Tennessee LLC Formation

Start an LLC in Tennessee — No Personal Income Tax

Tennessee is one of the fastest-growing business states in the South — home to Nashville's booming economy, Memphis logistics hub, and a thriving small business scene. With no personal state income tax and a straightforward filing process, forming a Tennessee LLC gives you solid liability protection and tax advantages. Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and all compliance so you can launch with confidence.

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Important: Tennessee's Annual Report Fee is $300/year

Tennessee's annual report fee is $300 per year — the same as the state filing fee. This is one of the highest annual LLC maintenance costs in the US. Factor this into your total cost before forming in Tennessee. The annual report is due April 1 each year.

Formation & Compliance
Banking & Bookkeeping
Tax Advice and Filing
Expert Customer Support

Step-by-step guide

How to Form an LLC in Tennessee

Six clear steps to get your Tennessee LLC legally formed — Brendat handles the filing while you focus on your business.

Choose a Name for Your Tennessee LLC

Your Tennessee LLC name must be unique among all businesses registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State and must include a required designator.

Tennessee Naming Rules:

Must include: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
Cannot use: Words implying a government agency (e.g., "FBI," "State Department")
Restricted words: "Bank," "Insurance," "University" require additional approval
Must be distinguishable: From all existing Tennessee business names in the SOS database

Name Reservation Available

You can reserve your Tennessee LLC name for 4 months by filing a Name Reservation with the Tennessee SOS for $20. Brendat checks name availability before filing your Articles of Organization.

Appoint a Tennessee Registered Agent

Every Tennessee LLC must designate a registered agent — an individual or company with a physical Tennessee street address — to receive legal documents, state notices, and official correspondence during business hours.

Who can be your registered agent?

Yourself: Must have a physical Tennessee address and be available during business hours
A trusted individual: Any Tennessee resident with a physical address
A professional service: Like Brendat — keeps your personal address private

Brendat provides registered agent service in Tennessee

Our Tennessee address is listed on your Articles of Organization. Included in Standard and Premium packages.

File Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State

The Articles of Organization officially creates your Tennessee LLC. You file it with the Tennessee Secretary of State — online via the Tennessee Online Business Services (TOBS) portal or by mail.

Method	Fee	Processing Time
Online via TOBS portal	$300	3–5 business days
By Mail	$300	4–6 weeks

What's included in Tennessee Articles of Organization?

LLC name and principal office address
Registered agent name and Tennessee address
Management structure (member-managed or manager-managed)
Organizer's name and signature

Tennessee's $300 Filing Fee

Tennessee has one of the higher state LLC filing fees at $300 — the same as Texas. Combined with the $300 annual report fee, Tennessee's total first and second-year costs are higher than most states. Budget accordingly before forming here.

Create an Operating Agreement

Tennessee does not legally require an operating agreement for LLCs, but it is strongly recommended for all Tennessee LLCs. It establishes ownership, profit sharing, and management rules, and protects your liability shield.

Your operating agreement should cover:

Ownership structure: Each member's percentage and capital contribution
Profit distribution: How and when profits are divided
Management: Who makes decisions and how voting works
Member changes: Process for adding or removing members
Dissolution: Steps to close the LLC if needed

Included in Brendat Standard and Premium

Brendat provides a professionally drafted Tennessee operating agreement with your formation documents.

Get Your EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN is your LLC's federal tax ID — required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. You apply through the IRS for free.

US residents: Apply free online at IRS.gov — instant approval
Non-US residents: Apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4 — 4–6 weeks
Brendat handles this: Included in Standard and Premium packages

Open a business bank account right after

With your EIN and approved Articles of Organization, open a dedicated Tennessee business bank account to keep personal and business finances separate.

File Your Tennessee Annual Report

Tennessee LLCs must file an annual report every year with the Tennessee Secretary of State to stay in good standing. Tennessee's annual report fee is $300 per year — one of the highest in the US.

Annual report fee: $300/year
Due date: April 1 every year
Filing: Online via Tennessee TOBS portal
Late penalty: $100 late fee after April 1
Dissolution risk: LLCs that don't file by June 1 are administratively dissolved

April 1 Deadline — $100 Late Fee

Tennessee's annual report must be filed by April 1. A $100 late fee applies after that, and LLCs that don't file by June 1 risk administrative dissolution. Brendat sends reminders before the April 1 deadline every year.

Transparent pricing

How Much Does a Tennessee LLC Cost?

Full breakdown — including Tennessee's higher annual report fee. No surprises.

State Filing Fee

$300

One-time fee paid to the Tennessee SOS to file your Articles of Organization

Annual Report Fee

$300/yr

Due April 1 every year. $100 late fee after April 1. One of the highest annual LLC fees in the US

Personal Income Tax

Tennessee has no personal state income tax — a significant advantage for LLC owners

Registered Agent

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages. Every Tennessee LLC must maintain one

EIN (Federal Tax ID)

Free from the IRS. Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Operating Agreement

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Total with Brendat Standard Plan

$149 + $300 state fee

$149 Brendat + $300 TN state fee · Annual report $300/year due April 1 from year 2

Choose your plan

Tennessee LLC Formation Packages

All packages include accurate, state-specific filing. Pick what fits your needs.

Basic

Brendat service fee

+ $300 Tennessee state fee

Get Started Free

Articles of Organization filed
Name availability check
Email support
Digital copy of filed documents

Standard

$149

Brendat service fee

+ $300 Tennessee state fee

Start for $149 →

Everything in Basic
EIN / Federal Tax ID
Operating Agreement
Registered Agent (1 year)
April 1 annual report reminders
Priority processing

Premium

$299

Brendat service fee

+ $300 Tennessee state fee

Get Premium

Everything in Standard
Business bank account setup
Compliance calendar & reminders
Annual report filing (year 1)
Dedicated account manager
Phone & priority support

State Comparison

Is Tennessee the Right State for Your LLC?

Tennessee is best if you live or operate there. Here's how it compares to nearby states.

Feature	Tennessee	Georgia	Florida	Texas
State Filing Fee	$300	$100	$125	$300
Annual Report Fee	$300/yr	$50/yr	$138.75/yr	$0 (franchise tax)
Personal Income Tax	None	4.49%	None	None
Processing Time	3–5 days	~7 days	~5 days	~13 days
Publication Required	None	None	None	None
Best For	TN businesses	GA businesses	FL businesses	TX businesses

High Annual Cost Warning

Tennessee's $300/year annual report fee is significantly higher than neighboring Georgia ($50/yr) or Florida ($138.75/yr). If you're a non-resident or have flexibility in where you form your LLC, consider whether Tennessee's annual cost makes sense for your business.

Why choose us

Why 10,000+ Entrepreneurs Choose Brendat

Fast Filing

We submit your Tennessee Articles of Organization within 1 business day of your order. Standard processing takes 3-5 business days.

100% Accuracy Guarantee

Every filing is reviewed before submission. If the Tennessee SOS rejects your documents due to our error, we fix it at no charge.

Privacy First

Your home address stays off the public record. We list our Tennessee registered agent address on all your formation documents.

April 1 Reminders

Tennessee's $300 annual report is due April 1. We send reminders in March so you never miss it and avoid the $100 late fee.

Non-US Residents Welcome

No citizenship or US residency required to form a Tennessee LLC. We assist international entrepreneurs with the full process including EIN.

Real Support

Reach our team at (303) 246-8693 or by email. Plain English answers — no jargon, no runaround.

Our reviews

What Our Tennessee LLC Customers Say

Jason H.

Music LLC, Nashville TN

"Brendat was upfront about Tennessee's $300 annual report fee — I appreciated the honesty. Got my Nashville LLC set up quickly and everything has been smooth since."

Tanya R.

Logistics LLC, Memphis TN

"Started my logistics company in Memphis through Brendat. Fast, professional, and they reminded me about the April 1 annual report deadline. Great service!"

Chris M.

Consulting LLC, Knoxville TN

"The no personal income tax in Tennessee was a big reason I chose it. Brendat handled everything perfectly and had my LLC approved within a week."

Common questions

Tennessee LLC — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about forming and running an LLC in Tennessee.

Still have questions?

Talk with our Tennessee LLC specialists.

(303) 246-8693

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

The Tennessee state filing fee is $300 paid to the Tennessee Secretary of State. Brendat's service starts at $0 (Basic) or $149 (Standard, which includes EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent). Total first-year cost with Standard is $449. Tennessee's annual report is $300/year due April 1 from year 2 — budget for this ongoing cost.

Why is Tennessee's annual report fee $300?

Tennessee charges a flat $300 annual report fee for all LLCs — one of the highest in the US. This is due every April 1, with a $100 late fee if filed after that date. LLCs that don't file by June 1 are administratively dissolved. Tennessee's high annual fee is a key cost factor for businesses deciding whether to form here vs. neighboring states like Georgia ($50/yr) or Florida ($138.75/yr).

Does Tennessee have a personal income tax?

Tennessee has no personal state income tax on wages or salary — making it one of only 9 states with no income tax. For LLC owners taxed as pass-through entities, there is no Tennessee personal income tax on your LLC earnings. Tennessee previously taxed investment income (dividends and interest) under the Hall Income Tax, but that tax was fully repealed as of January 1, 2021.

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

Standard online processing with the Tennessee Secretary of State takes approximately 3-5 business days. Mail filings take 4-6 weeks. Brendat submits your Articles of Organization within 1 business day of your order.

What is a Series LLC in Tennessee?

Tennessee allows the formation of Series LLCs — a special structure where one "master" LLC can have multiple separate "series" or cells, each with its own assets, liabilities, and members. Series LLCs are useful for real estate investors who want to hold multiple properties under separate series within one LLC structure. Tennessee's Series LLC law is well-established and one of the stronger Series LLC statutes in the US.

Can a non-US resident form a Tennessee LLC?

Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to form a Tennessee LLC. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical Tennessee address (Brendat provides this). For your EIN, non-residents must apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4. Brendat assists with this process.

Ready to Start Your Tennessee LLC?

No personal income tax, and Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and annual report reminders — so you never miss the April 1 deadline.

Form My Tennessee LLC

$149 + $300 TN state fee · No income tax · 100% accuracy guarantee