✨ ZenBusiness ✨

If you’re looking for an excellent Tennessee LLC service then choose ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 500,000+ businesses since 2017!

  • Free LLC Service: We’ll form your LLC for free (plus your state’s required fee), while some competitors charge hundreds of dollars for similar services.
  • $5,000 Grant Program: As a ZenBusiness customer you’re eligible to enter our grant program which includes $5,000 and other special resources to help start your business. In 2023, 40 grants will be awarded. As a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) we’re focused on more than just profits – we strongly believe in giving back.
  • Stellar Reviews: With more than 12,900 ZenBusiness reviews available online and high average ratings, it’s clear that our customers are typically quite pleased with our services.
  • Quality Guarantee: We offer a 60-day money-back guarantee on our services. While some competitors have steep service charges or short windows of availability for refunds, our 100% satisfaction guarantee provides significant peace of mind.

If you want a socially conscious Tennessee LLC service with excellent overall value, choose ZenBusiness.

Northwest

Northwest Registered Agent charges $225 (plus state fee) for LLC filing services. That said, Northwest’s personalized customer support is a feature that could make their prices worth paying for some entrepreneurs.

  • Higher Prices: Northwest charges $225 + state fee to form an LLC in Tennessee. However, that $225 package does at least include a year of registered agent service.
  • Customer Reviews: Northwest receives mostly positive customer feedback, but with several hundred reviews instead of the thousands you’ll find with the other companies in this guide, they can’t match competitors like us for review volume.
  • Known for Service: While some competitors outsource customer service to third-party call centers, Northwest keeps its support team in-house.

Overall, Northwest does have some points in its favor. However, keep in mind that it charges $225 (plus your state’s required fee) for its LLC filing services.

Want to learn more? See this Northwest LLC review.

LegalZoom

LegalZoom is one of the biggest names in the industry, with millions of customers served and frequent advertising efforts. LegalZoom provides an LLC filing package for free (plus the state’s fee).

  • Higher Average Prices: While LegalZoom charges $0 (+ your state fee) for LLC service, it has higher price points for some other services. For instance, it typically charges a rate of $249 per year for registered agent service and at least $149 to form a corporation.
  • Features: LegalZoom sometimes excludes valuable features from its LLC filing service packages. For instance, its Basic LLC service package includes only a digital welcome packet and a trial for a third-party web design service.
  • Service Guarantee: Much like ZenBusiness, LegalZoom offers a 60-day, 100% satisfaction guarantee that is among the best in the industry.

LegalZoom is a huge company, so while it offers extended support hours, the quality of its customer support may vary a bit from representative to representative.

Want to learn more? See this LegalZoom LLC review.

Incfile/Bizee

Incfile/Bizee offers LLC formations for free, as long as you pay your state’s fee. Incfile and ZenBusiness have some similar characteristics, but there are also some significant differences that set the two apart.

  • Lots of Reviews: Incfile/Bizee has tens of thousands of customer reviews with strong average rating scores.
  • Customer Support: If you prioritize responsive customer support, Incfile/Bizee may not be your best option. At times, their responses can be slow and some customers complain that they don’t get a response at all to emailed support inquiries.
  • Upsells: Incfile/Bizee can also pile on the upsells, with lots of suggested add-on services sprinkled throughout the order form.

If you’re looking for a cheap LLC formation service in Tennessee and ZenBusiness doesn’t feel right for some reason, Incfile/Bizee could be worth a closer look.

Want to learn more? See this Incfile/Bizee LLC review.

Compare Packages

Identify the LLC package and services that fit your needs and then get started.

Starter

Premium

Starter

$0

Premium

$349/yr

Starter

File in 2 to 3 weeks **

$0

PLUS STATE FEES

Premium

File in 1 to 5 days **

$349/yr

PLUS STATE FEES

Top Features

More InfoWe do everything needed to file your application with the state and make your business official. Standard LLC Filing
More InfoWe’ll file your paperwork quickly and accurately. If there are any errors with your filing, our team will do what’s needed to make it right. 100% Accuracy Guarantee
More InfoKeeps you compliant with all state-required annual report and amendment filings to maintain LLC protections and avoid fines. Worry-Free Compliance
More InfoThis essential document is like the constitution for your business. Operating Agreement
More InfoOur fastest service puts you to the front of our line of filings. Our Fastest Filing Speed
More InfoOur team will secure your EIN from the IRS so you can open a business bank account, hire employees, and pay taxes. EIN
More InfoIncludes over 25 templates for contracts, service agreements, waivers, and more. Business Documents
More InfoGet online with a website builder tool optimized for traffic and customers. Business Website Builder
More InfoBuild and protect your brand by registering a private domain name that matches your business name. Domain Name with Privacy
More InfoStay organized and give your business more credibility with a business email. Business Email Address

File in 2 to 3 weeks **

1 year free, then $199/yr*
+$99
+$79
+$99
+$99
+$15/mo
+$35/yr
+$25/yr

File in 1 to 5 days **

*SPECIAL OFFER – Get Starter for $0 plus state fees. Includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/yr.
**These filing times are averages and include our processing times and Secretary of State turnaround times which vary by state.

How to Set Up a Tennessee LLC on Your Own

Technically speaking, you don’t have to use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. These services are incredibly helpful, but you can save money by completing the process yourself.

You can read our complete guide to DIY an LLC setup in Tennessee, but here’s a quick look at the process:

Choose a business name

Every LLC in Tennessee needs a name that’s memorable and gives potential clients a good idea of what goods or services are available. The name also needs to be unique — both for legal reasons and so your business stands out from the competition.

Appoint a TN registered agent

As we’ve mentioned in this guide, every LLC needs an agent who can accept service of process on your behalf. In all states, you can act as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical address in the state. That said, we generally recommend that you appoint someone else (like an online service) to act as your agent.

File the Articles of Organization

This document, once filled out and filed, officially forms your business in the state of Tennessee. You’ll need to provide some important information, including your contact information, your business address, signatures for your LLC’s members, and more. Tennessee has a $300 minimum filing fee, but LLCs with 7 members or more will pay $50 per member.

Setting up the LLC is as easy as 1-2-3; it’s the maintenance requirements that are a bit more complicated:

Register for and pay taxes

If you have employees, you’ll need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. Then there are state-specific taxes, too. In Tennessee, LLCs will typically be subject to two types of income-based taxes. First, there’s the business enterprise tax, which acts like an income tax of 6.5%. Then there’s the business franchise tax, which is a tax on your company’s net worth. Many businesses will also need to account for the sales tax (7%). You can learn more about these and other miscellaneous business taxes at the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

Get licenses and permits

Every business in Tennessee will need to obtain one of two general business licenses: the standard business license or the minimal activity license (businesses with $10,000 or less in gross receipts). Beyond that, there’s a good chance that you’ll also need to obtain some industry-specific professional licenses, such as those included in Tennessee’s One-Stop Licensing App.

Create an operating agreement

Even single-member LLCs should create a “master document” that sets out how the business will operate, both now and in the future.

File your annual report

Each year, your LLC will need to file an annual report to update the state about the standing of your business. It is due every year within 4 months of the end of your fiscal year. Technically, the fee for this document is $50 per LLC member, but there is a minimum fee of $300.

Obtain business insurance

Every business with employees needs to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and a commercial vehicle policy for company-owned vehicles. You may also want to get a general business liability policy, too.

Get a business bank account

You should sign up for a business bank account so you can write checks and make purchases in the name of the business instead of pulling from your personal accounts (a legal no-no).

This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. For more detailed guidance, we recommend contacting an attorney or checking out the full Tennessee LLC Formation Guide.

Tennessee LLC Fast Facts

  • LLC Formation Speed: Online filings are processed immediately, paper forms take about two business days
  • Cost to File a TN LLC: Varies; $50 per member of the LLC, with a $300 minimum fee
  • How to File Your Articles of Organization: Online or by mail
  • Annual Reports: Due four months after your fiscal year ends; the filing fee is dependent on the number of members your LLC has, but there is a minimum fee of $300
  • State General Business License: General business licenses are not required, but many cities and counties require business tax licenses; industry licenses may also apply
  • PLLCs: Permitted for professional service businesses in TN

Tennessee Secretary of State Contact Information

Address:
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
6th Floor, Snodgrass Tower
Nashville , TN 37243-1102

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30pm (CST)
Telephone:
(615) 741-2286
Website:
https://sos.tn.gov/

What Is a Tennessee LLC?

LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnerships, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes. For more a more in-depth description see: What is an LLC?

The Total Cost of Forming and Maintaining an LLC in Tennessee

In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are quite a few other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a Tennessee business. You cannot form an LLC in Tennessee without filing the Articles of Organization, the document that officially registers your business within the state. Tennessee has a relatively hefty filing fee for this document. The base fee starts at $300, but it rises by $50 for each member you have (beyond the first six). This fee maxes out at $3,000.

Your LLC will also need to apply for one of Tennessee’s business licenses: the general business license or the minimal activity license. The minimal activity license applies to businesses with gross receipts totaling between $3,000 and $10,000; all other businesses are subject to the general business license. Both business licenses cost $15.

Next, all businesses will need to file annual reports. This filing is pretty simple, but it keeps the state up-to-date about some basic but vital information about your business, such as your registered agent and business address. For LLCs, the filing fee ranges between $300 and $3,000, following the same fee structure as the Articles of Organization. Read more about Tennessee costs – Tennessee LLC costs.

FAQ's

  • We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Tennessee. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.

  • One of the most important steps in forming a Tennessee LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the Secretary of State’s name availability search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Tennessee, check out our full article on the topic.

  • You can fill out or download the Articles of Organization on the Secretary of State’s website.

  • In Tennessee, an LLC’s ongoing maintenance requirements include the annual report. This filing is due by the fourth month of your LLC’s fiscal year, and it costs $50 per member, with a minimum of $300 and a maximum of $3,000.

  • Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with Tennessee state law. For more information about business licenses and more in this state, check out Tennessee’s helpful Licenses and Permits webpage.

  • The Secretary of State should be able to process your LLC’s formation immediately if you file online. Documents submitted on paper forms will take roughly two business days to process.

  • If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to Tennessee registered agents.

  • Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to Tennessee LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.

  • If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Tennessee. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in Tennessee for more information.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

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Written by Team ZenBusiness

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