Tennessee Registered Agent: LLC Guide
What is a Tennessee Registered Agent?
A Tennessee Registered Agent is an individual or business that consents to receive legal correspondence and official notices on behalf of your Tennessee LLC.
The Tennessee Secretary of State might also use your Registered Agent's address as the main contact for sending official notices to your LLC.
A Registered Agent might also be called a Tennessee Agent for Service of Process. They refer to the same role.
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Why Do You Need a Registered Agent in Tennessee?
You need a Registered Agent in Tennessee because it's required by law. Every LLC in Tennessee must have one to operate legally.
Registered Agents provide support to the legal and court processes. They oversee the accurate delivery and tracking of court papers and legal mail.
What Does a Registered Agent Do?
A Registered Agent gets important documents for you and then passes them on to you.
What Are the Legal Requirements for a Registered Agent?
In Tennessee, Registered Agents must:
- Have a physical address in Tennessee (not a PO box)
- Keep regular business hours
- Accept legal documents and Service of Process for businesses
- Quickly forward those documents to the businesses
Who can be my Registered Agent in Tennessee?
You have three options for choosing your Tennessee Registered Agent:
- You
- A friend or family member.
- A Registered Agent Service in Tennessee
Opting to be your Registered Agent might save you money, but it does come with some risks.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent in Tennessee?
You have three choices for your LLC's Registered Agent in Tennessee:
- You can be the Registered Agent yourself.
- A friend or family member can be the Registered Agent.
- You can hire a Tennessee Registered Agent Service.
Being your own Tennessee Registered Agent
You can be your own Registered Agent if you:
- Have a real street address in Tennessee
- Are available during business hours
Pros: It will save you money.
Cons: Your name and address will be public. There are also some risks involved.
Asking a Friend or Family Member to be Your LLC's Registered Agent
You can ask a friend or family member to be your Registered Agent in Tennessee.
They need to:
- Have a street address in Tennessee
- Be available during business hours
Make sure they agree and understand their duties. Their information will be public.
Pros: It saves money.
Cons: Their address will be public, and they might not be as reliable as a professional service.
Hiring a Tennessee Registered Agent Service
A Registered Agent Service handles your LLC's legal mail.
Itâs a good choice if:
- You want to keep your address private
- You don't have an address in Tennessee
- You're not available during business hours
- You don't want to handle the paperwork
- You need help with setting up your LLC
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How Much Does a Registered Agent Service Cost?
In Tennessee, Registered Agent Services typically cost between $100 and $300 per year.
Tennessee Registered Agent FAQs
Does Tennessee require a Registered Agent?
Yes, Tennessee requires all LLCs to maintain a Registered Agent for the life of their LLC.
How do I find a Registered Agent in Tennessee?
While you could google Registered Agents in Tennessee, here is a list of some of the most popular Registered Agent Services and their fees:
- Northwest Registered Agent - $125 per year
- ZenBusiness - $199 per year
- MyCompanyWorks - $99 per year
- Harbor Compliance - $99 per year
- IncFile - $119 per year
- Rocket Lawyer - $250 per year
- LegalZoom - $249 per year
To learn more about how these companies compare against each other, check out Best Registered Agent Services in Tennessee.
Note: If you want to save money, you can be your own Registered Agent in Tennessee. Or, your LLC can be its own Registered Agent in Tennessee.
Can I use a PO Box for an LLC in Tennessee?
Whether or not you can use a PO Box for a Tennessee LLC depends on which address you want to use it for.
The Tennessee Articles of Organization has three different address fields:
- the Registered Agentâs physical address
- the LLCâs Principal Office address
- the LLCâs Mailing address
You canât use a PO Box for your LLC Registered Agentâs address. This must be a physical street address in Tennessee.
You also canât use a PO Box for your LLCâs Principal Office address. However, this address can be in any state, or even an international address.
That said, you can use a PO Box for your LLCâs mailing address. This address can also be in any state, or it can be an international address.
Can I be my own Registered Agent in Tennessee?
Yes, you can be your LLCâs Registered Agent. Tennessee law allows any business or a consenting adult who is a Tennessee resident to be your LLCâs Registered Agent. That includes you, a friend, or a family member.
Additionally, Tennessee is one of few states that allow your LLC to serve as its own Registered Agent.
Just know that anyone serving as your Registered Agent will have their address made public record.
If you arenât comfortable with your address being on public record, you can hire Northwest Registered Agent as your Registered Agent Service. Theyâll let you use their Tennessee office address throughout your filing so your information remains private while still meeting all state legal requirements.
Can a family member be a Registered Agent in Tennessee?
Yes, a family member can be your Registered Agent in Tennessee, if they meet the legal requirements.
To be your Registered Agent, your family member must have a physical address in Tennessee (PO Boxes arenât allowed). They must also be available at that address during normal business hours.