Step by step · Tennessee
3 Best LLC Services in Tennessee (2026), Explained
The essentials
- Formation fee
- $300, one time
- Upkeep each year
- $300 each year
- Registered agent
- Yes, by law
- Services we suggest
- Tennessee Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then TN Registered Agent.org
Who we recommend in Tennessee
Prices come from each company's own pricing page. The ranking is explained on how we pick.1. Tennessee Registered Agent.co: best for a modest first-year bill
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
Tennessee Registered Agent.co is where we would start in Tennessee. In short, it charges $199 to form the LLC, with the agent included in year one, then $99 a year.
On three-year cost it comes in under Mainstay Filing, and cost counts for the most in our ranking.
Its price leaves out the annual report.
Includes
- Your Tennessee formation filing
- Year-one registered agent
Points in its favor
- $199, with the state fee on top
- $99 a year afterward
- First-year agent in the price
Where it falls short
- Annual report is your responsibility
- Charges $99 to apply for the EIN
2. Mainstay Filing: best for knowing the yearly bill in advance
Pay $199 annually and $300 to the state
Mainstay Filing takes the second slot: it files the annual report for you, which none of the others do, for $199 a year.
It costs $200 more than Tennessee Registered Agent.co across three years, and cost weighs the most in our ranking.
annual report filing is part of the service; the only addition is the state's $300.
Includes
- Formation handled for you
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report taken care of for you
- State fee passed through as is
Points in its favor
- One yearly price: $199
- Renewal is $199
Where it falls short
- Renews $100 higher than Tennessee Registered Agent.co
3. TN Registered Agent.org: best for a second local choice
Formation $199, agent renewal $99, state fee extra
TN Registered Agent.org ranks third. In short, it charges $199 to form the LLC, with the agent included in year one, then $99 a year.
Its price leaves out the annual report.
The prices match Tennessee Registered Agent.co, so pick the one you prefer.
Includes
- Your Tennessee formation filing
- Year-one registered agent
Points in its favor
- First-year agent in the price
- $199, with the state fee on top
- $99 a year afterward
Where it falls short
- Annual report is your responsibility
- Charges $99 to apply for the EIN
Comparison table
| # | Provider | Opening price | Renewal price | Three-year total | Included in the price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your Tennessee formation filing; Year-one registered agent | See Tennessee Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | formation handled for you; registered agent for twelve months; annual report taken care of for you | See Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | TN Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your Tennessee formation filing; Year-one registered agent | See TN Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Key questions
What will forming an LLC cost me?
The state charges $300. A service adds $199 in the first year.
Counting the recurring report, the state collects $900 in the first three years. see sos.tn.gov, October 2026
Who receives the filing?
The Tennessee Secretary of State receives the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (Form SS-4270), and that is what creates the LLC.
see sos.tn.gov, October 2026
Is a registered agent a legal requirement?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A Tennessee resident, or a business entity formed in Tennessee or authorized there with an office at the registered office street address.
see sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, October 2026
What keeps the LLC active?
Chiefly the annual report, filed every year. Fee: $300. Due date as the state words it: on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year, so mark the calendar.
see sos.tn.gov, October 2026
Is it possible to file it myself?
It is allowed. A do-it-yourself filer pays $900 in state fees across three years.
Services charge $397 to $597 over three years for that work.
What decided the ranking?
What three years cost counts for 34%, and Tennessee Registered Agent.co comes out ahead on it.
Most of the score, 62%, comes from what three years cost and how much work the price handles.
On cost, Tennessee Registered Agent.co wins at $397, saving $200 compared with Mainstay Filing.
Official Tennessee requirements
| Item | Detail | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | $300 | see sos.tn.gov, October 2026 |
| Registered agent | Yes, by law | see sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, October 2026 |
| Annual report | $300 every year | see sos.tn.gov, October 2026 |
| Three-year state total | $900 | The rows above, added |
Further questions
What is the three-year price of each?
Tennessee Registered Agent.co: $397 | Mainstay Filing: $597 | TN Registered Agent.org: $397 in service fees alone.
How do you know these fees?
Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, and every figure carries a date.
Does the law require a service?
It is optional, and the state charges the same either way.
What is the filing fee for the LLC?
The state charges $300 with the filing.
What does the LLC owe the state each year?
Chiefly the annual report, filed every year. Fee: $300. Due date as the state words it: on or before the first day of the fourth month following the close of the LLC's fiscal year, so mark the calendar.
What is the best LLC service for Tennessee?
Tennessee Registered Agent.co comes first: forming costs $199, and the agent renews each year at $99. After it come Mainstay Filing and TN Registered Agent.org.
Official sources and price pages
- 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)
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Tennessee Registered Agent.co pricing page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Mainstay Filing Tennessee service page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the TN Registered Agent.org pricing page