State registration fee
Foreign LLC guide · Tennessee
Tennessee Foreign LLC Registration Fees (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best Services
Tennessee: the facts
Recurring report
Certificate from home state
State charges over 3 years
Our Tennessee recommendations
1. TN Registered Agent.org: best for an affordable Tennessee filing
TN Registered Agent.org ranks number one. It registers you in Tennessee for $199 and includes a year of agent service; after that the agent costs $99 a year.
Cost settles this one: three years here come to less than three years with Mainstay Filing.
What the price takes in
- Prepares the registration filing
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- The agent renews at $99
- No agent fee in the first year
- $199 to register
Against it
- One state only
2. Tennessee Registered Agent.co: best for Tennessee registrations
Tennessee Registered Agent.co comes second because it registers you in Tennessee for $199 and includes a year of agent service; after that the agent costs $99 a year.
Its prices equal TN Registered Agent.org's, so the two are close.
What the price takes in
- Prepares the registration filing
- A year of agent service
In its favor
- No agent fee in the first year
- The agent renews at $99
- $199 to register
Against it
- One state only
3. Mainstay Filing: best for a third or fourth state later on
We put Mainstay Filing third since it files the Tennessee registration for $199 beyond the state fee and includes the first agent year.
TN Registered Agent.org comes out $100 ahead on three-year provider fees.
The free year is followed by $149 a year, in every state.
What the price takes in
- Files the registration for you
- Registered agent costs nothing in the first year
- A fifty-state service
In its favor
- One price everywhere
- $199 plus the state fee
- Registered agent is free in year 1
Against it
- The agent renews at $149, which is $50 above TN Registered Agent.org
Compare the 3 picks
| No. | Provider | First year | Later years | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TN Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit TN Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Tennessee Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Tennessee Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Foreign LLC cost calculator
Tennessee and the states around it in the ranking
| Place | State | Three-year foreign LLC fees |
|---|---|---|
| 44th | Oregon | $825 |
| 45th | South Dakota | $860 |
| 46th | Tennessee | $900 |
| 47th | Delaware | $1,000 |
| 48th | Rhode Island | $1,450 |
Tennessee foreign LLC registration in 2026
An LLC from another state registers by sending the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233) and $300 to the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. The state asks for certificate of existence or good standing, issued no more than 60 days.
Reports after registration: the annual report ($300), first day of the fourth month after fiscal year end (April 1 for a calendar year).
Before filing
- Certificate of existence or good standing, at most 60 days.
- The name and formation date as the home state records them.
- A registered agent located in the state (each pick includes one).
- Payment for the $300 state fee.
What staying unregistered can cost
If the LLC might ever have to sue there, register first (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)). The state does not void contracts (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f)).
Why the first pick is first
TN Registered Agent.org wins on service bill, years one to three, which counts for 34%, and Tennessee Registered Agent.co follows.
The three-year provider fees at TN Registered Agent.org are $397, $100 beneath Mainstay Filing.
Tennessee questions and answers
How much does it cost a foreign LLC to register in Tennessee?
$300 at the state office. The providers here charge $199 more.
Which form registers a foreign LLC in Tennessee?
The Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233), which is sent to the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations.
Does the state want a certificate from the home state?
Yes, it wants certificate of existence or good standing, dated within 60 days of the filing.
Does a foreign LLC file anything every year?
Yes, it files the annual report for $300.
What are the consequences of working there without registering?
If the LLC might ever have to sue there, register first (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)). The state does not void contracts (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f)).
Does a foreign LLC in Tennessee need a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which service would you choose to register a foreign LLC?
TN Registered Agent.org leads and Tennessee Registered Agent.co and Mainstay Filing follow. The deciding factor is service bill, years one to three.
Where these facts come from
- Check our statements on Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services against tnbear.tn.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services against sos.tn.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source against sos.tn.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Tennessee report due date against law.justia.com, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee, official source against sos.tn.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Tennessee registered agent statute against sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form SS-4233, Certificate of Authority for a foreign against sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form SS-4241, withdrawal or cancellation against sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Tennessee Revised LLC Act, Public Chapter 286 against publications.tnsosfiles.com, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, foreign LLC against capitol.tn.gov, the official page, which we last read in November 2026.
- Check our statements on Oregon Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms against sos.oregon.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Application for Authority, form instructions against sos.oregon.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Business Registry fee schedule against sos.oregon.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Registered agents and service of process against sos.oregon.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Oregon Revised Statutes, chapter 63 against oregonlegislature.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on South Dakota Secretary of State, business services against sdsos.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Filing fee schedule against sdsos.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Foreign LLC application for Certificate of Authority against sdsos.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on SDCL 47-34A-1003, transacting business against sdlegislature.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on SDCL 47-34A-1008, effect of not registering against sdlegislature.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Foreign LLC registration form against corpfiles.delaware.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Delaware Code Title 6, chapter 18, subchapter IX against delcode.delaware.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Delaware Code Title 6, chapter 18, subchapter XI against delcode.delaware.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Division of Corporations fee schedule, August 2026 against corpfiles.delaware.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Alternative entity annual tax instructions against corp.delaware.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form 450, Application for Registration against docs.sos.ri.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Business Services fee schedule against docs.sos.ri.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on R.I against webserver.rilegislature.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on R.I against webserver.rilegislature.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Form 452, Certificate of Cancellation against docs.sos.ri.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Rhode Island other cost against tax.ri.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- The company website for TN Registered Agent.org gives pricing page (read November 13, 2026)
- The company website for Tennessee Registered Agent.co gives pricing page (read November 13, 2026)
- The company website for Mainstay Filing gives Tennessee service page (read November 13, 2026)