Tennessee Secretary of State – TN SOS Business Search

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Tennessee Secretary of State Business Services Online
Address: Division of Business Services, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Snodgrass Tower, 6th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone: 1(615)741-2286
Website: www.tnbear.tn.gov
E-Mail: sos.tn.gov/contact

Lookup a Business Entity

Step 1 – Start

Search business entities (Corporations, LLCs, Limited Partnership) in Tennessee by using the database at the Secretary of State’s Website. Perform your lookup by Name or Control Number. If you choose to query by name, be sure to use as many matching terms as you can in order to narrow down the results.

After you have made your selection you will be brought to the Results Page (As Seen Below).

Step 2 – Choose Your Entity

 As you can see from the results above, the Secretary of State allows you to preview the business’s Control Number, Entity Type, Name Type, Incorporation Date, and Status. Once you have found your listing, click on the blue text link under the Control number tab to be sent to the Information Page.

Step 3 – Retrieve Information

You have reached the end of your search and now are able to view all the information on file with the Secretary of State about the business entity including its Name (including Former Names), Business Type, Status, State of Formation, Month of Fiscal Close, Incorporation Date, Term of Duration, Principal Office Address, Previously Filed Documents, and all Registered Agent Information (Name and Address).

You may be able to obtain a Certificate of Existence and if you are the officer or registered agent of the corporation you may be able to change the registered agent or mailing address.

Step 4 – Steps to form your new Business in Tennessee

• Business name availability search (above)
• Internet domain availability search for website and email.
• Choose your entity type (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Partnership, or Non-Profit Org)
• Obtain IRS EIN Number (employer identification number).  Create New IRS EIN Number
• Create Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws that include describing the business purpose of the entity, naming the registered agent, directors, registered address, operating guidelines, dissolution provisions, and other information.
• Determine if the new entity requires any federal, state, or local business licenses.
• Determine payroll tax requirements.
• Determine federal, state, and local tax filing requirements.
• Establish the business physical and/or mailing address, phone number, voicemail, website, email address, and business cards.