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LLC 101 Guide

Section 1 · Tennessee

Starting an LLC in Tennessee (2026): 7 Tasks and the 3 Best LLC Services

For setting up an LLC in Tennessee in 2026, this unit puts Mainstay Filing ($199), TN Registered Agent.org ($199) and Tennessee Registered Agent.co ($199) at the top of the class, in that order. Setting up the LLC means 7 tasks and a $300 fee to the state, then the annual report every year.

Prepared by the LLC 101 Guide instructors

Unit overview

Formation fee
$300
Look it up at sos.tn.gov; our reading dates from October 2026
Annual report
$300 a year
Mark the calendar: on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year
State fees over three years
$900
State charges only
Tasks
7
Listed below

What this unit teaches

  • The official Tennessee fee and form
  • Who can be the registered agent
  • Upkeep that repeats
  • Which services we recommend and why

The Tennessee honor roll

Five weighted criteria set the order (see how we grade), and three-year cost and assignments completed count most.

Top of the class

1. Mainstay Filing: best for skipping the annual report paperwork

Top of the classFirst year $199; renewal $199; state fee extra

Mainstay Filing comes out first, and the reason is that $199 a year hands over three assignments at once: the filing, the registered agent and the annual report.

Over three years it costs $200 above TN Registered Agent.org, and in return more of the work is handled.

Each annual report is submitted for you, and the $300 state fee comes at cost.

What the price covers

  • We mean: the filing is done for you
  • Registered agent for the whole year
  • Annual report filed for you on time
  • State fee billed at cost

What works

  • $199 a year covers filing, agent and report
  • Renews for $199

What to weigh

  • $100 a year more than TN Registered Agent.org at renewal
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Top of the class

2. TN Registered Agent.org: best for a small first bill

Local choice$199 the first year, $99 after

Second goes to TN Registered Agent.org, since $199 above the state fee, agent included for year one, then $99 a year.

Set aside time for the annual report every year; the price does not cover it.

What the price covers

  • The Tennessee formation, prepared and sent
  • A year of agent service is part of the price

What works

  • The agent renews at $99
  • A free first agent year
  • $199 above the state fee

What to weigh

  • Filing the annual report is not in the price
  • An EIN add-on costs $99
Visit TN Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Top of the class

3. Tennessee Registered Agent.co: best for a local filer

Local choice$199 the first year, $99 after

Third goes to Tennessee Registered Agent.co, since $199 above the state fee, agent included for year one, then $99 a year.

Set aside time for the annual report every year; the price does not cover it.

It charges exactly what TN Registered Agent.org charges.

What the price covers

  • The Tennessee formation, prepared and sent
  • A year of agent service is part of the price

What works

  • The agent renews at $99
  • A free first agent year
  • $199 above the state fee

What to weigh

  • Filing the annual report is not in the price
  • An EIN add-on costs $99
Visit Tennessee Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

All the prices in one table

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2TN Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit TN Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Tennessee Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Tennessee Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Listed prices, read November 13, 2026. Every row also owes the $300 state fee.

The unit, task by task

  1. Task 1

    Choose the LLC's name

    Your first assignment is a name search with the Tennessee Secretary of State, so you do not file under something a neighbor already uses.

    While you are searching, see whether the web domain is open too.

  2. Task 2

    Settle who your registered agent will be

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Tennessee resident, or a business entity formed in Tennessee or authorized there with an office at the registered office street address.

    The address has to be a Tennessee street address, with the county. P.O. boxes are not accepted.

    This role comes with each recommended service.

    Source: Look it up at sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com; our reading dates from October 2026

  3. Task 3

    File on your own, or get help

    Skip the services and you pay the state $300. Use one of our picks and you pay $199 extra to skip the forms.

  4. Task 4

    File the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company

    What you need: the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (Form SS-4270), $300, and an address at the Tennessee Secretary of State to send it to.

    Source: Look it up at sos.tn.gov; our reading dates from October 2026

  5. Task 5

    Order the LLC's federal tax number

    The IRS hands out EINs, not Tennessee. Apply once the state approves you, then give the number to your bank.

  6. Task 6

    Prepare the operating agreement

    Owners sign it to settle shares, voting and what happens when a member leaves. It is a private document and never gets filed.

  7. Task 7

    Handle Tennessee's recurring filing

    The filing that repeats is the annual report ($300, every year, by on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year).

    Source: Look it up at sos.tn.gov; our reading dates from October 2026

Costs, task by task

What forPaid toSum
Formation feeState office$300
Annual reportState office$300 every year
Service fees (optional)The service company$199 for year one
State fees over years one to threeState office$900
Three years of state cost equals the filing fee, plus the reports in years two and three, plus any minimum tax. The sources are listed below.

Why the list runs this way

On assignments the price completes (31% of the grade) won out, with right behind.

TN Registered Agent.org is cheaper, but you would still do the annual report yourself.

Questions students ask

How much does Tennessee charge to set up an LLC?

Expect $300 to file. Hire a service and add $199.

Which form creates the LLC?

Task 4 shows how to complete the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (Form SS-4270) and where to send it: the Tennessee Secretary of State.

Is a registered agent required?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

What does Tennessee require each year?

What repeats is the annual report ($300, every year, due on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year).

Can I form the LLC without a service?

A service is optional. Owners can send the papers in with the $300 fee as long as they appoint a registered agent.

Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?

Go with Mainstay Filing: the yearly $199 replaces three separate bills (formation, registered agent, annual report) with a single one. Then TN Registered Agent.org and Tennessee Registered Agent.co.

Reading list and sources

  1. Want proof for what the unit says about Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services? Go to tnbear.tn.gov; the copy we used dates from August 2026.
  2. Want proof for what the unit says about Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services? Go to sos.tn.gov; the copy we used dates from August 2026.
  3. Want proof for what the unit says about Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source? Go to sos.tn.gov; the copy we used dates from October 2026.
  4. Want proof for what the unit says about Tennessee report due date? Go to law.justia.com; the copy we used dates from August 2026.
  5. Want proof for what the unit says about Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee, official source? Go to sos.tn.gov; the copy we used dates from October 2026.
  6. Want proof for what the unit says about Tennessee registered agent statute? Go to sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com; the copy we used dates from October 2026.
  7. We opened the Tennessee service page at Mainstay Filing on November 13, 2026
  8. We opened the pricing page at TN Registered Agent.org on November 13, 2026
  9. We opened the pricing page at Tennessee Registered Agent.co on November 13, 2026