Foreign LLC Registration, Tennessee (2026): 5 Procedures and the 3 Best Services
For registering an LLC formed elsewhere in Tennessee in 2026, the lab recommends Mainstay Filing ($199), Tennessee Registered Agent.co ($199) and TN Registered Agent.org ($199), highest reading first. Tennessee charges $300 for foreign registration, and 5 procedures describe the process.
Company prices as posted on November 13, 2026. Every row needs the $300 state fee added.
The Tennessee registration, in sequence
Procedure1
Procedure 1: When registration is required
When an out-of-state LLC does business in Tennessee, it first registers as a foreign LLC. Without registration: Registration should precede any claim the LLC may need to bring (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)). Its agreements are not voided (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f)).
Procedure 2: Order the certificate from the home state
Attach certificate of existence or good standing, issued no more than 60 days.
TipLeave this procedure until just before filing.
Procedure3
Procedure 3: Select the Tennessee registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a Tennessee street address, with the county. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Procedure 4: Submit the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company
Registration is made by delivering the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233) to the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations with $300.
The next obligation is the annual report at $300, first day of the fourth month after fiscal year end (April 1 for a calendar year).
What each procedure costs in Tennessee
Line
Paid to
Cost
Registering the LLC
State office
$300
Annual report
State office
$300
Service fees (optional)
Service
$199 at the outset
Three-year state total
State office
$900
Method for the three-year state row: take the filing fee, add the reports due in years two and three, then add any yearly minimum tax. Service fees stay in their own rows.
The reasoning behind the ranking
moved ahead of on procedures the price performs, which counts for 28%.
Tennessee Registered Agent.co renews for less, but reach across several states carried more weight in the measurement.
Questions readers ask
Which fees does Tennessee collect on foreign registration?
$300 at the state office. A service adds $199.
Which form do I file to register?
The form is the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233), and the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations takes delivery of it.
Do I need a certificate from my home state?
Yes: certificate of existence or good standing, issued within 60 days of filing.
What if the LLC does business there without registering?
Registration should precede any claim the LLC may need to bring (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)). Its agreements are not voided (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f)).
What is due after registering?
Procedure 5 covers it: the annual report for $300.
Which service should handle the registration?
Select Mainstay Filing: $199 above the state fee, a registered agent at no charge in year one, then $149 a year. Then Tennessee Registered Agent.co and TN Registered Agent.org.