Tennessee Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270) — Filing Guide
Form SS-4270 is the official formation document for Tennessee LLCs. Filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State, it creates your LLC under the Tennessee Revised LLC Act . Fee: $300 per member (minimum $300). For the complete formation process, see our main guide.
Required Information on Form SS-4270
- LLC name — Including LLC/L.L.C./Limited Liability Company designator
- Registered agent name and address — Tennessee street address (or LLC itself as agent with registered office)
- Principal office address — Can be in or outside Tennessee
- Management structure — Member-managed or manager-managed
- Duration — Perpetual or fixed term
- Number of members — Determines filing fee ($300 each)
- Names and addresses — At least one initial member or manager
- Organizer — Person causing the filing
Tennessee's Unique Per-Member Fee
Unlike virtually every other state, Tennessee charges $300 PER MEMBER:
- 1 member: $300
- 2 members: $600
- 3 members: $900
- 5 members: $1,500
- 10 members: $3,000
This makes multi-member Tennessee LLCs significantly more expensive to form than in other states. The same per-member fee applies to foreign LLC registration.
Filing Methods
Ready to get started?
Get Started| Method | Fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|
| Online (sos.tn.gov) | $300/member | 5-7 business days |
| Mail (Form SS-4270) | $300/member | 2-4 weeks |
After Filing
- Articles become public record at sos.tn.gov
- LLC is searchable on TNBEAR
- First Annual Report due April 1 of the following year
- Register with TN DOR for franchise & excise tax
FAQ
Why does Tennessee charge per member?
Tennessee uses the per-member fee as a revenue mechanism, similar to how it uses the franchise & excise tax at the entity level. The state compensates by having zero personal income tax.
Are members listed on the public filing?
Yes — Tennessee requires at least one member or manager name on Form SS-4270. This is less private than Colorado or Indiana, which don't list members on formation documents.
What if I add members later?
Adding members doesn't trigger an additional per-member filing fee after initial formation. The per-member fee applies only at formation and for foreign LLC registration.