Tennessee Business Entity Search | TN Secretary of State

Quick Answer

Use the Tennessee Secretary of State Business Entity Search portal to run a Tennessee entity search by business name or control number. For name research, enter the proposed wording, optionally filter to active entities, and compare matching or similar records before filing. A no-match result is only preliminary until Tennessee reviews the filing or name reservation.

How to Search Tennessee Business Entity Records

The official registry of business records is maintained by the Business Services Division of the Tennessee Secretary of State. You can search the public database for free online.

Access the Business Entity Search

Go to the official Tennessee Business Search page to begin.

Tennessee Business Entity Search landing page — Navigate to the official Tennessee Secretary of State business search page.

Enter Search Criteria

Locate the input fields to begin your query. You have two primary methods to locate an entity:

Enter the proposed business name in the Business Name text box.
Enter the control number in the Control Number text box.

To filter your results to active entities only, select the Active Entities Only checkbox. Click the Search button to execute the query.

Tennessee search inputs highlighting Business Name and Control Number fields — Enter your search terms and select matching filters.

Locate Your Business

Review the table of results to find the business entity. Once identified, click the Details button in the first column of the relevant row to view full details. The results table includes the following columns:

Control No.
Name
Other Names Used
Entity Type
Status (e.g., Active, Inactive - Cancelled)
Formed In
Registration Date

Tennessee search results table showing matching entities — Review the matching businesses listed in the search results table.

Review Entity Details

The details page shows specific information based on the entity type. Review the available fields in the general info panel:

Name and Entity Type
Status (e.g., Active, Inactive - Withdrawn)
Formed In and Control Number
Term of Duration and Initial Filing Date
Fiscal Ending Month and AR Due Date
Registered Agent contact details
Principal Office Address and Mailing Address
Standing badges (AR Standing, RA Standing, Other Standing, Revenue Standing)

To view the history, locate the tabs at the bottom of the card.

Tennessee business details page displaying entity status, dates, and addresses — Examine the general records and registered agent details for the selected entity.

View Filing History and Documents

Use the tabs located at the bottom of the details page. Select the first tab to view a table of previous filings:

Type (e.g., Annual Report, Articles of Organization)
Date
Tracking Number
Change History (e.g., Registered Agent Changed, Principal Address Changed)

You can also click the Name History tab to view a table of business names used by the entity:

Name
Type
Effective
Expires

Tennessee details view displaying the History tab table — Inspect history of reports, amendments, and formation documents.

If the search results return no close matches for Tennessee, treat that as a preliminary screening signal only. Verify the name in the official state database, and wait for the state filing or name-reservation review before treating the name as accepted.

How to Interpret Tennessee Results

Tennessee’s TNCaB result screen is organized around the Control Number. Use that number to confirm you are reviewing the right record, then check the entity status, formation date, registered agent, principal office, and annual report information. A name that appears inactive may still need closer review if the record is recently dissolved, administratively inactive, or tied to a similar control-number history.

For name research, use the active-only filter as a second pass rather than the only pass. A broad search can reveal cancelled or dissolved records that explain old filings or possible reinstatement context, while an active-only search is better for the immediate conflict check.

Tennessee Business Name and Filing Notes

Tennessee’s filing costs and annual report rules are unusual because LLC fees depend on member count. Keep the name search separate from the fee calculation and annual-report workflow:

LLC Filing Fees: Filing the Articles of Organization for a domestic Tennessee LLC costs a minimum of $300. This covers 1 to 6 members. The fee is calculated at $50 per member, up to a maximum of $3,000 for 60 or more members.
Name Reservation: You can reserve a business name for up to 4 months (120 days) by filing a Name Reservation application. The fee is $20.
Annual Reports: Tennessee LLCs are required to file an annual report each year. Reports are due on the first day of the fourth month following the close of your LLC’s fiscal year (typically April 1 for calendar-year businesses). The fee structure mirrors the formation fee: a minimum of $300 ($50 per member, up to a maximum of $3,000).
Foreign LLCs: To register an out-of-state LLC to do business in Tennessee, you must file an Application for Certificate of Authority. The filing fee is also a minimum of $300 ($50 per member, up to a maximum of $3,000).

Common Mistakes

Ignoring the Control Number: Use the Control Number to distinguish entities with similar names before relying on a result.
Using Active Entities Only too early: Run a broad search first so older records and similar inactive names are not hidden.
Forgetting member-count pricing: Tennessee LLC filing and annual report fees can vary with member count, so do not assume a flat cost from a search result.
Missing the fiscal-year-based report deadline: The annual report is due on the first day of the fourth month after fiscal year close, not always on a simple calendar anniversary.
Treating the search as approval: TNCaB is a public-records search. Final name acceptance happens during filing or reservation review.