formation company bills you.
| Expense | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (SS-4270) | $50/member (min $300 / max $3,000) | 1–6 members → $300 |
| Articles if prohibited from TN business | $300 flat | Regardless of members |
| Typical small-LLC base | $300 | Excludes convenience fees |
| Online convenience fee | Varies | Print-and-mail avoids card fee |
| Annual report | $50/member (min $300 / max $3,000) | Same structure as formation |
| RA/office change on annual report | +$20 | Per SOS Business FAQs |
Budget example: $300 minimum for formation plus the recurring state filing in the table is the lean government path—before insurance, local permits, or professional help.
Do not conflate the SOS $300 minimum with Tennessee franchise & excise tax—those are Revenue filings.
Choose the services you want with your filing
Starter’s base formation service does not renew. Registered-agent service, an EIN service, an operating agreement and faster preparation are optional purchases.
The preselected website-builder trial renews at $15/month after 30 days; you can remove it at checkout. Optional Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year and renews at $199/year. Registered-agent service is listed separately at $199/year; first-year promotions may differ.
Review the services and renewal terms in your order. Provider details checked October 14, 2026 against ZenBusiness’s formation plans.
How to start your Tennessee LLC
Use your company details to get the formation paperwork prepared and submitted. Here is how the filing service works:
- Enter your business details. Choose Tennessee, your company name and the information requested for the filing.
- Review your services and order. Select Starter for the $0 base service fee. ZenBusiness prepares and submits the formation document from your answers.
- Save your approved company records. Once the filing office accepts the paperwork, use the documents to finish your banking and business setup.
Your Tennessee filing checklist and required next steps
- Check the name on TNCaB (must include LLC / L.L.C. / Limited Liability Company).
- Count members for the $50/member fee (min $300 / max $3,000).
- Name a Tennessee registered agent and gather organizer details.
- File via TNBear or print-and-mail with payment to the Tennessee Secretary of State.
- Calendar the annual report at the same fee scale; save filed Articles.
Check your proposed name in the Tennessee business search.
If Articles prohibit the LLC from doing business in Tennessee, Form SS-4270 still lists a $300 fee regardless of member count—that path is uncommon for operating local businesses and should be used only when it matches your actual plan.
How long does approval take?
Online is usually faster than mail. ZenBusiness preparation time is separate from Tennessee review.
Can I file directly with Tennessee?
Yes. You can prepare and submit the filing yourself through the Tennessee official LLC filing service. A formation service handles preparation and submission from the information you provide. The government charges and required follow-up steps above still apply.
Choose your Tennessee registered agent
Tennessee’s member-based fee is easy to underestimate if ownership grows. Re-count members before every annual report so you do not underpay and trigger a rejection.
You can serve as your own agent if you maintain a Tennessee registered agent street address and can receive service of process. Confirm consent rules on Form SS-4270. SOS records are public.
Tennessee LLC annual report: what happens after formation?
Tennessee LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State using $50 per member, minimum $300, maximum $3,000. Many calendar-year LLCs are due April 1 (first day of the fourth month after fiscal year end)—confirm on TNCaB. Changing the registered agent or office on the report may add $20.
Keep SOS confirmations and Revenue account letters in the same company binder so May/April deadlines do not collide with tax prep.
Franchise and excise taxes with the Department of Revenue are separate from this SOS filing.
Get your Tennessee LLC filing underway
Put the formation paperwork in ZenBusiness’s hands. Starter has a $0 service fee plus the applicable Tennessee charges detailed above.
Continue to ZenBusiness to enter your details and review your order. Optional services and renewal details.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Put your approved LLC to work
- Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Tennessee’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.Use the basic LLC operating agreement tool as a starting point.
- Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. A paid EIN service handles the application for you. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
- Open your business bank account. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
- Complete taxes and operating approvals. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
- Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly for the current rule.
Insurance guidance for your Tennessee business
Match coverage to your services, employees, equipment and client contracts. Start with the relevant guide:
Continue with the Tennessee business guide for the broader startup process.
Keep a simple compliance folder: filed Articles, EIN letter, operating agreement, registered-agent contract, and every annual/franchise confirmation. When you hire a bookkeeper or attorney later, that folder saves hours.
After the state accepts the filing, update your contracts, invoices, and bank applications to use the exact legal name—including the LLC designator—unless you have also registered a trade name where required.
Mismatched names are a common reason banks and payment processors ask for extra paperwork.
Finally, revisit insurance once the entity exists. Clients and landlords often want the LLC named as the insured and may ask for additional insured status on certificates.
Entity paperwork alone does not transfer coverage from a personal policy to the company.
When ownership changes during the year, update your internal member list before the annual report window. Underpaying because you used last year’s member count is a frequent TNCaB rejection reason called out in SOS FAQs.
Tennessee LLC questions before you start
What is the cheapest way to form a Tennessee LLC?
Most 1–6 member LLCs pay the $300 minimum Articles fee. ZenBusiness Starter advertises $0 service plus the state fee; online payments may add a convenience fee.
Is the annual report also about $300?
For 1–6 members, yes (min $300). Fees rise $50 per member above six up to $3,000.
Can I be my own Tennessee registered agent?
Yes, if you maintain a proper Tennessee agent address.
Does formation cover franchise and excise tax?
No. F&E tax is a Department of Revenue matter, separate from SOS fees.
Can I get an EIN without buying a service?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs free after the LLC exists.
This guide is for creating a new Tennessee LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Tennessee’s foreign-entity registration requirements before creating a second company.
Page updated October 14, 2026. State-source review: September 14, 2026. ZenBusiness package terms checked October 14, 2026.