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State reply · Tennessee

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Tennessee (2026), Ranked

The 2026 order for foreign registration services in Tennessee is TN Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Tennessee Registered Agent.co ($199). Registering costs $300 at Tennessee, whoever files, plus $397 to $497 to a service over three years.

LLC Q and A editorial team ·

Quick answers

Fee to the state
$300
Home-state certificate?
Required (60 days max age)
Following
$300, annual report
Our pick
TN Registered Agent.org, Mainstay Filing then Tennessee Registered Agent.co

Tennessee ranking

Prices come from each company's own page. See the method.
1#1 pick

1. TN Registered Agent.org: best for registering in just this state

$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

#1 in Tennessee: TN Registered Agent.org, because registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

It undercuts Mainstay Filing on three-year cost, which puts it first for a company that stays put.

Price covers

  • Foreign filing handled
  • Agent for year one

For

  • $199 plus state fee
  • Year-one agent included
  • Then $99 a year

Against

  • Home state needs a separate agent
TN Registered Agent.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2All fifty states

2. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states

$199 plus state fee, then $149/yr

Second: Mainstay Filing, because $199 in every state, with the first registered agent year included.

Ranked lower because three years cost $100 more than TN Registered Agent.org, and cost has the biggest weight.

No registered agent fee in year one; $149 a year from year two.

Price covers

  • Out-of-state registration filed
  • Registered agent, free first year
  • Same price in any state

For

  • First agent year covered
  • Same fee in every state
  • $199 plus Tennessee's fee

Against

  • TN Registered Agent.org renews its agent $50 lower
Mainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Tennessee only

3. Tennessee Registered Agent.co: best for one more state only

$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

Third: Tennessee Registered Agent.co, because registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Same published prices as TN Registered Agent.org, so the order between them is close.

Price covers

  • Foreign filing handled
  • Agent for year one

For

  • Year-one agent included
  • Then $99 a year
  • $199 plus state fee

Against

  • Home state needs a separate agent
Tennessee Registered Agent.co sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Comparison

#CompanyYear 1Renewal3-year costIncludes
1TN Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397foreign filing handled; agent for year oneTN Registered Agent.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Out-of-state registration filed; registered agent, free first year; same price in any stateMainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Tennessee Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397foreign filing handled; agent for year oneTennessee Registered Agent.co sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices as of November 13, 2026. State fees are in the checklist below.

Key questions

When must an out-of-state LLC register?

Before it does business in Tennessee, with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations.

Unregistered, an LLC may face it cannot sue in Tennessee courts until registered (Tenn. Code Ann. 48-249-913(a)).

source of record: publications.tnsosfiles.com, confirmed October 2026

Cost to register?

$300 at the state. A service adds $199.

Three-year state total, registration included: $900. source of record: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, confirmed October 2026

What registers the LLC?

Registration goes through the Application for Certificate of Authority, Foreign Limited Liability Company (SS-4233), handled by the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations.

Include certificate of existence or good standing issued in the last 60 days.

What is due after registering?

A recurring annual report, at $300.

Deadline per the state: First day of the fourth month after fiscal year end (April 1 for a calendar year).

What decided #1?

Three-year price (36%) goes to TN Registered Agent.org.

62% of the total is three-year price plus chores removed from your list.

TN Registered Agent.org: $397 for three years, $100 below Mainstay Filing.

Method

Tennessee registration requirements

ItemDetailSource
Registration fee$300source of record: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, confirmed October 2026
Home-state certificateRequired, 60 dayssource of record: publications.tnsosfiles.com, confirmed October 2026
Annual report$300source of record: publications.tnsosfiles.com, confirmed October 2026
State fees, 3 years$900Sum of the rows above
Rows link to official sources; the final row is our own addition of filing, two reports and any minimum tax.

Also asked

Does the home state still need an agent?

Yes. Each state has its own rule. Mainstay Filing serves both from one account.

Three-year cost of each?

TN Registered Agent.org will run $397, Mainstay Filing will run $497, Tennessee Registered Agent.co will run $397, with state fees on top.

Are the fees official?

Official Tennessee sources for the state side, published prices for the service side.

Do I have to hire one?

No law requires a service; it is a paid convenience.

Can someone register the LLC for me?

Yes, every pick files it, and the state fee is the same for all.

Which foreign registration service should I use in Tennessee?

Rank TN Registered Agent.org ahead of Mainstay Filing and Tennessee Registered Agent.co.

Sources

  1. Q and A source note covering Tennessee Secretary of State, Division, found at tnbear.tn.gov and dated August 2026, kept on file
  2. Q and A source note covering Tennessee Secretary of State, Division, found at sos.tn.gov and dated August 2026, kept on file
  3. Q and A source note covering Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report, found at sos.tn.gov and dated October 2026, kept on file
  4. Q and A source note covering Tennessee report due date, found at law.justia.com and dated August 2026, kept on file
  5. Q and A source note covering Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee, found at sos.tn.gov and dated October 2026, kept on file
  6. Q and A source note covering Tennessee registered agent statute, found at sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com and dated October 2026, kept on file
  7. Q and A source note covering Form SS-4233, Certificate of Authority, found at sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com and dated October 2026, kept on file
  8. Q and A source note covering Form SS-4241, withdrawal or cancellation, found at sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com and dated October 2026, kept on file
  9. Q and A source note covering Tennessee Revised LLC Act, Public, found at publications.tnsosfiles.com and dated October 2026, kept on file
  10. Q and A source note covering Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company, found at capitol.tn.gov and dated November 2026, kept on file
  11. TN Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026
  12. Mainstay Filing Tennessee service page, read November 13, 2026
  13. Tennessee Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026