Tennessee replaced its old TNBEAR system with TNCaB, the Tennessee Charity and Business Filing System, so a Tennessee Secretary of State business search now starts at the TNCaB Business Entity Search. Search by business name or control number, choose Starts With, Contains or Exact, and see whether an active entity already uses your name.
If nothing comes up that is the same apart from the ending, the name is likely available. A search doesn’t reserve it, though. A four-month name reservation costs $20, and Tennessee calls a DBA an assumed name, which also costs $20 and lasts five years.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Tennessee (2026)
Comparing services for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Tennessee? Start with this ranked shortlist; details for each pick follow the table.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | TN Registered Agent.org | Tennessee registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Tennessee Registered Agent.co | Tennessee registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Tennessee. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. TN Registered Agent.org
TN Registered Agent.org is a Tennessee registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Tennessee Registered Agent.co
Tennessee Registered Agent.co is a Tennessee registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Tennessee business name search at a glance
| Item | Tennessee details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations |
| Search tool | TNCaB Business Entity Search |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $50 per member, minimum $300, maximum $3,000 |
| Name reservation | $20 (Form SS-9425); four months |
| Assumed name (DBA) | $20 (Form SS-4402); five years; $20 renewal |
| LLC annual report | $50 per member ($300 minimum, $3,000 maximum), due the first day of the fourth month after fiscal year-end |
| Franchise & excise tax | Franchise tax 0.25% of Tennessee net worth (minimum $100); excise tax 6.5% of taxable income (Department of Revenue) |
Filing fees are from the Secretary of State’s forms and fee FAQ. Mainstay Filing’s Tennessee LLC cost guide shows what forming and running an LLC costs in total.
How to search Tennessee business names in TNCaB
Old bookmarks to tnbear.tn.gov no longer load. Use tncab.tnsos.gov for searches and filings.
- Open the Business Entity Search. The search page opens without a login. You’ll need a free TNCaB account only when you file.
- Enter your core words. Search “Smoky Ridge Coffee” rather than “Smoky Ridge Coffee LLC.”
- Use Contains first. It finds your words anywhere in a name. Then try Starts With and Exact to narrow the list.
- Filter to Active Entities Only to focus on the names that can block yours, then glance at inactive results for recently dissolved companies.
- Open each close match to check its status and entity type.
Tennessee requires a new name to be distinguishable from names on file. If yours isn’t, you can still use it with the existing entity’s written consent, filed on Form SS-9411 for an extra $20. Short on options? Try Namechk’s business name generator.
Tennessee business name rules
- LLC: include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC” or “L.L.C.” (T.C.A. § 48-249-106, as cited on Form SS-4270).
- Corporation: include corporation, incorporated, company, corp., inc. or co. Professional corporations use P.C., P.A. or S.C.
- Banking words: “bank,” “banks,” “banking,” “credit union” or “trust” need prior written approval from the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions.
- Insurance: “insurance company” needs approval from the Department of Commerce and Insurance.
- Distinguishable: the name must be distinguishable from existing and reserved names, unless the other entity consents in writing.
Only the Secretary of State’s review at filing settles whether a name is acceptable. Treat a clean TNCaB search as a strong signal rather than a guarantee, and have a backup name ready in case the reviewer sees a conflict you missed.
How to reserve a business name in Tennessee
- Form: SS-9425, Application for Name Reservation.
- Fee: $20. Paying by card online adds a convenience fee.
- Term: four months (about 120 days).
- How: e-file in TNCaB, mail it, or file in person in Nashville.
If you’re ready to form the company now, you can skip the reservation and file Articles of Organization directly; the name is protected once the filing is accepted.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
TNCaB lists entities, not trademarks. Search the USPTO trademark database to see whether someone else has federal rights to the name. Tennessee also registers state trademarks with the Secretary of State ($20 per class, five-year term).
Next, check the web. Namechk shows whether the domain and social media usernames are free, and the domain name generator suggests close alternatives.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
How to file an assumed name (DBA) in Tennessee
The Secretary of State’s FAQ is blunt: Tennessee does not recognize “DBAs” or fictitious names as such. Registered entities that want to trade under another name file an Application for Registration of Assumed Name instead.
- Form and fee: SS-4402, $20.
- Term: five years. Renew with SS-4481 ($20) during the two months before it expires.
- Who files: corporations, LLCs and other entities registered with the Secretary of State.
- Publication: none required.
Sole proprietors and general partnerships don’t register with the Secretary of State this way. Ask your county clerk or city business license office what they require before operating under a trade name.
After the search: forming your Tennessee business
Once you’ve found a clear name, our Tennessee LLC guide walks through each step.
- File Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270) in TNCaB or by mail. The fee is $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum.
- Appoint a registered agent with a Tennessee address. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package (Tennessee costs); see our Tennessee registered agent guide for who can serve.
- Get an EIN from the IRS (free).
- Plan for annual costs. The LLC annual report is due by the first day of the fourth month after your fiscal year ends (April 1 for calendar-year LLCs). Franchise and excise tax returns go to the Department of Revenue by the 15th day of the fourth month (due dates). Our Tennessee start-a-business guide covers licenses.
FAQs
What replaced TNBEAR in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Secretary of State now uses TNCaB, the Tennessee Charity and Business Filing System, at tncab.tnsos.gov. Its Business Entity Search lets you look up businesses by name or control number with Starts With, Contains or Exact matching. Old tnbear.tn.gov links no longer work. Filing in TNCaB requires a free account.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Tennessee?
A Tennessee name reservation costs $20 using Form SS-9425 and holds the name for four months. You can e-file it in TNCaB, mail it or file in person; card payments online add a convenience fee. If you’re ready to form your company, you can skip the reservation and file your formation documents instead.
Does Tennessee have DBAs?
Not by that name. The Tennessee Secretary of State says it does not recognize DBAs or fictitious names. Registered entities file an Application for Registration of Assumed Name (Form SS-4402) for $20. It lasts five years and renews for $20 with Form SS-4481 during the two months before expiration.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Tennessee?
Tennessee charges $50 per member to file LLC Articles of Organization, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum, so most small LLCs pay $300. The annual report uses the same per-member formula. LLCs also owe franchise and excise taxes to the Department of Revenue, with a $100 minimum franchise tax.
Can I use a name similar to an existing Tennessee business?
Only if the names are distinguishable on the Secretary of State’s records, or if the existing entity gives written consent. Tennessee accepts that consent on Form SS-9411, which adds $20 to your filing. Without consent, a name that differs only by its ending or punctuation will be rejected.
When is the Tennessee LLC annual report due?
A Tennessee LLC’s annual report is due on or before the first day of the fourth month after its fiscal year ends, which is April 1 for an LLC with a calendar fiscal year. The fee follows the same formula as formation: $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum. Filing in TNCaB requires an account.
How do I change my LLC’s name in Tennessee?
File Articles of Amendment (Form SS-4451) with the Tennessee Secretary of State; the filing fee is $20. Run the new name through the TNCaB Business Entity Search first, keep an LLC designator in it, and update any assumed name registrations that reference the old name.
Does a Tennessee business search include trademarks?
No. The TNCaB Business Entity Search covers entities registered with the Secretary of State. It doesn’t show federal trademarks, so search the USPTO database too. Tennessee registers state trademarks separately at $20 per class for a five-year term. Also confirm your domain and social handles are available.
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