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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.

Commercial disclosure: We may receive a commission through a referral link. Check the provider’s current prices and eligibility; no historical discount code is guaranteed.

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 current plans — referral link
→ 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

  1. Choose a name — must include "LLC", "L.L.C.", or "Limited Liability Company". Verify availability at the Tennessee business name search.
  2. Designate a registered agent — physical Tennessee street address required, no PO Boxes.
  3. File Articles of Organization — $300 minimum to the Tennessee Secretary of State (online or paper). Online approvals are instant.
  4. Register for business tax — a $15 one-time state business tax registration is required even though Tennessee doesn't have a general business license.
  5. Get an EIN — free online for US residents with SSN; non-US founders file SS-4 paper (4–8 weeks).
  6. Apply separately for a business account — Mercury eligibility and documents. Approval and timing depend on the provider; formation and an EIN are not a guarantee.
  7. File the Annual Report — $300 minimum, due by the 1st day of the 4th month after fiscal year-end.
  8. 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.

More State Guides Worth Reading

If you are still comparing states, these are the guides we keep coming back to. They cover the fee details, annual report deadlines and filing timelines for each state, so you can see exactly what a first year costs before you commit.

Not sure which state fits? Start with our best state to form an LLC comparison — it breaks down all 50 states by filing fee, annual fee and first-year total, and maps each one to the founder type it actually suits.