Tennessee LLC cost
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A Tennessee LLC costs $300 to file if it has six or fewer members. The fee is $50 per member with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum, and paying online adds a small surcharge. Every year after, the Annual Report uses the same formula, so most LLCs pay $300 again by April 1 if they use a calendar year. The cost people miss is franchise tax: Tennessee LLCs generally owe it even with one member, with a $100 minimum, filed separately with the Department of Revenue. Plan on at least $400 a year to keep a Tennessee LLC active.
- To form
- $300
- Cheapest way to file
- Year one total
- $300
- $300 filing, plus $0.95 by e-check or 2.29% by card
- Every year after
- $400+/yr
- $300 Annual Report + $100 minimum franchise tax
Our recommendation
Budget $300 for year one and $400 for year two
File online on TNCaB and pay by e-check. Approval is usually immediate, and e-check costs $0.95 instead of 2.29% by card. Tennessee doesn't sell an expedite, and you don't need one. Be your own registered agent if you have a Tennessee street address you're fine publishing; pay $50 to $300 a year for one only if you work from home and want that address off the record. Calendar April 1 for the Annual Report and register on TNTAP for franchise and excise tax right after approval.
Every Tennessee LLC fee, line by line
What's required, what's optional, and where the total climbs past the filing fee.
| Item | Cost | Required? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270) | $50/member; $300 minimum, $3,000 maximum | Yes | Required to form a Tennessee LLC |
| Online payment surcharge | 2.29% card or $0.95 e-check | If filing online | E-check is usually cheaper, especially for larger filings |
| Expedited filing | N/A | Not offered | Online filing is already immediate |
| Name reservation | $20 | Optional | 4-month hold |
| Assumed name / DBA | $20 | Optional | 5-year term |
| Registered agent service | $50-$300/yr | Optional | Self-file for $0 if you have a qualifying Tennessee street address |
| EIN | Free | Recommended | IRS direct |
| Operating agreement | Free if you draft it yourself | Recommended | Internal document; not filed with the state |
| Annual Report | $50/member; $300 minimum, $3,000 maximum | Yes (recurring) | Due 1st day of 4th month after fiscal year close |
| Registered agent change on Annual Report | +$20 | Only if changing | Applies if changing registered agent or registered office on the report |
| Franchise tax | 0.25% of net worth; $100 minimum | Usually | Separate Department of Revenue filing |
| Excise tax | 6.5% of net earnings | Usually if taxable earnings | $50,000 standard deduction applies for qualifying tax years |
| Minimal activity license | $15 | Conditional | May apply at $3,001-$99,999 in jurisdictional gross receipts |
| Total (bare minimum DIY, year 1) | ~$301-$307 upfront + $100 minimum franchise tax when due | — | Assumes 1-6 members, no commercial agent, no DBA, and no licensing layer |
| Total (typical with commercial agent) | ~$525-$550+ first year | — | Filing + agent + minimum franchise tax + possible minimal activity license |
| Total (typical recurring) | ~$400-$540+/yr before excise tax | — | Annual Report + minimum franchise tax, plus optional agent and license costs |
What you pay Tennessee, and when
The recurring dates are the ones people miss. Put each one on your calendar the day the LLC is approved.
- Articles of Organization
- $300+
- When you form. $50 per member, $300 minimum. Online adds 2.29% by card or $0.95 by e-check.
- Annual Report
- $300+
- By the 1st day of the 4th month after your fiscal year closes. April 1 for calendar-year LLCs.
- Franchise tax
- $100 min
- 0.25% of Tennessee net worth, $100 minimum. Filed with the Department of Revenue, separate from the Annual Report.
- Excise tax
- 6.5%
- Of net earnings, after a $50,000 standard deduction. Filed on the same Department of Revenue return as franchise tax.
- Local business license
- $15+
- None under $3,000 in gross receipts. A $15 minimal activity license may apply from $3,001 to $99,999.
Tennessee registered agent cost
Tennessee doesn't require member or manager names on the Articles of Organization, which is a real privacy advantage. You give some of that back if you list your home address as the registered office. A professional registered agent, usually $50 to $300 a year, gives you a reliable Tennessee street address for legal notices and keeps your home off the agent record. If you have a Tennessee business address you're fine publishing, you can be your own agent for free.
Tennessee LLC cost vs nearby states
Cheaper elsewhere doesn't mean cheaper for you. If you live and work in Tennessee, an out-of-state LLC still has to register here and pay Tennessee's fees too.
| State | Upfront cost | Ongoing state cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $300 minimum | $300 minimum Annual Report + $100 minimum franchise tax + excise tax if applicable |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200/yr |
| Florida | $125 | $138.75/yr |
| Texas | $300 | $0 for most small LLCs below the no-tax-due threshold |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60 minimum |
FAQ
How much does an LLC cost in Tennessee?
$300 to file the Articles of Organization if the LLC has 1 to 6 members. The fee is $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum. Paying online adds 2.29% by card or $0.95 by e-check. After that, budget at least $400 a year: the $300 Annual Report plus the $100 minimum franchise tax.
What is the Tennessee LLC annual fee?
The Annual Report uses the same formula as formation: $50 per member, $300 minimum, $3,000 maximum. It is due by the 1st day of the 4th month after your fiscal year closes, which is April 1 for calendar-year LLCs. Changing your registered agent or registered office on the report adds $20.
Does a single-member Tennessee LLC pay franchise tax?
Yes, if it is owned by an individual. Tennessee only disregards a single-member LLC for franchise and excise tax when its owner is a corporation. The franchise tax is 0.25% of Tennessee net worth with a $100 minimum. Excise tax is 6.5% of net earnings, after a $50,000 standard deduction. Both go on a Department of Revenue filing, separate from the Annual Report.
Do I need a business license for my Tennessee LLC?
Tennessee sets the license by your gross receipts in each city or county where you do business. Under $3,000, no license is required. From $3,001 to $99,999, a $15 minimal activity license may apply. At $100,000 or more, a standard business license and a state business tax return may apply.
How much is a registered agent in Tennessee?
Free if you serve yourself at a Tennessee street address, and Tennessee even lets the LLC serve as its own agent. The registered office address is public. A professional registered agent usually costs $50 to $300 a year.