How to search Tennessee business entities online

Tennessee business entity records are searchable through the TNBear (Tennessee Business Entity Access and Registration) system at tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/FilingSearch.aspx, operated by the Tennessee Secretary of State's Division of Business Services. No account is required to search; filing and annual report submission require an account. Note: tnbear.tn.gov is the search and formation portal — annual report filing has moved to the TNCaB portal at tncab.tnsos.gov.

What the search covers

The database covers domestic and foreign LLCs, for-profit corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships, LLPs, general partnerships, professional corporations, and benefit corporations registered with the Secretary of State.

Search options

Two search modes are available:

• Business Name — "Contains" matching; partial name searches work across the full entity name
• Control Number — direct lookup by the Tennessee SOS-assigned control number

An "Active Entities Only" filter is available to limit results. Name availability can be checked at tnbear.tn.gov — Name Availability.

Tennessee's member-count LLC fee structure

Tennessee calculates LLC formation and annual report fees based on the number of members — an unusual structure found in very few other states. The fee is $50 per member, with a minimum of $300 and a maximum of $3,000. A single-member LLC pays the $300 minimum (equivalent to 6 members at $50). A 20-member LLC pays $1,000. A 60-member LLC reaches the $3,000 cap. This applies both to the Articles of Organization (formation) and to the annual report each subsequent year.

Annual report due date

Annual reports are due on the first day of the fourth month following the end of the entity's fiscal year. For entities on a calendar fiscal year (ending December 31), the deadline is April 1. A 60-day grace period applies before administrative dissolution proceedings begin.

Tennessee does not offer expedited filing processing. In-person morning submissions at the Nashville office are typically processed by the end of the same business day.

This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Tennessee Secretary of State's office. Verify current procedures at sos.tn.gov/businesses. Source: Tennessee Secretary of State Division of Business Services, verified May 2026.