Best Tennessee LLC Formation Service in 2026

Tennessee is one of the more expensive states to form and maintain an LLC: $300 minimum to file (plus $50 per member above six, capped at $3,000) and another $300 minimum every year for the annual report. Layer on the franchise & excise (F&E) tax that Tennessee LLCs are subject to and you've got real ongoing cost. That makes the service you pick even more important — picking wrong means stacking unnecessary fees on top of an already pricey state.

We compared the 6 major LLC formation services on total 2-year cost, EIN handling, banking handoff, and how each one handles Tennessee's slightly unusual fee structure.

Quick verdict

Service	Best for	Filing fee (TN)	Service fee	Reg. Agent	EIN included	Non-US friendly
Doola	Non-US founders, one-person company	$300	from $297 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	✅ (incl. SS-4 paper filing)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Northwest	US residents wanting privacy	$300	$39 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$50)	⭐⭐⭐
ZenBusiness	US residents, low budget	$300	$0 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$99)	⭐⭐
LegalZoom	US residents wanting brand	$300	$0 (Basic)	$249/yr	❌ (+$79)	⭐⭐
Bizee (formerly IncFile)	US residents, free starter	$300	$0 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$70)	⭐⭐
DIY (Tennessee SOS)	US founders with SSN	$300	$0	❌ (~$125/yr separately)	DIY (free with SSN)	⭐

Our recommendation for non-US founders: Doola — bundles LLC filing + EIN (with SS-4 paper for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent + Mercury Bank introduction.

Disclosure: We have an affiliate relationship with Doola — the code LLCCLASS10 gives 10% off and supports our work at no extra cost to you.

Tennessee LLC basics

Filing fee: $300 minimum (1–6 members), +$50 per member over six, max $3,000. Most one-person founders pay exactly $300.
Annual report: $300 minimum, due the 1st day of the 4th month after your fiscal year ends (April 1 if you use a calendar year)
Franchise & Excise (F&E) tax: Tennessee LLCs are subject to F&E tax even though there's no broad personal income tax. The franchise tax has a $100 minimum; the excise tax is 6.5% of net Tennessee earnings.
Business tax registration: $15 one-time registration, even though there's no general business license
Privacy: The registered agent's name and address are public; using a service shields your home address

The Tennessee trap: Founders see "no income tax" and forget the F&E tax exists. For a profitable LLC with Tennessee-sourced earnings, F&E is the real cost. Single-owner LLCs with no Tennessee-sourced revenue are usually fine, but if you actually do business in Tennessee, talk to a CPA before assuming you'll owe nothing.

Service-by-service breakdown

1. Doola — best for non-US founders forming a Tennessee LLC

Pricing: Starter $297/yr, Total Compliance $799/yr
What's included: LLC filing + EIN (SS-4 paper for non-SSN) + Registered Agent (1 year) + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction
Turnaround: 2–4 weeks for non-US founders, 3–7 days for US founders
Why we use it: The EIN piece. Mailing SS-4 yourself from outside the US is a 6–12 week wait, and the slightest mismatch with your formation docs sends you back to the queue.
Caveat: Tennessee's $300 annual report is on you regardless of which service you use — nobody can reduce that state fee.

→ Doola signup with LLCCLASS10 code (10% off)
→ Full Doola 2026 review

2. Northwest Registered Agent — best for US residents who value privacy

Pricing: $39 service fee + $300 state + $125/yr registered agent after year 1
What's included: LLC filing + 1 yr registered agent + privacy (their name on public filings)
EIN: Not included, +$50, US-only
Why pick: US-based support team that picks up the phone, no upsell traps

3. ZenBusiness — US residents on a budget

Pricing: Free Starter ($300 state only), Pro $199/yr, Premium $349/yr
What's included on Starter: LLC filing only; registered agent renews at $199/yr
EIN: +$99
Caveat: The year-1 free pricing is real, but they recoup it via year-2 renewal upsells

4. LegalZoom — brand recognition, expensive

Pricing: Basic $0 + state, Pro $249, Premium $349
Registered agent: Separate $249/yr line
EIN: +$79
Why pick: Investor-facing brand recognition
Why skip: Highest TCO of the six; cancellation is a maze

5. Bizee (formerly IncFile) — US-residents free starter

Pricing: Free + state, Gold $199, Platinum $299
EIN: +$70
Caveat: Compliance reminders are inconsistent — risky given Tennessee's pricey late fees

6. DIY — for founders with US SSN and patience

Cost: $300 state filing only. Pay a Tennessee registered agent separately (~$125/yr); get the EIN free via IRS online if you have an SSN.
Why pick: Cost minimization
Why skip if non-US: SS-4 paper from abroad is the same killer as in every other state

Step-by-step Tennessee LLC formation

Choose a name — must include "LLC", "L.L.C.", or "Limited Liability Company". Verify availability at the Tennessee business name search.
Designate a registered agent — physical Tennessee street address required, no PO Boxes.
File Articles of Organization — $300 minimum to the Tennessee Secretary of State (online or paper). Online approvals are instant.
Register for business tax — a $15 one-time state business tax registration is required even though Tennessee doesn't have a general business license.
Get an EIN — free online for US residents with SSN; non-US founders file SS-4 paper (4–8 weeks).
Open a US business bank account — Mercury Bank, 3-hour approval if LLC + EIN are clean.
File the Annual Report — $300 minimum, due by the 1st day of the 4th month after fiscal year-end.
Pay F&E tax if applicable — franchise tax minimum $100, excise tax 6.5% of net Tennessee earnings, filed via the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

FAQ

Why is Tennessee so much more expensive than other states?
Two reasons: the $300 minimum filing fee (vs. $50–$150 in most states) and the $300 annual report (most states are $0–$60). Tennessee makes sense if you have a real Tennessee business connection — physical location, customers, operations. For a pure remote one-person company with no Tennessee ties, Wyoming or South Dakota is dramatically cheaper.

Do all Tennessee LLCs owe Franchise & Excise tax?
Most do. Tennessee taxes LLCs at the entity level via F&E even though it doesn't have a personal income tax. There are exemptions (obligated member entity election, for example) but you can't assume you owe nothing — confirm with a Tennessee CPA before your first April 15 falls.

Can a non-US resident form a Tennessee LLC?
Yes. Tennessee does not require US citizenship or residency. You'll need a Tennessee-based registered agent and an EIN path that doesn't depend on an SSN (Doola handles the SS-4 paper filing).

Is online filing actually faster in Tennessee?
Yes — online Articles of Organization are approved essentially immediately, while mailed paper filings take 3–5 business days plus mail transit. Always go online unless you have a specific reason not to.

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