In Tennessee, you create an LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State's Division of Business Services in Nashville. The state's form number is SS-4270. The filing is a public record, and the LLC exists once the state accepts it.
What sets Tennessee apart is the price rule. The fee follows the number of members, at $50 each. This guide describes the filing and is not advice. The Tennessee office guide covers searches and contacts.
Which form do you file in Tennessee?
An LLC files the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company, Form SS-4270. A nonprofit LLC has its own Articles form, and the fee page prices it at the same $300 starting point. A for-profit corporation files a Charter on Form SS-4417 instead. If you are comparing entity types, read our articles of incorporation guide too.
| LLC form | Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company, Form SS-4270 (sos.tn.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Corporation form | Charter For-Profit Corporation, Form SS-4417 (sos.tn.gov, checked ) |
| State filing fee for an LLC | $50 per member on the filing date, minimum $300, maximum $3,000 (sos.tn.gov, checked ) |
| State filing fee for a corporation | $100 (sos.tn.gov, checked ) |
| Filing online | Online card payment adds a convenience fee: $8.25 for LLC formations, $4.25 for corporations (sos.tn.gov, checked ) |
| Worth knowing | The fee page marks the LLC fee with an asterisk and says additional fees may apply (sos.tn.gov, checked ) |
| Where to file online | tnbear.tn.gov (tnbear.tn.gov, checked ) |
How much does the filing cost?
The charge is $50 per member in existence on the filing date. The floor is $300 and the ceiling is $3,000. So one to six members pay the $300 minimum, and larger LLCs pay more until the cap. The state's fee page marks the LLC amount with an asterisk and a note that additional fees may apply.
A corporation pays $100 for its Charter. A name reservation costs $20.
Can you file online?
For many filings, yes. The state allows online filing with a credit or debit card, and some choices still send you to a printed form and a check. The convenience fee for paying online is $8.25 on an LLC formation and $4.25 on a corporation. That detail comes from an older copy of the state page, so confirm it on the screen when you pay.
The state's filing system today is TNCaB. Run a name check there before you file.
What name can your LLC use?
The name must include limited liability company, L.L.C., LLC, or a like word or abbreviation in roman characters. Under the Tennessee LLC statute it must also be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records from other LLC names, reserved or registered names, and corporate or assumed corporate names.
The office may allow a name that is not distinguishable if the other entity gives written consent or a court judgment backs you. If you want time to decide, a reservation holds the name for 120 days for $20.
Registered agent and what comes after
Tennessee requires every entity except a general partnership to keep a registered agent and a registered office in the state at all times. Name one before you file. After the state accepts the filing, put the LLC on your calendar for its annual report. The LLC fee there also depends on member count, starting at $300. Our Tennessee annual report guide has the fee and date.
How long does it take?
The pages we could read give no processing time and no expedite fee. Ask the Division by phone before you promise a date to a bank or a client.
State fees are separate. You can file at the state yourself, or ask our private filing service to file for you.
Sources
- sos.tn.gov/businesses/services/business-forms-fees: LLC filing fee. Checked .
- sos.tn.gov/businesses/faqs/what-is-the-required-filing-fee: corporation filing fee. Checked .
- tnbear.tn.gov/: online filing. Checked .
- sos.tn.gov/businesses/services/business-forms-fees: llc form, corporation form, worth knowing. Checked .
- sos.tn.gov/products/business-services/form-or-register-new-business: filing online. Checked .