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In this lesson, we will walk you through filing your Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State. This is the document that officially forms your Tennessee LLC.
Please watch the video instructions below:
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(check out Northwest vs LegalZoom)
Link to State’s Website
Tennessee Secretary of State: Form or Register a New Business
Tennessee LLC Filing Fee
1-6 Members:
If your LLC has 1-6 members, your LLC filing fee is $300.
More than 6 Members:
If your LLC has more than 6 members, you will add an additional $50 per member for each member over 6.
For example:
- If you have 7 members, your filing fee is $300 + $50 (+1 member) = $350.
- If you have 10 members, your filing fee is $300 + $200 (+4 members) = $500.
Note: The “LLC filing fee” (the fee to create a Tennessee LLC) is the same thing as the “Articles of Organization fee”. The Articles of Organization is the document, that once approved by the Secretary of State’s office, creates your Tennessee LLC.
How much is an LLC in Tennessee explains all the fees you’ll pay, including the Articles of Organization filing fee.
Registered Agent
Make sure you have read the Tennessee Registered Agent page, and explored Is a Registered Agent a Member of an LLC?
You have 4 options for who can be your LLC’s Registered Agent, so choose carefully.
Note, if you hired Northwest Registered Agent, their SOS Control Number is 000593933. You’ll need to list this in your Articles of Organization.
Accepted Forms of Payment – File Online
Credit card or debit card.
Accepted Forms of Payment – File by Mail
Check or money order.
Make check or money order payable to “Tennessee Secretary of State”.
Filing Instructions – File Online
If you file online, you will fill out your Articles of Organization on the State’s website, then submit them electronically, and pay the filing fee with a debit or credit card. There is also a small “convenience fee” for online filing.
If you don’t want to complete the filing by yourself, you can hire a company instead. Check out Best LLC Services in Tennessee for our suggestions.
Filing Instructions – File by Mail
If you file by mail, you will fill out your Articles of Organization on the State’s website, then print them out and mail them to the State along with a check or money order to pay the filing fee.
Mail your Articles of Organization with your check or money order (for $300, made payable to the “Tennessee Secretary of State”) to:
Secretary of State
Attn: Corporate Filing
6th Floor – Snodgrass Tower
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, TN 37243
Expected Approval Time – Submitting by Mail
When submitting documents through the mail, your LLC will be approved in 3-5 business days (plus mail time).
Note: Filing times may take longer due to the current global situation and government delays. For the most up-to-date LLC processing times, check how long does it take to get an LLC in Tennessee.
Approval comes in the form a stamped and approved Articles of Organization along with your Acknowledgment Letter.
Expected Approval Time – Submitting Online
When submitting documents online, your LLC will be approved instantly.
When you finish and pay online, you’ll be able to print your approved Articles of Organization and Acknowledgment Letter in PDF format.
State Contact Information
Phone: 615-741-2286 (hours: M-F, 8:00am – 4:30pm Central Time)
Email: tnsos.corpinfo@tn.gov
Website: https://sos.tn.gov/contacts
Next Step
Once your LLC is approved you can proceed to the next Lesson: Operating Agreement.
Search your domain name
If you plan on building a website, you can quickly register your domain name. Creating a website with your business name as the domain name can help people find your business online. You can easily search and purchase a domain name through GoDaddy.
Find a domain name
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
TENNESSEE LLC GUIDE
Follow the lessons below to form your Tennessee LLC.
Hello Matt, I thinking of making an trucking transport LLC but I can’t think of a name. Can you help me out?
Hey Sean, we have some tips here: how to come up with a business name. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt, the Registered Agent information section is confusing me. Can you explain the difference between choosing, “the business entity will represent itself” and “Individual”? I’m the only member in my LLC and have the same address as my new business. I’m not sure which one to choose.
Thanks,
Molly
Hey Molly, your LLC can be its own Registered Agent or you can be your LLC’s Registered Agent. There is minor difference between the two, but you could also say that there is slightly more privacy when the LLC acts as it’s own Registered Agent. Does that help?