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Tennessee state guide · FAQ

Tennessee LLC
questions, answered

Ten questions we get most often about forming an LLC in Tennessee — with straight answers, not hedged ones.

State filing fee$300
Typical approval5–10 business days
Annual report$300 annual
Annual report$300+ by member count

The ten we get asked most

How long does it take to form a Tennessee LLC?

5–10 business days for standard online processing through the Tennessee Division of Business Services. Once the LLC is approved, we obtain the EIN the same day and deliver your bank-ready packet within a day or two after that.

What does it cost to form an LLC in Tennessee?

Our service is $299 flat. Tennessee's state filing fee is $300, paid directly to the Tennessee Division of Business Services. First-year total is $599, with no upsells and no tiered pricing.

Do I have to live in Tennessee to form a Tennessee LLC?

No. Tennessee allows non-residents to form and own LLCs in the state. You do need a Tennessee registered agent — that's included in the $299 for the first year. Our Nashville office serves as the agent of record.

Can a single person own a Tennessee LLC?

Yes. Tennessee allows single-member LLCs, which the IRS treats as disregarded entities by default — meaning the LLC's income flows through to the owner's personal tax return.

What's included in your $299 flat fee?

Four things: your Tennessee Articles of Organization filed by a formation specialist, federal EIN obtained from the IRS, a custom operating agreement drafted to your actual ownership structure, and one year of registered agent service in Tennessee. No hidden costs, no tiered pricing.

What's the annual requirement for a Tennessee LLC?

Tennessee charges $300 annually for the report. Miss the deadline and the state imposes a late fee, and eventually administrative dissolution if the lapse continues.

Do I need a registered agent in Tennessee?

Yes, Tennessee law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive service of process and official correspondence. Our Nashville office serves as your registered agent for the first year as part of the $299.

Can I change the registered agent later?

Yes. After the first year you can renew our service at $119/year, or designate yourself, an employee, or another agent by filing a change-of-agent form with the Tennessee Division of Business Services. The state typically charges a small fee for the change.

Will I get an operating agreement I can actually use at a bank?

Yes. Our operating agreements are drafted to your actual ownership structure — member names, percentages, voting rights, profit allocations — not a fill-in-the-blank template. Every major U.S. bank accepts them for business account opening.

Is there anything unusual about Tennessee I should know?

Tennessee's annual report fee is calculated by member count: $300 minimum for six or fewer members, plus $50 for each additional member, capped at $3,000. The annual report is due on the first day of the fourth month after fiscal year end (April 1 for calendar-year filers). Tennessee also levies a 6.5% franchise and excise tax on LLCs taxed as corporations.

Tennessee note

Tennessee's annual report fee is calculated by member count: $300 minimum for six or fewer members, plus $50 for each additional member, capped at $3,000. The annual report is due on the first day of the fourth month after fiscal year end (April 1 for calendar-year filers). Tennessee also levies a 6.5% franchise and excise tax on LLCs taxed as corporations.

What's included in the $299 flat fee

State filingArticles of Organization, by a formation specialist
EIN includedFederal tax ID, issued by the IRS after approval
Operating agreementDrafted to your ownership structure — not a template
Registered agentOne year included in Tennessee, Nashville on file
Ready to form in Tennessee?

$299 flat, plus Tennessee's $300 state fee.

Reservation takes three minutes. A formation specialist in Nashville handles the rest.

Start your Tennessee filing