location_on Tennessee State Guide

Registered Agent in Tennessee: requirements, cost & best options

Tennessee is unusual twice: its LLC fees scale with how many members you have ($50 each, $300 minimum), and there's no income tax — but the state taxes the LLC itself through a franchise & excise tax. Here's what that means.

By Luis Cornado, Founder & Editor · Published June 24, 2026 · Updated July 26, 2026

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Tennessee compliance, simplified

The exact Tennessee rules, real costs, and the right registered-agent option for your LLC — checked against the official Tennessee source.

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The Short Answer

Tennessee is unusual in two ways. First, its LLC fees scale by member: $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum — on both the formation filing and the annual report. A 1–6 member LLC pays the $300 minimum; larger LLCs pay more.
Second, Tennessee has no personal income tax (the Hall tax was repealed in 2021), but it taxes the LLC itself through the Franchise & Excise tax (6.5% excise on net earnings + 0.25% franchise on net worth, $100 minimum), run by the Department of Revenue — unless you qualify for an exemption.
Every TN LLC needs a registered agent at a physical Tennessee address; you can be your own if you're a TN resident.
The annual report is due April 1 for calendar-year LLCs.

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See Northwest for Tennessee → $39 + state fee · registered agent free for year one · keeps your address private

boltQuick decision for Tennessee

chevron_rightUse a professional registered agent if you work from home, travel, or run the LLC from outside Tennessee — it keeps your street address off the public record and guarantees someone is there to accept a lawsuit.
chevron_rightBe your own agent if you're a Tennessee resident with a street address staffed during business hours and you don't mind that address appearing on the public record.
chevron_rightNorthwest fits if privacy and never missing the April 1 annual report matter more to you than saving ~$125 a year — though no agent changes your franchise & excise tax.

Tennessee Registered Agent & LLC Facts

Requirement / Metric	Tennessee Specifics
Registered agent required?	Yes — every Tennessee LLC & corporation
Governing statute	T.C.A. § 48-249-109 (registered office and registered agent)
Physical Tennessee address required?	Yes — a physical Tennessee street address for the registered office
PO box allowed?	No — a PO box, route, or box number alone won't satisfy the registered-office requirement
Can you be your own agent?	Yes, if you're a Tennessee resident — the registered agent must be a Tennessee-resident individual or a qualifying business entity at the registered office (T.C.A. § 48-249-109)
LLC filing fee	$300 (confirm current)
Annual report	Annual Report, $50 per member with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum (the same scale as the formation fee), due by the first day of the fourth month after your fiscal year-end — April 1 for calendar-year LLCs — filed with the Secretary of State. Miss it and the LLC can be administratively dissolved.
Franchise / annual tax	No personal income tax (the Hall tax on interest and dividends was repealed in 2021) — but Tennessee taxes the LLC itself with the Franchise & Excise (F&E) tax: a 6.5% excise tax on net earnings plus a 0.25% franchise tax on net worth with a $100 minimum, administered by the Department of Revenue. Some LLCs qualify for exemptions (e.g., the family-owned FONCE or obligated-member-entity exemption).
Publication requirement	None
Change registered agent fee	$20 — file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office (Form SS-4534) with the Secretary of State, online via TNBear or by mail.
Official source	Tennessee Division / Secretary of State

Fees and rules change — always confirm the current figures on the official Tennessee source linked above before filing.

What Tennessee requires from a registered agent

Like every state, Tennessee requires every LLC to keep a registered agent at a physical Tennessee street address (a PO box won't do), staffed during business hours to receive lawsuits and official state mail.

Can you be your own registered agent in Tennessee?

Yes, if you're a Tennessee resident — the registered agent must be a Tennessee-resident individual or a qualifying business entity at the registered office (T.C.A. § 48-249-109). The catch most pages skip: that address goes on Tennessee's public record (scraped by data brokers if it's your home), and you must be available during business hours or risk missing a lawsuit — so home-based and remote owners usually use a service. Here's the full DIY trade-off.

thumb_upBeing your own agent — pros

addNo annual registered-agent fee — you keep the ~$100–$125/year a service would charge
addYou receive every Tennessee state notice and legal document directly, with no middle layer
addWorkable if you're a Tennessee resident at a street address staffed during business hours

infoCons & risks

removeYour Tennessee street address becomes part of the public record — and home addresses get scraped by data brokers
removeA registered agent must be a Tennessee resident present during business hours; a missed lawsuit can become a default judgment
removeYou alone track the April 1 annual report (and the separate franchise & excise filing at the Department of Revenue)

Using your Tennessee home as your own agent address puts it on the public, searchable Secretary of State record and invites service of process at your door — sometimes in front of family or customers. For home-based Tennessee founders, that exposure is the main reason to use a service.

Registered agent cost in Tennessee

Forming an LLC in Tennessee costs $300 up front, and a registered agent runs about $100–$150 a year on top — Northwest includes the first year free, then about $125. Full breakdown, including the DIY $0 route, in cheapest registered agent. To see Tennessee's filing and annual fees beside all 50 states, use our LLC cost calculator.

Privacy & the public record in Tennessee

The registered-agent address you give Tennessee goes onto the public Secretary of State record and is searchable by anyone — data brokers, marketers, and process servers included. Tennessee requires a physical street address for the registered office (T.C.A. § 48-249-109); a PO box, route, or box number alone won't substitute. List your home and it becomes the address tied publicly to your business. The clean fix is a commercial agent: their Tennessee street address appears on the record instead of yours, while your legal mail still reaches you.

Out-of-state & non-resident founders: Out-of-state and international founders can own a Tennessee LLC, but the registered agent must be a Tennessee-resident individual or a qualifying entity at a physical Tennessee street address — which you usually can't provide yourself from another state or country. A commercial agent is effectively required there. Note you'll still register for and pay the Franchise & Excise tax with the Department of Revenue regardless of where you live.

Best registered agent for Tennessee: Northwest

For a Tennessee LLC specifically, Northwest supplies a Tennessee street address that satisfies T.C.A. § 48-249-109, keeps your personal address off the public record, and tracks the April 1 annual report so you don't get administratively dissolved.

doneFirst year free in Tennessee when you form ($39 + state fee), then about $125/yr
donePrivacy by Default — their Tennessee address on public filings instead of yours
doneUS-based support, no upsell funnel, all 50 states covered

Get Northwest for Tennessee →

Honest caveat: Northwest is not the cheapest path, and no registered agent changes your Franchise & Excise tax — that's the Department of Revenue's, not the agent's. If you're a Tennessee resident comfortable being your own agent at a public address, the DIY route costs $0 beyond the state's fees. Northwest mainly earns its ~$125/year on privacy and on never missing the April 1 report.

Comparing options? See our Northwest review, Northwest vs LegalZoom, or the budget pick in Northwest vs Bizee.

Best Registered Agent Services in Tennessee

We weigh providers on real first-year and renewal cost, privacy, upsell pressure, and support — the same way for every state. Here are the three we point Tennessee founders to.

starEditor's Choice

Northwest

check_circleAvailable in Tennessee

$125/year

First year free when you form, then a flat ~$125/year. Strong privacy and no upsell funnel.

doneRegistered agent free for year one
donePrivacy by Default® — their address, not yours
doneUS-based support, no upsells

Visit Northwest

Bizee

check_circleAvailable in Tennessee

$119/year

Lowest upfront cost — $0 service fee, first RA year free. Best if you'll decline the checkout add-ons.

done$0 formation service fee
done1st year registered agent free
doneLifetime compliance alerts

Visit Bizee

ZenBusiness

check_circleAvailable in Tennessee

$199/yr renewal

$99 intro first year

All-in-one platform with a compliance guarantee. We don't earn a commission from ZenBusiness — here's our honest comparison.

doneWorry-Free compliance guarantee
doneAll-in-one formation suite
doneHigher renewal than our top picks

Compare ZenBusiness

Pricing reflects each provider's advertised rates as of July 2026 and can change — confirm the current price on the provider's own site before you buy.

Compare your options in Tennessee

Every realistic way to meet the Tennessee registered-agent requirement — including doing it yourself.

Option	Best for	Pros	Cons
Be your own agent	Tennessee residents with a staffed street address who want $0 cost	addNo annual fee addDirect receipt of all documents	removeAddress is public removeMust be a Tennessee resident present in business hours removeYou track the April 1 report and the separate F&E filing yourself
Northwest Registered Agent	Privacy-focused, home-based, or out-of-state Tennessee owners	addTheir Tennessee address on the record, not yours addTracks the April 1 annual report addFirst RA year free with formation, ~$125/yr after	remove~$125/year after the first year removeDoesn't change your franchise & excise tax
Bizee or another formation service	Owners who want the lowest upfront formation cost	add$0 formation service fee addFirst RA year free addCompliance reminders	removeHeavier checkout upsells removeLess privacy focus than Northwest remove~$119/yr RA after year one
Tennessee CPA or attorney as agent	Owners who want help with the F&E tax and exemptions	addA professional already handling your filings addCan advise on FONCE/OME exemptions and F&E	removeUsually the most expensive option removeOverkill for a simple single-member LLC

Tennessee's per-member fees and its franchise & excise tax

Tennessee does two things most states don't. First, your filing fees scale with members: $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum, charged the same way on both the formation filing and the annual report — so a six-member-or-fewer LLC pays $300, but a large multi-member LLC can owe up to $3,000 to form and $3,000 again every year. Second, Tennessee has no personal income tax (the old Hall tax on interest and dividends ended in 2021), yet it still taxes the LLC itself through the Franchise & Excise (F&E) tax — a 6.5% excise tax on net earnings plus a 0.25% franchise tax on net worth ($100 minimum) — handled by the Department of Revenue, a separate agency from the Secretary of State. Some LLCs escape it through the family-owned (FONCE) or obligated-member-entity exemption.

Tennessee is genuinely a good fit for:

doneSmall or single-member LLCs (which pay the $300 minimum)
doneOwners who value Tennessee's lack of a personal income tax
doneBusinesses operating in Nashville, Memphis, or across Tennessee

Tennessee fees scale with members — and there's a tax on the LLC

Two things make Tennessee unusual: your filing fee depends on how many members you have, and there's no income tax — but the LLC itself pays a franchise & excise tax.

Tennessee LLC — fees scale at $50/member ($300 min, $3,000 max) on formation and the annual report, plus an entity-level franchise & excise tax despite no personal income tax. RegisteredAgentHub original.

Tennessee-specific things to know

Tennessee prices LLCs by headcount. The formation fee and the annual report are both $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum. In practice a single-member or small LLC just pays the $300 minimum (six members or fewer all land there), but every member above six adds $50 — so a large multi-member LLC can pay up to $3,000 to form and another $3,000 every year. The annual report is due on or before the first day of the fourth month after your fiscal year-end — April 1 for a calendar-year LLC — filed with the Secretary of State (online via TNBear). Miss it and the LLC can be administratively dissolved.

The bigger surprise is the tax setup. Tennessee has no personal income tax — the old Hall tax on interest and dividends was fully repealed in 2021 — but it does not leave the LLC untaxed. Tennessee imposes a Franchise & Excise (F&E) tax on the entity, administered by the Department of Revenue (separate from the Secretary of State): a 6.5% excise tax on net earnings plus a 0.25% franchise tax on net worth, with a $100 minimum. Many small operating LLCs owe it; some escape through exemptions like the family-owned non-corporate entity (FONCE) or the obligated-member-entity rule. So 'no income tax' doesn't mean 'no state tax on the business' in Tennessee.

On the agent: a registered agent must be a Tennessee-resident individual or a qualifying business entity at a physical Tennessee street address (a PO box, route, or box number alone won't do) — and you change it with a $20 Statement of Change (Form SS-4534). There's no publication requirement to form. Practically, you'll deal with two agencies: the Secretary of State (TNBear) for formation and the annual report, and the Department of Revenue (TNTAP) for the F&E tax.

Looking up an existing registered agent in Tennessee

Every Tennessee company's registered agent is public record — you can find any LLC's or corporation's agent, with the registered office address, free through the state's official business search. Search by company name and the record shows the current agent on file.

The usual reasons to look one up: serving legal papers on a company, due diligence on a business you're about to deal with, or confirming your own record updated correctly after a change of agent (in Tennessee, that filing is $20).

"Registered agent near me" in Tennessee — explained

Searched "registered agent near me"? In Tennessee it's not about being near you — your agent just needs a physical Tennessee street address, staffed during business hours, on file with the Tennessee filing office. That's why a national service like Northwest works no matter where in Tennessee — or which state — you personally live.

How to change your registered agent in Tennessee

To switch in Tennessee, file the state's change-of-agent form ($20) and put the new agent on record before cancelling the old one — many services handle it. Full steps in how to change your registered agent.

How to start an LLC in Tennessee

In short: choose your name, appoint a registered agent (the step above), file your formation document with Tennessee ($300), and get a free EIN from the IRS. Then keep it compliant: Annual Report, $50 per member with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum (the same scale as the formation fee), due by the first day of the fourth month after your fiscal year-end — April 1 for calendar-year LLCs — filed with the Secretary of State. Miss it and the LLC can be administratively dissolved.. No personal income tax (the Hall tax on interest and dividends was repealed in 2021) — but Tennessee taxes the LLC itself with the Franchise & Excise (F&E) tax: a 6.5% excise tax on net earnings plus a 0.25% franchise tax on net worth with a $100 minimum, administered by the Department of Revenue. Some LLCs qualify for exemptions (e.g., the family-owned FONCE or obligated-member-entity exemption).. For the full walkthrough see our cheapest way to start an LLC guide.

Which path is right for you in Tennessee?

verifiedUse Northwest if

doneYou work from home or want to keep your address off the public record
doneYou're forming or operating the LLC from outside Tennessee
doneYou'd rather not be the one tracking the April 1 annual report

personBe your own agent if

checkYou're a Tennessee resident with a street address staffed during business hours
checkYou're comfortable with that address appearing on the public record
checkYou're confident you'll file the annual report by April 1 every year

compare_arrowsConsider other options if

checkYour only priority is the lowest upfront formation cost (a budget service like Bizee)
checkYou want a Tennessee CPA to handle the F&E tax and serve as agent
checkYou want to compare on price first — see our Northwest vs Bizee and Northwest vs ZenBusiness guides

Tennessee Registered Agent FAQ

How much does a Tennessee LLC cost?expand_more

Tennessee charges $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum — on both the formation filing and the annual report. So a single-member or small LLC (six members or fewer) pays the $300 minimum either way; only larger multi-member LLCs pay more, up to $3,000.

Does Tennessee have a state income tax?expand_more

No personal income tax — the Hall tax on interest and dividends was fully repealed in 2021. But Tennessee taxes the LLC itself through the Franchise & Excise tax, so 'no income tax' doesn't mean the business owes nothing to the state.

What is the Tennessee franchise & excise (F&E) tax?expand_more

It's an entity-level tax administered by the Department of Revenue: a 6.5% excise tax on net earnings plus a 0.25% franchise tax on net worth, with a $100 minimum. Most operating LLCs owe it, though some qualify for exemptions like the family-owned non-corporate entity (FONCE) or obligated-member-entity exemption.

When is the Tennessee annual report due?expand_more

On or before the first day of the fourth month after your fiscal year-end — April 1 for a calendar-year LLC — filed with the Secretary of State. The fee follows the same $50-per-member, $300-minimum, $3,000-maximum scale as formation.

Can I be my own registered agent in Tennessee?expand_more

Yes, if you're a Tennessee resident with a physical Tennessee street address (a PO box, route, or box number alone won't qualify). An individual agent must be a state resident, so an out-of-state owner needs a Tennessee-resident individual or a commercial agent.

How do I change my registered agent in Tennessee?expand_more

File a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office (Form SS-4534) with the Secretary of State for $20, online via TNBear or by mail.

Does Tennessee require newspaper publication to form an LLC?expand_more

No. Tennessee has no publication requirement — filing the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State completes formation.

Which agencies does a Tennessee LLC deal with?expand_more

Two. The Secretary of State (TNBear) handles formation, your registered agent, and the annual report. The Department of Revenue (TNTAP) handles the Franchise & Excise tax. They're separate registrations, so don't assume filing your annual report covers your taxes.

Official Tennessee sources

Comparing states?

Founders weighing Tennessee usually shortlist these too — or see every state's fees side by side.

Kentucky →Georgia →Alabama →

Keep reading

Northwest Registered Agent: full review → Best registered agent service → Can I be my own registered agent? →

Affiliate disclosure: RegisteredAgentHub is reader-supported. If you sign up through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only feature services we believe offer genuine value. See how we make money.

This page is for general informational purposes and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Tennessee fees and rules can change — confirm current details with the official Tennessee source before filing.