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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

Chapter 3 · Tennessee

Foreign LLC Registration Chapter, Tennessee (2026): 5 Sections and the 3 Best Services

Tennessee readers who want help registering an LLC formed elsewhere in 2026 should look at Mainstay Filing ($199), Tennessee Registered Agent.co ($199) and TN Registered Agent.org ($199), in the order given. Expect 5 sections and one fee of $300.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Key facts for this chapter

Charge for registering $300 sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, as published October 2026
Proof of good standing 60 days Must be issued within
Report fee $300 Annual report
State fees across three years $900 No service fee included
Number of sections 5 Outlined below

Chapter objectives

  • Whether Tennessee registration applies to an LLC
  • The filing, its fee and its office
  • The cost of staying registered
  • Which services are recommended and why

Recommended reading for Tennessee

Cost over three years comes first, then paperwork completed, second-year price, Tennessee fit and price clarity (grading page).

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one provider for both states

Top recommendation
$199 to register, $149 per year afterward

Mainstay Filing is ranked first in Tennessee: the first-year agent is included, so the Tennessee registration costs $199 beyond the state fee.

Three years cost $100 more than Tennessee Registered Agent.co, yet this service completes more of the paperwork, and the ranking weighs that.

Agent pricing after the first year: $149 annually, in any state.

Price covers

  • The registration is prepared and submitted
  • The registered agent carries no charge in year one
  • Service in all fifty states

Advantages

  • No agent fee in year one
  • The same fee in every state
  • A service charge of $199

Limitations

  • $50 more a year for the agent
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Tennessee Registered Agent.co: best for an economical Tennessee filing

Local option
$199 to register, $99 per year afterward

Second place is held by Tennessee Registered Agent.co, since $199 over the state fee, with year one of the agent covered, then $99 a year.

Price covers

  • The filing is made for you
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $199 to register
  • First-year agent service at no added cost
  • $99 yearly from year two

Limitations

  • Limited to one state
Visit Tennessee Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. TN Registered Agent.org: best for registering in Tennessee only

Local option
$199 to register, $99 per year afterward

Third place is held by TN Registered Agent.org, since $199 over the state fee, with year one of the agent covered, then $99 a year.

Its prices equal Tennessee Registered Agent.co's, so either serves.

Price covers

  • The filing is made for you
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • First-year agent service at no added cost
  • $99 yearly from year two
  • $199 to register

Limitations

  • Limited to one state
Visit TN Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The Tennessee rankings compared

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Tennessee Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit Tennessee Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 TN Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit TN Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Listed prices, consulted November 13, 2026. No row includes the $300 state fee.

The sections

  1. Section 1

    Determine whether registration is required

    A foreign LLC, meaning one formed elsewhere, registers with Tennessee before it transacts business in the state. An LLC that operates unregistered faces: until registered, the LLC cannot bring suit before Tennessee's courts (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)) signed contracts stay valid (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f))

    Reference: publications.tnsosfiles.com, as published October 2026

  2. Section 2

    Collect the document issued by the home state

    Attach certificate of existence or good standing, issued no earlier than 60 days.

    Order this last so the certificate is current when you file.

  3. Section 3

    Arrange a Tennessee registered agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a Tennessee street address, with the county. P.O. boxes are not accepted.

    The services listed above supply one.

    Reference: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, as published October 2026

  4. Section 4

    Your paperwork here is the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company

    the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations is the office that receives the filing and $300.

    Reference: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, as published October 2026

  5. Section 5

    Prepare for the recurring filing

    Item for the calendar: the annual report, fee $300, timing first day of the fourth month after fiscal year end (April 1 for a calendar year).

Costs section by section

SectionWho is paidTotal
Registration fee The state$300
Annual report The state$300
Filing service (optional) Your chosen service$199 initially
State fees across years one to three The state$900

The three-year state row is computed as the filing fee, plus the report in each of years two and three, plus any yearly minimum tax. Service fees have their own rows.

Why the list is in this order

On chapters the price completes (30% of the ranking) came first, with next.

Tennessee Registered Agent.co renews for less, yet reach across several states counted for more.

Common questions

Which fees does Tennessee collect from a foreign LLC?

$300 to the state. A service adds $199.

Which form do I file to register?

The Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233) is the form needed, and it goes to the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations.

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

Yes: certificate of existence or good standing, issued within 60 days of filing.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

until registered, the LLC cannot bring suit before Tennessee's courts (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)) signed contracts stay valid (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f))

What is due after registering?

Next is the annual report at $300.

Which service should handle the registration?

The ranking is Mainstay Filing, Tennessee Registered Agent.co and TN Registered Agent.org, and Mainstay Filing is first since the service fee is $199 plus the state's own fee, the registered agent is free for year one, and the later price is $149 a year.

Related chapters

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Cited for Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services: tnbear.tn.gov, edition of August 2026.
  2. Cited for Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services: sos.tn.gov, edition of August 2026.
  3. Cited for Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: sos.tn.gov, edition of October 2026.
  4. Cited for Tennessee report due date: law.justia.com, edition of August 2026.
  5. Cited for Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.tn.gov, edition of October 2026.
  6. Cited for Tennessee registered agent statute: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, edition of October 2026.
  7. Cited for Form SS-4233, Certificate of Authority for a foreign: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, edition of October 2026.
  8. Cited for Form SS-4241, withdrawal or cancellation: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, edition of October 2026.
  9. Cited for Tennessee Revised LLC Act, Public Chapter 286: publications.tnsosfiles.com, edition of October 2026.
  10. Cited for Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, foreign LLC: capitol.tn.gov, edition of November 2026.
  11. Price reference: Mainstay Filing, Tennessee service page, November 13, 2026
  12. Price reference: Tennessee Registered Agent.co, pricing page, November 13, 2026
  13. Price reference: TN Registered Agent.org, pricing page, November 13, 2026