Business

Forming an LLC in Tennessee — Hispanic entrepreneur guide

How to form an LLC in Tennessee: formation fee $50 per member (min $300, max $3,000) and a $300 minimum annual report.

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The Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville.

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Forming an LLC in Tennessee

Why Tennessee

No state income tax — only taxes dividends/interest (Hall Tax repealed) Home to Nashville (music + healthcare), Memphis (logistics) Hispanic community ~6% (growing) High cost ($300 minimum + $300/year minimum = $600 first year) Accepts ITIN

Key facts

Item	Information
Formation fee	$300 minimum — $50 per member, maximum $3,000
Annual fee	$300 annual report (minimum)
Deadline	Annual Report due 1st day of 4th month after anniversary ($300 minimum)
Accepts ITIN	✅ Yes

Process

Unique name ending in “LLC”
Registered Agent in Tennessee
Articles of Organization ($50 per member, minimum $300)
Operating Agreement (internal)
EIN from IRS (free)
Business bank account

Platform: Tennessee Secretary of State

Professional licenses: new citizenship/status requirement (since May 7, 2026)

If your Tennessee business activity needs a professional or commercial license (trade boards under Title 62, cosmetology, health professions, insurance, alcoholic-beverage permits…), note that Public Chapter 955 (in effect since May 7, 2026) requires the license holder to be a US citizen or “qualified alien” (Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-58-102) at application AND renewal — a work permit (EAD) alone no longer qualifies. Public Chapter 955 does not amend Tennessee’s LLC-formation statutes — forming the LLC is a separate Secretary of State filing — but check every license your activity requires. Details: Tennessee worker rights and licensing · Public Chapter 955 (PDF). Tennessee is one of the states classified restrictive in our state-by-state map of professional licenses regardless of immigration status.

Last verified: 2026-09-02.

State services and resources in Tennessee

Where to register your LLC in Tennessee

The Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services handles LLC registrations. Generally accepts filings:

Online (fastest)
By mail
In person, where the office offers it

The steps that are the same in every state — EIN, business bank account, annual report, estimated taxes, ITIN ownership and the common errors — are maintained once, on the LLC formation hub.

Tennessee-specific resources

Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services — LLC filings and business search
Tennessee Department of Revenue — state business taxes
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) — free small business mentoring
SBA (Small Business Administration) — free counseling via SCORE and SBDC, open to everyone. ⚠️ SBA loans (7(a), 504, microloans) are closed to non-citizen owners since March/April 2026 — including green-card holders. See who can still use each SBA program and the CDFI lenders that do accept an ITIN.

Last verified: 2026-09-02.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.

ITIN — file business taxes without SSN — ITIN holders can form and operate LLCs
ITIN-friendly business banking — checking accounts that open without an SSN
USCIS forms — H-1B, L-1, E-2 investor visas — when LLC ownership supports a visa case
State income tax obligations — business taxes vary by state
Find an immigration attorney — for complex investor or work-visa cases tied to your LLC

Frequently asked questions

Do I need SSN to form an LLC in Tennessee?

NO. You can form an LLC in Tennessee using ITIN or just passport number. After, to open a bank account for the LLC, you’ll need EIN (free Federal Tax ID from IRS, NO SSN required) and possibly the holder’s ITIN.

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, the LLC formation fee is $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum. The annual fee listed on this page is $300 annual report (minimum). Other costs: a registered agent (free if you serve as your own agent with a Tennessee address; otherwise a yearly commercial fee), an operating agreement (free if you draft it yourself), and any annual report or franchise fee. The EIN is free from the IRS.

Better to form LLC in Tennessee or in Wyoming/Delaware?

If your business operates in Tennessee, cheapest is forming LLC in Tennessee. If you operate in another state but register the LLC in Wyoming/Delaware, you must register as ‘foreign LLC’ in your operating state — paying both fees. Wyoming/Delaware only makes sense for passive LLCs (rentals, investments, holding companies).

Does my Tennessee LLC pay taxes?

By default, single-member LLC is ‘disregarded entity’ (taxes flow through to owner via Schedule C). Multi-member LLC treated as ‘partnership’ (Form 1065). You can elect S-Corp or C-Corp taxation via Form 2553/8832. Consult CPA with ITIN experience.

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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.