Tennessee LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | Tennessee amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $50 per member, minimum $300, maximum $3,000 |
| Annual report | $300 minimum, plus $50 per member above six, maximum $3,000 |
| When it is due | Every year, on a date set by the LLC’s fiscal year end |
| State tax on the LLC | Franchise tax ($100 minimum) and 6.5% excise tax |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $400 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $400 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the Tennessee Secretary of State and other official Tennessee sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Secretary of State charges $50 per member to file Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270), with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum. The count uses the members in existence on the filing date, so a single-member LLC pays the same $300 as a six-member LLC, and an LLC with 60 or more members pays the $3,000 cap.
A name reservation costs $20 and is optional.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in Tennessee covers the form field by field.
How much does a Tennessee LLC cost every year?
Every Tennessee LLC files an annual report with the Secretary of State, and the fee is $300 at the minimum. An LLC with more than six members pays $50 for each member above six, up to $3,000. Changing the registered agent or office on the report adds $20.
Annual reports are filed online through TNCaB, the Secretary of State’s business filing system.
What does a Tennessee LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a Tennessee LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts Tennessee charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $400 | $400 |
| Year 2 | $400 | $547 |
| Year 3 | $400 | $547 |
| Three-year total | $1,200 | $1,494 |
Year one counts the $300 formation fee and the $100 minimum franchise tax for the first tax year. Each later year counts the $300 annual report and the $100 minimum franchise tax. An LLC with more than six members pays $50 more per extra member on each filing.
Does Tennessee charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Tennessee applies franchise and excise tax to LLCs registered with the Secretary of State, and the franchise tax has a $100 minimum owed whether the LLC is active or not. Franchise tax is 0.25% of net worth, and excise tax is 6.5% of net earnings. Returns are due on the 15th day of the fourth month after the fiscal year ends, which is 15 April for a calendar-year LLC.
Since Public Chapter 950 (2024), the franchise tax uses net worth only; the old property measure no longer applies for tax years ending on or after 1 January 2024. Family-owned non-corporate entities that meet the Department of Revenue’s tests can claim the FONCE exemption.
How much does a registered agent cost in Tennessee?
Every Tennessee LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Tennessee. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
Our Tennessee registered agent guide explains the state rules in full.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a Tennessee LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A Tennessee LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other Tennessee LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the Tennessee state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $20 | Application for Name Reservation, Form SS-9425 |
| Certificate of good standing | $20 | Request for a Certificate or Certified Copies, Form SS-4461 |
| Certified copy | $20 per set | Certified copies of documents |
| Amending the articles | $20 | Articles of Amendment to Articles of Organization, Form SS-4247 |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $20 | Application for Registration of Assumed Name, Form SS-4402, filed with the Secretary of State |
| Changing registered agent | $20 | Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Office, Form SS-4534 |
| Foreign LLC registration | From $300 | Application for Certificate of Authority, Form SS-4233; additional fees apply |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $70 | Application for Reinstatement Following Administrative Dissolution, Form SS-9410; a Department of Revenue tax clearance is also required |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in Tennessee, and Tennessee does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss a Tennessee LLC deadline?
Missing a Tennessee annual report leads to administrative dissolution. The Secretary of State also dissolves an LLC that is left without a registered agent.
Reinstatement costs $70 (Form SS-9410) plus the overdue reports, and it needs a tax clearance from the Tennessee Department of Revenue, so unpaid franchise and excise tax must be settled first.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Tennessee sets out the steps.
How does Tennessee compare with other states?
Tennessee is one of the most expensive states to form and keep an LLC. The $300 minimum formation fee matches Texas, and the $400 minimum yearly cost of the annual report and franchise tax equals Delaware’s $400 annual tax. Tennessee is also the only state that prices LLC filings by member count.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $300 | $400 | $300 minimum to form and report, $100 minimum franchise tax |
| Georgia LLC cost | $110 | $60 | $110 to form, $60 annual registration |
| North Carolina LLC cost | $125 | $200 | $125 to form, $200 annual report |
| Alabama LLC cost | $200 | $0 | $200 to form plus required name reservation, $0 yearly for most |
| Texas LLC cost | $300 | $0 | $300 to form, $0 yearly under $2.65M revenue |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a Tennessee LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your Tennessee LLC for $0 plus the $300 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the Tennessee filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every Tennessee deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in Tennessee first.
Tennessee LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Tennessee?
A Tennessee LLC costs $300 to form for up to six members. After that it pays at least $400 a year: the $300 annual report and the $100 minimum franchise tax.
How does Tennessee’s per-member LLC fee work?
Tennessee charges $50 per member with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum. One to six members pay $300, ten members pay $500, and 60 or more members pay $3,000.
How much is the Tennessee LLC annual report?
$300 at the minimum, plus $50 for each member above six, up to $3,000. Changing the registered agent on the report adds $20.
Does a single-member LLC pay Tennessee franchise tax?
Tennessee applies franchise and excise tax to LLCs registered with the Secretary of State, with a $100 minimum franchise tax owed even when inactive. Family-owned non-corporate entities that meet the Department of Revenue’s tests can claim the FONCE exemption.
What happens if I miss the Tennessee annual report?
The LLC is administratively dissolved. Reinstatement costs $70 plus the overdue reports and requires a tax clearance from the Department of Revenue.
How much does a Tennessee LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $1,200 in state fees and tax: $400 a year for an LLC with six or fewer members. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $1,494.
Sources
- Tennessee Secretary of State, business forms and fees
- Tennessee Secretary of State, Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270)
- Tennessee Secretary of State, business FAQs
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, franchise and excise tax due dates and rates
- Official Tennessee source: Certified copy fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Tennessee Secretary of State before you file.
