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Foreign LLC guide · Tennessee

Tennessee Foreign LLC Fees (2026) and the 3 Best Registration Services

Tennessee for a foreign LLC registration, 2026: TN Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Tennessee Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. Foreign LLCs register with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations for $300 and then pay $300 per report, which puts Tennessee at 46th of 50 on three years of state fees.
Charted by the State Biz Facts team

Tennessee fee chart

46th

out of 50, foreign LLC state charges

Ordered from smallest bill to largest. All states side by side

  • Charge to register

    $300

    Taken from sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com on October 2026

  • Recurring report

    $300

    Annual report

  • Proof of good standing

    60 days

    It has to be this fresh

  • State total, years 1 to 3

    $900

    Registration fee, then reports for years 2 and 3

Our Tennessee chart of providers

Five weighted criteria set the order; three-year provider charges and filings covered carry the most (see the method).

First stop

1. TN Registered Agent.org: best for a modest Tennessee registration

$199 plus the state fee, then the agent at $99 per year

Why TN Registered Agent.org is placed first: registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the agent is covered in year one.

It beats Mainstay Filing on three-year provider charges, and cost makes up 36% of the score.

Price covers

  • Registration written up and sent in
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • $199 and the state's fee
  • Year-one agent duty is included
  • $99 yearly from year two

Downside

  • Nothing beyond this state
Visit TN Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Bundled

2. Mainstay Filing: best for a business spreading across state lines

$199 plus the state fee, then the agent at $149 per year

Mainstay Filing takes spot 2: a $199 service charge in any state, plus a free first year of agent duty.

Its three-year bill runs $100 above TN Registered Agent.org's, and cost is our heaviest weight.

After the free first year the agent is $149 per year in any state.

Price covers

  • Registration papers drawn up and filed for you
  • First-year registered agent service carries no fee
  • No price change from state to state

Upside

  • A $199 service charge
  • Registered agent free for year one
  • One service charge for every state

Downside

  • Agent renewal of $149, $50 above TN Registered Agent.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Home-state option

3. Tennessee Registered Agent.co: best for a local filer

$199 plus the state fee, then the agent at $99 per year

Next on the chart is Tennessee Registered Agent.co, since registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the agent is covered in year one.

TN Registered Agent.org and this provider publish the same prices.

Price covers

  • Registration written up and sent in
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • $99 yearly from year two
  • Year-one agent duty is included
  • $199 and the state's fee

Downside

  • Nothing beyond this state
Visit Tennessee Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Tennessee providers on one chart

OrderProviderYear 1Year 2 and onProvider charges, 3 years
1TN Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit TN Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Tennessee Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Tennessee Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's own price page was read on November 12, 2026. Add the $300 state fee to every row.

Foreign LLC budget

The registration fee is $300, with the $300 report from year two; each provider's prices go on top.
TN Registered Agent.org over 3 years comes to $1,297: $900 for the state and $397 for the provider.

Tennessee and the states beside it on the chart

SpotStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
44thOregon$825
45thSouth Dakota$860
46thTennessee$900
47thDelaware$1,000
48thRhode Island$1,450
To see other states, open Foreign LLC fees by state.

Bringing a foreign LLC into Tennessee

The fee to register is $300, paid when the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233) is filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. The filing must carry certificate of existence or good standing, dated within 60 days.

On a recurring basis it files the annual report ($300), first day of the fourth month after fiscal year end (April 1 for a calendar year).

What to bring

  • Certificate of existence or good standing, no older than 60 days.
  • Home state record: legal name and formation date.
  • A registered agent with a street address here; each provider ranked above can supply one.
  • Budget for the $300 official fee.

Working unregistered: the risks

An unregistered LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)). Contracts are not voided (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f)).

Basis for the order

Service cost across three years (36%) is the criterion on which TN Registered Agent.org outscored Mainstay Filing here.

TN Registered Agent.org totals $397 over three years, which is $100 less than Mainstay Filing.

Tennessee: your questions

What does Tennessee charge a foreign LLC to register?

$300 for the filing itself. Hiring one adds $199.

Which form does a foreign LLC file with Tennessee?

The form is the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233), and it goes to the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations.

Does the filing need a certificate from the home state?

Yes: certificate of existence or good standing, dated within 60 days of filing.

Does a foreign LLC have a yearly obligation?

A yearly filing applies, namely the annual report, which costs $300.

What happens if the LLC does business there without registering?

An unregistered LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)). Contracts are not voided (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(f)).

Must a foreign LLC name a registered agent for Tennessee?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which provider should register my foreign LLC?

Start with TN Registered Agent.org ($199 plus the state fee, first agent year included, then $99 per year for the agent); Mainstay Filing and Tennessee Registered Agent.co follow.

Other maps

Where each number comes from

  1. Behind Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services: tnbear.tn.gov, seen August 2026.
  2. Behind Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services: sos.tn.gov, seen August 2026.
  3. Behind Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: sos.tn.gov, seen October 2026.
  4. Behind Tennessee report due date: law.justia.com, seen August 2026.
  5. Behind Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.tn.gov, seen October 2026.
  6. Behind Tennessee registered agent statute: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, seen October 2026.
  7. Behind Form SS-4233, Certificate of Authority for a foreign: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, seen October 2026.
  8. Behind Form SS-4241, withdrawal or cancellation: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, seen October 2026.
  9. Behind Tennessee Revised LLC Act, Public Chapter 286: publications.tnsosfiles.com, seen October 2026.
  10. Behind Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, foreign LLC: capitol.tn.gov, seen November 2026.
  11. Behind Oregon Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms: sos.oregon.gov, seen October 2026.
  12. Behind Application for Authority, form instructions: sos.oregon.gov, seen October 2026.
  13. Behind Business Registry fee schedule: sos.oregon.gov, seen October 2026.
  14. Behind Registered agents and service of process: sos.oregon.gov, seen October 2026.
  15. Behind Oregon Revised Statutes, chapter 63: oregonlegislature.gov, seen October 2026.
  16. Behind South Dakota Secretary of State, business services: sdsos.gov, seen October 2026.
  17. Behind Filing fee schedule: sdsos.gov, seen October 2026.
  18. Behind Foreign LLC application for Certificate of Authority: sdsos.gov, seen October 2026.
  19. Behind SDCL 47-34A-1003, transacting business: sdlegislature.gov, seen October 2026.
  20. Behind SDCL 47-34A-1008, effect of not registering: sdlegislature.gov, seen October 2026.
  21. Behind Foreign LLC registration form: corpfiles.delaware.gov, seen October 2026.
  22. Behind Delaware Code Title 6, chapter 18, subchapter IX: delcode.delaware.gov, seen October 2026.
  23. Behind Delaware Code Title 6, chapter 18, subchapter XI: delcode.delaware.gov, seen October 2026.
  24. Behind Division of Corporations fee schedule, August 2026: corpfiles.delaware.gov, seen October 2026.
  25. Behind Alternative entity annual tax instructions: corp.delaware.gov, seen October 2026.
  26. Behind Form 450, Application for Registration: docs.sos.ri.gov, seen October 2026.
  27. Behind Business Services fee schedule: docs.sos.ri.gov, seen October 2026.
  28. Behind R.I: webserver.rilegislature.gov, seen October 2026.
  29. Behind R.I: webserver.rilegislature.gov, seen October 2026.
  30. Behind Form 452, Certificate of Cancellation: docs.sos.ri.gov, seen October 2026.
  31. Behind Rhode Island other cost: tax.ri.gov, seen October 2026.
  32. TN Registered Agent.org's pricing page, seen November 12, 2026
  33. Mainstay Filing's Tennessee service page, seen November 12, 2026
  34. Tennessee Registered Agent.co's pricing page, seen November 12, 2026