Filed with
Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Tennessee LLC
Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations business filings →The name must include "limited liability company", "L.L.C." or "LLC". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Tennessee register.
Search the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Tennessee LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Tennessee, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Tennessee operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Tennessee business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Tennessee requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Tennessee sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Tennessee LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Tennessee LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is 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 31 fiscal year end).
Most LLCs owe Tennessee franchise and excise taxes to the Department of Revenue, a separate filing from the Secretary of State annual report. The return is due on the 15th day of the fourth month after the close of the tax year (April 15 for calendar year filers). Some LLCs, such as certain family-owned or obligated-member entities, may qualify for exemption.
Worth knowing in Tennessee
- The annual report deadline follows your fiscal year end, not your formation date.
- Franchise and excise tax applies to LLCs even though they are pass-through entities for federal tax.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations and pay the state fee, act as your Tennessee registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Tennessee?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Tennessee, and file a Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Tennessee?
Tennessee charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Tennessee LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Tennessee LLC have to file an annual report?
Tennessee LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is 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 31 fiscal year end).
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Tennessee, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Tennessee?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Tennessee and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
