{"id":100599,"date":"2018-01-01T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-01T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/llcbuddy-static-599"},"modified":"2018-01-01T10:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-01-01T10:00:00","slug":"tennessee-foreign-llc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trendsmosaic.com\/index.php\/2018\/01\/01\/tennessee-foreign-llc\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start a Foreign LLC in Tennessee (Step-by-Step Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n<\/circle><\/path><\/svg>Page update history<\/b>Last updated Aug 28, 2026 \u00b7 published 2018<\/span><\/span>since 2018<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/summary>\n
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Aug 28, 2026<\/div>\n
Corrected the Tennessee foreign-LLC fee to $50 per member (min $300, max $3,000).<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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2018<\/div>\n
Article first published.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n

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If you have an LLC in Tennessee<\/a> and want to expand your business beyond Tennessee, you must form a foreign LLC. Any business, especially a limited liability company<\/a>, located in other states, starts its operation in Tennessee, must file a foreign LLC in Tennessee. To do so, every LLC needs to file additional filing documents, along with tax and relevant documents with the Tennessee government.<\/p>\n

In this article, you’ll be reading about how to start a foreign LLC in Tennessee<\/a>. Along with that, the page guides you through the steps involved in managing and maintaining a foreign LLC in Tennessee after you form it.<\/p>\n

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On this page<\/h4>\n

Forming a Foreign LLC in Tennessee<\/a>Filing Tennessee Foreign LLC Online – Quick Recap<\/a>After Forming Tennessee Foreign LLC<\/a>FAQs<\/a><\/div>\n

Forming a Foreign LLC in Tennessee<\/h2>\n

A foreign LLC does not need to be a company from another country but a business formed under the laws of another state. If you register your LLC in one state and operate your business in Tennessee, you probably need to register your LLC as a foreign entity here. Imagine, if your family owns a sushi restaurant in Alabama and you want to expand the chain somewhere in Texas, you must establish your restaurant in Texas as a foreign entity.<\/p>\n

Anyone who has an active and in good standing LLC anywhere (except for Tennessee) and wants to expand their operations in Tennessee can file their LLC as a foreign entity. To start a foreign LLC in Tennessee, you need to register it with the Tennessee Secretary of State<\/a>. Every state has a different rule for establishing a foreign LLC. Here are the steps to follow in Tennessee for registering a foreign LLC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> These are generic steps to file a foreign LLC in Tennessee. Make sure to check with the State Secretary of State, before you start filing your business. – LLCBuddy<\/a> Team<\/p>\n

1<\/span> Get the Certificate of Existence From Home State<\/a>2<\/span> Choose Tennessee Foreign LLC Name<\/a>3<\/span> Select Tennessee Foreign LLC Registered Agent<\/a>4<\/span> File Application for Registration for Tennessee Foreign LLC<\/a>5<\/span> Determine How Your Tennessee Foreign LLC is taxed<\/a><\/div>\n

Step 1<\/span>Get the Certificate of Existence From Home State<\/h3>\n

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Before you proceed to register your LLC in Tennessee as a foreign entity, you must get the Certificate of Existence issued from your home state SOS. This is an important document to register an LLC in a foreign state.<\/p>\n

If your LLC is originally registered in Tennessee, then you must obtain the Certificate of Existence from Tennessee Secretary of State<\/a>. If your LLC is in other states, the name of the same document might be different. Every LLC, registered in any state other than Tennessee must get this document to register a foreign LLC in Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Filing Certificate of Existence<\/strong>: To obtain the Certificate of Existence, you need to Search Business<\/a> using the Secretary of State Control Number. You can request a Certificate of Existence by submitting the online form.<\/p>\n

Step 2<\/span>Choose Tennessee Foreign LLC Name<\/h3>\n

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Obtain a name reservation certificate and submit it with your foreign qualification requirements to the Tennessee Secretary of State. Your LLC\u2019s legal name outside of Tennessee will be listed on the application, along with the name it will use in Tennessee. Take note of the requirements for naming your LLC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can use the same name as your domestic LLC name, however, that name should be available in Tennessee to use. Check name availability at Tennessee’s business entity names<\/a> and reserve your LLC name. There are a bunch of LLC naming guidelines in Tennessee<\/a> when it comes to forming a foreign LLC. Check the guidelines before you name your business.<\/p>\n

Step 3<\/span>Select Tennessee Foreign LLC Registered Agent<\/h3>\n

A registered agent is a person responsible for receiving all official and legal documents on behalf of your company, whether it is located domestically or in a foreign state. For a foreign LLC in Tennessee, you must have a registered agent from Tennessee only. No matter where your domestic LLC is located, you must hire a registered agent from Tennessee for your foreign LLC.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need a registered agent<\/a> to form a foreign LLC in Tennessee and take note that the Tennessee Registered Agent<\/a> must have a local address. Here are the best LLC services<\/a> on our list that will provide you with registered agents to ease your worries:<\/p>\n

Output for wptb id 44275 (used on ~332 pages): LLC service comparison.
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