Step by step · Tennessee
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Tennessee (2026) for Owners
Quick explanation
- State charge to register
- $300
- Home-state proof needed?
- Yes (60 days or newer)
- Follow-up
- $300, annual report
- Who we recommend
- Mainstay Filing, TN Registered Agent.org then Tennessee Registered Agent.co
Services we would pick in Tennessee
Best first. See how we pick for the reasoning.1. Mainstay Filing: best for a fee that stays the same everywhere
Service fee $199 and $300 to the state; agent renewal $149
Why Mainstay Filing? It charges $199 plus the state fee and includes the registered agent for the first year, then $149 a year.
Three years cost $100 more than TN Registered Agent.org, and the extra pays for a provider that works in every state.
Year one has no registered agent charge. From year two it is $149 a year.
Includes
- Out-of-state registration handled
- Registered agent, no charge in the first year
- The same fee in every state
Points in its favor
- The price does not change by state
- Registered agent costs nothing in year one
- $199, with state fees extra
Where it falls short
- A higher agent renewal of $149
2. TN Registered Agent.org: best for adding a single state
Service fee $199 and $300 to the state; agent renewal $99
Our second recommendation, TN Registered Agent.org, earns it since you pay $199 above the state fee, and $99 every year after.
Includes
- State registration done for you
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- A modest renewal of $99
- Registers for $199
- First-year agent in the price
Where it falls short
- Works in Tennessee alone, which leaves your home state needing its own agent
3. Tennessee Registered Agent.co: best for another in-state filer
Service fee $199 and $300 to the state; agent renewal $99
Our third recommendation, Tennessee Registered Agent.co, earns it since you pay $199 above the state fee, and $99 every year after.
The prices match TN Registered Agent.org, so pick the one you prefer.
Includes
- State registration done for you
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- First-year agent in the price
- A modest renewal of $99
- Registers for $199
Where it falls short
- Works in Tennessee alone, which leaves your home state needing its own agent
Compare prices
| # | Pick | First-year price | Renewal price | Three-year total | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Out-of-state registration handled; registered agent, no charge in the first year; the same fee in every state | Check Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | TN Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | state registration done for you; agent service during year one | Check TN Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Tennessee Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | state registration done for you; agent service during year one | Check Tennessee Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Questions explained
When must an out-of-state LLC register here?
If an LLC formed in another state wants to do business in Tennessee, it registers beforehand.
The price of not registering includes it has no access to the state's courts as a plaintiff (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)).
see publications.tnsosfiles.com, October 2026
What are the fees to register?
$300 goes to the state, plus $199 if a service handles it.
The state's three-year fees come to $900. see sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, October 2026
Which document registers the LLC?
The Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations takes the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233) from LLCs formed in other states.
The filing needs certificate of existence or good standing not older than 60 days.
Are there ongoing fees?
Expect a annual report at $300.
Mark your calendar for First day of the fourth month after fiscal year end (April 1 for a calendar year).
Why is the first pick first?
Mainstay Filing leads on how much work the price handles, a criterion that carries 28% of the weight.
Most of the score, 62%, comes from what three years cost and how much work the price handles.
TN Registered Agent.org covers Tennessee only, so the home state would need a different provider.
Tennessee requirements checklist
| What it covers | Detail | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $300 | see sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, October 2026 |
| Certificate of existence | Yes, 60 days | see publications.tnsosfiles.com, October 2026 |
| Annual report | $300 | see publications.tnsosfiles.com, October 2026 |
| State fees across three years | $900 | Computed from the lines above |
Additional questions
Does my home state still require an agent?
Each state sets its own rules. Mainstay Filing works in both; a one-state service works in one.
How much is each one after three years?
Over three years: Mainstay Filing ($497), TN Registered Agent.org ($397), Tennessee Registered Agent.co ($397), not counting state fees.
Are the figures official?
State fees come from Tennessee's official sources, cited by each figure. Service prices come from each company's own pricing page.
Could I skip the service?
No law demands one. A service is a convenience.
Can someone else submit the registration?
The picks on this page all file it; state fees are identical.
Which foreign registration service do you recommend in Tennessee?
Mainstay Filing comes first: its $199 fee is the same in every state, and the first year of registered agent service is included. After it come TN Registered Agent.org and Tennessee Registered Agent.co.
References
- tnbear.tn.gov: Tennessee Secretary of State, Division (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.tn.gov: Tennessee Secretary of State, Division (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.tn.gov: Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report (confirmed October 2026)
- law.justia.com: Tennessee report due date (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.tn.gov: Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee (confirmed October 2026)
- sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com: Tennessee registered agent statute (confirmed October 2026)
- sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com: Form SS-4233, Certificate of Authority (confirmed October 2026)
- sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com: Form SS-4241, withdrawal or cancellation (confirmed October 2026)
- publications.tnsosfiles.com: Tennessee Revised LLC Act, Public (confirmed October 2026)
- capitol.tn.gov: Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company (confirmed November 2026)
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Mainstay Filing Tennessee service page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the TN Registered Agent.org pricing page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Tennessee Registered Agent.co pricing page