‹ All Guides

Register Your South Carolina LLC in Tennessee

Step-by-step foreign qualification requirements, fees, and filing instructions for South Carolina LLCs expanding into Tennessee.

Cost Summary

Tennessee filing fee: $300
South Carolina Certificate of Existence: $15
Annual obligation in Tennessee: $300/year + $100/year franchise tax
Estimated year 1 total: $715

Note: Year 1 total includes the $300 filing fee in Tennessee plus the $15 Certificate of Existence fee from South Carolina. Registered agent fees (typically $100-$200/year) are not included.

South Carolina data verified May 1, 2026 · sos.sc.gov

Tennessee data verified May 1, 2026 · sos.tn.gov

How to register your South Carolina LLC in Tennessee

Check name availability in Tennessee

Before filing, verify that your LLC name (or a distinguishable variation) is available in Tennessee. If your exact name is already taken, you may need to register under a fictitious or assumed name.

Check the Tennessee Secretary of State website for name availability search.

Get a Certificate of Existence from South Carolina

Tennessee requires a Certificate of Existence from South Carolina to prove your LLC is in good standing. The fee is $15. No expiration printed; foreign-state applications typically require dating within 30-90 days.

File the Application for Certificate of Authority in Tennessee

Submit your application along with the Certificate of Existence and the $300 filing fee. Processing time is 10 business days by mail, same-day in person.

Tennessee filing portal ↗

Appoint a registered agent in Tennessee

You must designate a registered agent with a physical address in Tennessee to accept legal documents on behalf of your LLC. This is required as part of the foreign qualification application.

Ongoing compliance in Tennessee

Annual report: $300/year + $100/year franchise tax
Report due: April 1
Processing time: 10 business days by mail, same-day in person

Important to know about Tennessee

Must register for franchise and excise tax in addition to foreign qualification

Activities that do NOT require registration in Tennessee

Maintaining or defending a lawsuit, administrative proceeding, or arbitration
Holding meetings of members or managers, or carrying on internal company affairs
Maintaining bank accounts
Maintaining offices or agencies for the transfer, exchange, or registration of the LLC's own securities
Selling through independent contractors
Soliciting or obtaining orders if orders require acceptance outside the state before becoming contracts
Creating or acquiring indebtedness, mortgages, or security interests in real or personal property
Securing or collecting debts, or enforcing mortgages or security interests
Owning real or personal property
Conducting an isolated transaction completed within 30 days that is not part of repeated similar transactions
Transacting business in interstate commerce

Tennessee operates parallel LLC acts. The Revised Limited Liability Company Act (Chapter 249, effective for foreign LLCs filing on or after January 1, 2006 per Section 48-249-1002(d)) lists activities at Section 48-249-902 ('Transactions not constituting transacting business'). The older Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act (Chapter 246, applicable to grandfathered pre-2006 entities) has substantively identical safe harbors at Section 48-246-102. Tennessee imposes both an annual report fee and a minimum franchise tax on foreign LLCs.

Need a registered agent in Tennessee?

A registered agent is required for foreign qualification. These services operate in all 50 states.

Get Northwest Registered Agent ↗

Recommended · $125/year · Privacy included

Registered Agents Inc

$200/year · Includes annual report filing

Visit site ↗

Harbor Compliance

$99/year · Full-service compliance option

Visit site ↗

Need a business address in Tennessee?

A virtual mailbox gives your LLC a professional address in Tennessee for mail forwarding, public filings, and banking—without leasing office space.

Northwest Mail Forwarding $20/mo

Unique suite number + unlimited digital mail scanning

Learn more ↗

Registered Agents Inc $50/yr

10 mail scans/year + unique suite number

Learn more ↗

Independent mailbox providers

iPostal1

Largest address network in the US. Best budget option for basic mail scanning.

From $9.99/mo Visit site ↗

Alliance Virtual Offices

Best if you need a real office address for bank accounts or Amazon seller verification.

From $49/mo Visit site ↗

Check your full compliance

Use our free tool to check if you need to register in additional states.

Start free compliance check ↗

Sources

https://sos.tn.gov/business-services

This page provides general information based on publicly available state requirements. It is not legal advice. Verify all fees and requirements with the Tennessee Secretary of State before filing.