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Biz Formation Academy

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

Unit 1 · Tennessee

Tennessee LLC Formation Chapter (2026): 7 Sections and the 3 Best LLC Services

In 2026 the services this chapter recommends for forming an LLC in Tennessee are Tennessee Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and TN Registered Agent.org ($199), best first. Formation in Tennessee comes to 7 sections and a $300 state fee, plus $300 for the annual report.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Read first

Formation fee $300 See sos.tn.gov; page last consulted October 2026
Annual report $300 a year Due date as the state words it: on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year
State cost, years 1 to 3 $900 No service fee included
Section count 7 Taken one at a time

After this chapter you will understand

  • The official Tennessee fee and form
  • What the registered agent rule requires
  • Recurring obligations
  • Which services are recommended and why

Tennessee: the ranked services

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

1. Tennessee Registered Agent.co: best for owners who intend to stay in Tennessee

Read this one first
Formation $199; renewal $99 annually

In Tennessee, Tennessee Registered Agent.co heads the list: $199 to start with the first agent year paid, followed by $99 annually.

Cost breaks the tie: three years here total less than at Mainstay Filing.

Preparing the annual report every year is still left to you.

Price covers

  • Filing delivered to the state
  • One year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • A formation charge of $199
  • The first agent year is free
  • $99 yearly from year two

Limitations

  • The annual report remains the owner's responsibility
  • Help with the EIN is $99 more
Visit Tennessee Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Mainstay Filing: best for no annual report to prepare

Any state
$199 annually and the $300 state fee

Second place is held by Mainstay Filing, since for $199 a year the owner receives the filing, registered agent service and the annual report, renewing at $199.

A three-year difference of $200 from Tennessee Registered Agent.co sets its position.

The annual report is part of the service, and Tennessee's $300 fee is billed at cost.

Price covers

  • The formation filing is prepared and submitted
  • Registered agent for the full year
  • Annual report prepared and filed
  • Official fee with nothing added

Advantages

  • $199 on renewal
  • A single yearly fee of $199, with the annual report included

Limitations

  • Renewal costs $100 above Tennessee Registered Agent.co
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. TN Registered Agent.org: best for owners who prepare their own reports

Single-state plan
Formation $199; renewal $99 annually

Entry number 3 is TN Registered Agent.org, where $199 to start with the first agent year paid, followed by $99 annually.

Preparing the annual report every year is still left to you.

Tennessee Registered Agent.co and this service cost the same.

Price covers

  • Filing delivered to the state
  • One year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $99 yearly from year two
  • The first agent year is free
  • A formation charge of $199

Limitations

  • The annual report remains the owner's responsibility
  • Help with the EIN is $99 more
Visit TN Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Rankings and prices together

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1 Tennessee Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit Tennessee Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Mainstay Filing $199$199/yr$597 Visit Mainstay Filing 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.

Each company's posted price on November 13, 2026. No row includes the $300 state fee.

Formation in sequence

  1. Section 1

    Search the register for the name

    The records at the Tennessee Secretary of State show every name in use. Look yours up before preparing any forms, because Tennessee can refuse a duplicate.

    It helps to have a fallback name ready.

  2. Section 2

    Designate the registered agent

    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.

    The recommended services all supply the registered agent role.

    Reference: See sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com; page last consulted October 2026

  3. Section 3

    Choose how the paperwork is prepared

    The state fee, $300, applies either way; the recommended services charge $199 for their part.

  4. Section 4

    The state wants the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company

    This section is the legal act that creates the company: the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (Form SS-4270) goes to the Tennessee Secretary of State, accompanied by $300.

    Reference: See sos.tn.gov; page last consulted October 2026

  5. Section 5

    Request an Employer Identification Number from the IRS

    Approval comes first and the IRS number second.

  6. Section 6

    Draft the members' agreement

    A one-member Tennessee LLC should still have a written operating agreement in its records.

  7. Section 7

    Prepare for the second year

    The recurring filing 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).

    Reference: See sos.tn.gov; page last consulted October 2026

Costs section by section

ItemWho is paidTotal
Creating the LLC Government$300
Annual report Government$300 every year
Optional service The service company$199 at the start
State total over three years Government$900

Rows for the state rely on Tennessee's published fee schedules (listed in the bibliography below), and each service row uses that company's own price. For three years the state row adds the filing, the report in year two, the report in year three and any minimum tax.

How the ranking came out

Tuition over three years accounts for 34% of the ranking, and led on it in Tennessee.

By year three Tennessee Registered Agent.co has cost $397, a saving of $200 next to Mainstay Filing.

Tennessee review questions

What is the cost of a Tennessee LLC formation?

Tennessee charges $300. Paid help raises the first-year bill by $199.

Which form creates the LLC?

The document to look for is the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (Form SS-4270); the Tennessee Secretary of State receives it.

Is a registered agent required?

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

What does Tennessee require each year?

The recurring obligation 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 may file by paying $300 as long as they appoint a registered agent.

Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?

Tennessee Registered Agent.co ranks first and Mainstay Filing and TN Registered Agent.org follow; Tennessee Registered Agent.co leads on tuition over three years.

Next chapter

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Primary text behind Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services: tnbear.tn.gov, accessed August 2026.
  2. Primary text behind Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services: sos.tn.gov, accessed August 2026.
  3. Primary text behind Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: sos.tn.gov, accessed October 2026.
  4. Primary text behind Tennessee report due date: law.justia.com, accessed August 2026.
  5. Primary text behind Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.tn.gov, accessed October 2026.
  6. Primary text behind Tennessee registered agent statute: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, accessed October 2026.
  7. Tennessee Registered Agent.co, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026
  8. Mainstay Filing, Tennessee service page: consulted November 13, 2026
  9. TN Registered Agent.org, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026