Step 1: Choose a name Tennessee will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “LLC” or “L.L.C.”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Tennessee Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Tennessee against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $20, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Tennessee who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Tennessee companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Tennessee Secretary of State. The fee is $300 minimum ($50 per member, up to $3,000). File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Tennessee doesn't require one (Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-249-203(a)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Tennessee LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Tennessee has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Tennessee LLC annual report
Fee: $300 minimum, plus $50 for each member over six, maximum $3,000. Due: On or before the first day of the fourth month after the close of the LLC's fiscal year (April 1 for a December fiscal year-end) (T.C.A. § 48-249-1017); failure to file can lead to administrative dissolution. (Source: FAQs, sos.tn.gov.)
| After formation | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $300 minimum each year ($50 per member, up to $3,000), due by the 1st day of the 4th month after the fiscal year ends |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | Franchise and excise taxes (minimum franchise tax $100) |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $20 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Tennessee certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Tennessee
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $300 |
| First year, state fees | $300 |
| Each year after | $400 |
Over five years, Tennessee's state fees come to $1,900. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Business forms fees, sos.tn.gov, checked 2026-10-09
FAQs, sos.tn.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Order copies certificates, sos.tn.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Services, sos.tn.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Franchise excise tax, tn.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Busname (PDF), sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com, checked 2026-10-07
sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, checked 2026-10-07
sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, checked 2026-10-07
sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, checked 2026-10-07
Business entity search, tncab.tnsos.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Tennessee
- Choose a name Tennessee will accept and check it against the Tennessee Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Tennessee.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State ($300 minimum).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Tennessee?
$300 minimum to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $300 in the first year and $400 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Secretary of State doesn't publish a processing time; its site shows how to file and check on a filing.
Do I need an operating agreement in Tennessee?
Tennessee doesn't require one (Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-249-203(a)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Tennessee online?
Yes. The Tennessee Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for $300 minimum.
When is the Tennessee LLC annual report due?
On or before the first day of the fourth month after the close of the LLC's fiscal year (April 1 for a December fiscal year-end) (T.C.A. § 48-249-1017); failure to file can lead to administrative dissolution.
Does Tennessee require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Tennessee's recurring filing: $300 minimum each year ($50 per member, up to $3,000), due by the 1st day of the 4th month after the fiscal year ends.