The state filing fee to form an LLC in Tennessee is $300. Annual maintenance costs include annual franchise/excise tax report ($300) plus a registered agent. Calculate your total first-year and ongoing costs below.
Tennessee charges a $300 initial filing fee — one of the highest. Tennessee also has a minimum franchise/excise tax of $100-$400/year for many LLCs based on net worth. The combination of high formation fee and ongoing tax can make Tennessee expensive. However, no state income tax on wages is a significant benefit.
| Cost Item | Amount | When Due |
|---|---|---|
| State Filing Fee | $300 | One-time at formation |
| Annual franchise/excise tax report | $300 | Annually |
| Registered Agent Service | $49–$300/year | Annually (at renewal) |
| Operating Agreement | $0–$1,500 | One-time (recommended) |
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) | Free | One-time (IRS.gov) |
| Business Bank Account | $0–$50/month | Monthly or free |
| Period | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| First Year (state fees + $49 RA) | $649 |
| Ongoing Annual (state fees + $49 RA) | $349/year |
| 5-Year Total Cost (+ RA) | $2,045 |
Northwest Registered Agent provides registered agent service in Tennessee for $49/year — the lowest price in the industry. They also include a free year of registered agent service when you use them to form your LLC. Vanderflip Financial's preferred partner for LLC formation.
Form Your LLC with Northwest →FTC Disclosure: Vanderflip Financial may earn a commission if you use this link. We only recommend services we've evaluated.
The Tennessee state filing fee is $300. In the first year, total costs including a registered agent (~$49) and annual state fees ($300) amount to approximately $649. Ongoing annual costs are approximately $349/year.
Yes — Tennessee requires all LLCs to maintain a registered agent with a physical Tennessee address. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Tennessee address, or hire a professional service. Professional services (~$49-$300/year) keep your personal address off public records and ensure you receive legal documents even when you're unavailable.
Annual franchise/excise tax report: $300. Plus registered agent service (~$49/year). Total ongoing: approximately $349/year.
For most small businesses that operate in Tennessee, forming in Tennessee is the right choice. If you form in Delaware or Wyoming and do business in Tennessee, you'll likely need to register as a foreign LLC in Tennessee — paying fees in both states. Delaware and Wyoming make sense for businesses seeking venture capital, planning complex ownership structures, or operating entirely online without a home state nexus.
Standard LLC formation in Tennessee typically takes 5–15 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee and can reduce processing to 1–3 business days in most states. Online filing through the Secretary of State's website is the fastest option. Using a registered agent service like Northwest can also expedite the process.