Tennessee: key figures
46th
of 50 for registration plus later reports
Fee the state takes at registration
$300
Report you must file again
$300
Annual report
Paper from the home state
60 days
The oldest it may be
What the state collects in 3 years
$900
Registration in year 1, reports in years 2 and 3
What we would pick in Tennessee
Every criterion and weight is on the
method page.
Best overall
1. Mainstay Filing: best for adding a second state
$199 to register, then $149 a year
Mainstay Filing ranks first for you since $199 plus Tennessee's state fee, then $149 a year for the agent from year 2.
Plan on spending $100 more than at Tennessee Registered Agent.co over three years, in exchange for fewer filings left for you to do.
When the free year is over, the agent costs $149 a year, whatever the state.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your registration and files it
- Your registered agent for the first year is free
- One price wherever you file
What works
- The same price in every state
- You pay no agent fee in the first year
- $199 plus the state fee
What to weigh
- $50 more a year for the agent
Tennessee specialist
2. Tennessee Registered Agent.co: best for an easy Tennessee registration
$199 to register, then $99 a year
Next comes Tennessee Registered Agent.co, because $199 above the state fee gets you registered; after that it is $99 a year.
What your money gets you
- Takes care of the registration paperwork
- A year of agent service
What works
- The first agent year is included
- A $99 renewal
- $199 plus the state fee
Tennessee specialist
3. TN Registered Agent.org: best for another option in Tennessee
$199 to register, then $99 a year
Last on the list is TN Registered Agent.org, because $199 above the state fee gets you registered; after that it is $99 a year.
On price it is exactly level with Tennessee Registered Agent.co.
What your money gets you
- Takes care of the registration paperwork
- A year of agent service
What works
- A $99 renewal
- $199 plus the state fee
- The first agent year is included
3 services, one table
These are the prices each company showed on November 13, 2026. You will also owe Tennessee's $300 registration fee on every row.
Registration and upkeep by year
The registration fee is $300, with a $300 report from year 2, and provider fees are added on top.
How Tennessee compares with the states near it in the ranking
How to register an LLC from another state in Tennessee
You register by sending the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233) and $300 to the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. The state asks you to supply certificate of existence or good standing, issued no more than 60 days.
From year 2 you will file the annual report ($300), first day of the fourth month after fiscal year end (April 1 for a calendar year).
Gather these first
- Certificate of existence or good standing, issued within 60 days.
- The name and formation date as your home state lists them.
- A registered agent with an office here, which any ranked provider can give you.
- Enough to cover the $300 state fee.
What happens if you skip registration in Tennessee
Until it registers, your LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)). Your LLC's contracts continue to hold (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f)).
Why Mainstay Filing comes first
Upkeep the price covers decided first place in Tennessee. It is 26% of the score, and the other criteria are price over three years, renewal terms, fit with the state, plain statement of the state fee.
Your LLC already has a home state, so a provider that can serve both states earned the top score.
Quick answers
How much will it cost to register my out-of-state LLC with Tennessee?
$300 at the state office. Provider fees are $199.
Which form do I use to register an out-of-state LLC with Tennessee?
Use the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233) and send it to the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations.
Does the state want a certificate from my home state?
Yes, you need certificate of existence or good standing, dated within 60 days of your filing.
Will my foreign LLC have to file anything every year?
Yes, you file the annual report and pay $300.
What happens if my LLC does business there without registering?
Until it registers, your LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)). Your LLC's contracts continue to hold (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f)).
Must I appoint a registered agent when registering in Tennessee?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which service should I choose to register a foreign LLC?
Mainstay Filing comes first and Tennessee Registered Agent.co and TN Registered Agent.org follow. What separates them is upkeep the price covers.
Where this briefing comes from
- Everything in this briefing about Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services rests on tnbear.tn.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services rests on sos.tn.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source rests on sos.tn.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Tennessee report due date rests on law.justia.com, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on sos.tn.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Tennessee registered agent statute rests on sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Form SS-4233, Certificate of Authority for a foreign rests on sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Form SS-4241, withdrawal or cancellation rests on sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Tennessee Revised LLC Act, Public Chapter 286 rests on publications.tnsosfiles.com, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, foreign LLC rests on capitol.tn.gov, which we confirmed in November 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Oregon Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms rests on sos.oregon.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Application for Authority, form instructions rests on sos.oregon.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Business Registry fee schedule rests on sos.oregon.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Registered agents and service of process rests on sos.oregon.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Oregon Revised Statutes, chapter 63 rests on oregonlegislature.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about South Dakota Secretary of State, business services rests on sdsos.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Filing fee schedule rests on sdsos.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Foreign LLC application for Certificate of Authority rests on sdsos.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about SDCL 47-34A-1003, transacting business rests on sdlegislature.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about SDCL 47-34A-1008, effect of not registering rests on sdlegislature.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Foreign LLC registration form rests on corpfiles.delaware.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Delaware Code Title 6, chapter 18, subchapter IX rests on delcode.delaware.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Delaware Code Title 6, chapter 18, subchapter XI rests on delcode.delaware.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Division of Corporations fee schedule, August 2026 rests on corpfiles.delaware.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Alternative entity annual tax instructions rests on corp.delaware.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Form 450, Application for Registration rests on docs.sos.ri.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Business Services fee schedule rests on docs.sos.ri.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about R.I rests on webserver.rilegislature.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about R.I rests on webserver.rilegislature.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Form 452, Certificate of Cancellation rests on docs.sos.ri.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Everything in this briefing about Rhode Island other cost rests on tax.ri.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
- Mainstay Filing states Tennessee service page on its site, and we looked on November 13, 2026
- Tennessee Registered Agent.co states pricing page on its site, and we looked on November 13, 2026
- TN Registered Agent.org states pricing page on its site, and we looked on November 13, 2026