Tennessee lesson 2 of 6
Appoint your Tennessee registered agent
Tennessee Code Section 48-249-109 requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office in the state.
Who can act as agent
The registered agent can be an individual resident of Tennessee or a business entity authorised to do business in Tennessee. The registered office must be a physical street address in the state where the agent can be found during business hours; a PO box alone does not satisfy the requirement.
Why it matters
The registered agent is the point of contact for lawsuits, official state notices, and service of process. If the address on file is stale, the LLC can still be treated as served even if nobody actually receives the documents.
The registered agent's address becomes part of the public record with the Secretary of State. Many owners use a commercial registered agent for privacy or to guarantee availability during business hours.
Changing the agent later
A change of registered agent or registered office is filed with the Secretary of State. Update it promptly whenever the agent resigns, moves, or the LLC switches to a commercial registered agent service.
Key takeaways
- A physical Tennessee street address is required; a PO box alone does not qualify.
- The registered agent's address is public record.
- File a change with the Secretary of State as soon as the agent or address changes.
Official sources
Or let us file your Tennessee LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team