How to search Tennessee records
- TNCaB replaced the old TNBEAR system on February 18, 2025. Search it by business name, control number or registered agent; older bookmarks to tnbear.tn.gov may still work for some pages.
- The record shows status, the next annual report due date, and the registered agent.
- Check assumed names separately, since Tennessee files them with the Secretary of State.
Open the official Tennessee search
Tennessee SOS, corporation and LLC search
Tennessee Secretary of State Business Search
The Tennessee Secretary of State business search is run by the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations through its TNCaB Business Entity Search. Related queries such as "Secretary of State of TN business search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its control number so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
Business Entity Search Tennessee
An entity search of the Tennessee business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Tennessee expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Tennessee Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "Tennessee company search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Tennessee LLC Search
Run the Tennessee LLC search with the exact name, then note the control number. Forming a Tennessee LLC costs $300 and the annual report is $300. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
TN Business Name Search
A TN business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Tennessee lets you hold a name for 120 days for $20. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
TN Business License Search
A Tennessee entity record is not a business license. Licenses come from the state board for a regulated trade or from the city or county where the business operates, so check those separately. The business verification checklist lists which official records to pull and in what order.
Tennessee Tax ID Lookup
A Tennessee tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the Tennessee tax agency for sales or payroll tax. Neither appears in the business entity record. The EIN lookup covers the federal number; the state tax agency confirms its own accounts.
Fees priced by headcount
Tennessee is the only state that prices LLC filings by the number of members: $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 cap. That rule applies to formation and to every annual report, so a large LLC pays much more than a single owner. Calendar-year LLCs file the annual report by April 1.
Tennessee filing facts
| Record number | Control number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $300. $50 per member, minimum $300, maximum $3,000. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $300, yearly |
| Due | First day of the 4th month after the fiscal year ends. $50 per member, minimum $300. |
| Name reservation | $20 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 615-741-2286 |
What a Tennessee LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $300 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $300 | $300 |
| Three-year state total | $900 | ||
TNCaB and state business taxes
TNCaB replaced the old TNBEAR system on February 18, 2025, for search and filing; older bookmarks may still work for some pages. Tennessee LLCs are also subject to state franchise and excise taxes paid to the Department of Revenue, separate from Secretary of State fees. Assumed names are filed with the Secretary of State; see DBA. Compare the per-member pricing with neighboring states in the fee directory.
Member count and costs
Because Tennessee fees rise with the number of members, adding members to an LLC increases both formation and annual report costs once there are more than six members. Owners planning to bring in investors should model the fee before admitting them.
How Tennessee compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $300 | $300 | Yearly | $20 |
| Kentucky | $40 | $15 | Yearly | $15 |
| Georgia | $100 | $50 | Yearly | $25 |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200 | Yearly | $30 |
Before you rely on a Tennessee result
- Tennessee LLCs are also subject to state franchise and excise taxes paid to the Department of Revenue.
- The annual report for calendar-year entities is due April 1.
Bulk Tennessee business data
Sold by the state. About $1,000 full database (reported). Business Entity Database purchased and downloaded through the Secretary of State website. Official source
Searching beyond Tennessee
Registries next to Tennessee: Kentucky business search, Georgia business search, North Carolina business search.
Tennessee business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Tennessee?
The state filing fee is $300. $50 per member, minimum $300, maximum $3,000. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $300 a year in state fees.
When is the Tennessee annual report due?
Tennessee calls it the annual report. It costs $300, it is filed yearly, and it is due first day of the 4th month after the fiscal year ends. $50 per member, minimum $300.
Can I reserve a business name in Tennessee?
Yes. A name reservation costs $20 and holds the name for 120 days.
How much is a Tennessee LLC with five members?
$300, since five members at $50 each equals $250, below the $300 minimum. The same rule applies to the annual report.
Is the Tennessee business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the TNCaB Business Entity Search costs nothing. The Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. Its business line is 615-741-2286, and its free search is the TNCaB Business Entity Search.
What number identifies a business in Tennessee?
Tennessee assigns each entity a control number. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Tennessee businesses?
Only by buying it. About $1,000 full database (reported). Business Entity Database purchased and downloaded through the Secretary of State website.
Sources
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