Tennessee Articles of Organization

Articles of organization form your Tennessee LLC.

Preparing and filing your articles of organization is the first step in starting your limited liability company (LLC). Approval of this document secures your business name and creates the legal entity of the LLC. Only after this approval can you obtain a Federal Tax ID (EIN), open a bank account, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.

Benefits

Incorporating provides many important benefits:

  • Limits the liability of the members (owners) and managers
  • Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
  • Adds credibility

Fast Facts

Agency:Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Business Services
Form:

Articles of Organization (ss-4270)

Instructions:

Tennessee Smart Start Guide

Filing Method:

Mail, in-person, or online.

Agency Fee:

$50 per member in existence on the date of the filing, with a minimum fee of $300 and a maximum fee of $3,000

Turnaround:

~4 business days by mail. ~2 days online. Immediately in-person.

Law:

Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act

Notes:
  • Professional LLCs and Series LLCs have other formation requirements.
  • If the articles of organization prohibit the LLC from doing business in Tennessee, the filing fee is $300.00, regardless of the number of members in existence on the date of the filing.
  • A business email address must be provided when filing.
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