Tennessee Business Name Checker
Check if your business name is available in Tennessee. Validate state naming rules instantly, then search the Secretary of State's records free — and e-file reservations through tncab.tnsos.gov or assumed names at tnbear.tn.gov, each a flat $20.
Validate the name format, then search the official Tennessee Secretary of State — Business Information Search records.
1.Search the state registry (Tennessee Secretary of State — Business Information Search) for existing LLCs, corporations, and reserved names
2.Check federal trademarks at USPTO.gov — state approval does not protect you from trademark claims
3.Verify the .com domain is available for your name
4.Grab matching social media handles (Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook)
5.Lock the name in by filing your formation documents — or reserve it first (details below)
Fee
$20
Holds the name for
Four months (120 days)
How to file
Form SS-9425 — e-file at tncab.tnsos.gov, mail, or walk-in
The form does not state whether reservations can be renewed, so plan to file your formation documents within the four-month window.
How Business Name Availability Works in Tennessee
Tennessee runs its business records through the Secretary of State, with two online front doors: the business information search at tnbear.tn.gov (which also handles assumed-name filings) and the newer filing portal at tncab.tnsos.gov for reservations and formations. Searching is free and covers LLCs, corporations, reserved names, and registered assumed names.
The pricing is refreshingly simple: everything name-related costs $20. Reserving a name for four months (Form SS-9425) is $20. Registering an assumed name (Form SS-4402) is $20. Renewing that assumed name after five years (Form SS-4481) is — again — $20. LLC naming itself is governed by T.C.A. § 48-249-106: the name must contain "limited liability company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." and generally must be distinguishable upon the Secretary of State's records.
The one place Tennessee gets expensive is formation: the LLC filing fee is $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum — and the annual report works the same way, again with a $300 minimum. A six-member LLC pays $300; a ten-member LLC pays $500. Keep that math in mind when deciding how many members go on the formation papers.
Tennessee Business Name Requirements
✓ Name Requirements
- • LLCs must include "LLC", "L.L.C." or "Limited Liability Company"
- • Corporations must include "Inc.", "Corp.", "Co." or "Incorporated"
- • Generally must be distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of State from existing entities and reserved names
- • Cannot suggest a government affiliation
- • Cannot be misleading about business purpose
- • Governed by T.C.A. § 48-249-106 (LLCs) and § 48-14-101 (corporations)
✗ Restricted Words
- • "Bank" — banking terms generally require approval from the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions
- • "Trust" — implies trust-company powers — Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions review is generally required
- • "Credit Union" — restricted to chartered credit unions overseen by the Department of Financial Institutions
- • "Savings" — savings-institution wording is generally reviewed by the Department of Financial Institutions
- • "Insurance" — insurance-related names are typically reviewed under Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance rules
- • "Olympic" — federally protected under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act
How to Check Name Availability in Tennessee
Use the tool above to open the Tennessee Secretary of State — Business Information Search search and look up existing LLCs, corporations, and reserved names. Everything name-related in Tennessee costs a flat $20 — reserving a name, registering an assumed name, and renewing it. The LLC filing fee is the outlier: $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum.
Search the USPTO database at uspto.gov — clearing the Tennessee registry does not protect you from a federal trademark claim.
Check that the matching .com domain is available before you commit — renaming an LLC later means an amendment filing and new bank paperwork.
Confirm your name is free on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn so your branding stays consistent everywhere.
Tennessee lets you reserve a name for Four months (120 days) for $20 — Form SS-9425 — e-file at tncab.tnsos.gov, mail, or walk-in.
What Registering a Name Costs in Tennessee
| Filing | State Fee | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation filing | $300 | One-time |
| Annual report / recurring fee | $300 | Yearly |
| Name reservation | $20 | Holds the name Four months (120 days) |
| Assumed Name | File an Application for Registration of Assumed Name (Form SS-4402) with the Secretary of State for $20 — online at tnbear.tn.gov. It lasts 5 years and renews for another $20 (Form SS-4481). | |
State filing fees as of 2026. See the Tennessee LLC tax and fee calculator for the full annual cost picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a business name is taken in Tennessee for free?
Search the Tennessee Secretary of State's business information search at tnbear.tn.gov — it is free and covers LLCs, corporations, reserved names, and registered assumed names in one database. Try your key words in several combinations, and check whether close matches are active or inactive. Finish with a web and USPTO trademark search, since Secretary of State acceptance gives you no trademark rights.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Tennessee?
A Tennessee name reservation costs a flat $20 and holds the name for four months. File Form SS-9425 online through the TNCaB portal at tncab.tnsos.gov, by mail, or in person at the Secretary of State's office. Note that the form does not state whether the reservation can be renewed, so plan to file your formation documents within the four-month window.
What suffix does a Tennessee LLC name need?
Under T.C.A. § 48-249-106, a Tennessee LLC name must contain "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "LLC" or "L.L.C." Corporations follow T.C.A. § 48-14-101 and must include "corporation," "incorporated," or "company," or an abbreviation of one of those words. In both cases the name generally must be distinguishable upon the Secretary of State's records from existing and reserved names.
How do I register an assumed name (DBA) in Tennessee?
File an Application for Registration of Assumed Name, Form SS-4402, with the Tennessee Secretary of State — online at tnbear.tn.gov — for $20. The registration is valid for five years and renews for another $20 using Form SS-4481. Because Tennessee registers assumed names at the state level, they appear in the same searchable database as entities, but registration still grants no exclusive rights to the name.
Why does Tennessee's LLC filing fee vary?
Tennessee charges $50 per LLC member at formation, with a minimum of $300 and a maximum of $3,000 — so an LLC with one to six members pays $300, while a ten-member LLC pays $500. The annual report uses the same per-member structure with its own $300 minimum. This is unusual: most states charge a flat formation fee regardless of how many members the LLC has.
Can I renew a Tennessee name reservation?
Tennessee's reservation form (SS-9425) does not state whether reservations are renewable, so do not count on an extension. The safest approach is to treat the four-month window as a hard deadline: finish your formation paperwork and file within it. If you miss the window, the name returns to the available pool and you would need to reserve it again — assuming no one else takes it first.
Related Tools
TN LLC Tax & Fee Calculator
Estimate your TennesseeLLC's filing fee, annual report costs, and recurring state charges before you form.
Tennessee Quarterly Tax Calculator
Calculate the estimated quarterly taxes you'll owe as a Tennessee business owner or freelancer.
Business Name Generator
Name taken? Generate unique, memorable alternatives for your Tennessee business with AI.
Business Entity Search Directory
Official Secretary of State search portals for all 50 states — look up any registered company.
Checking a Name in Another State?
Searching Tennessee Business Names: TN Bear and TNCaB
Start at tnbear.tn.gov, the Secretary of State's free business information search. It covers active and inactive entities, reserved names, and registered assumed names, with filing histories and document images. Because assumed names live in the same system, you get a fuller picture in one search than in states that scatter DBAs across counties.
For filings, Tennessee has been moving to TNCaB (tncab.tnsos.gov) — the Tennessee Certifications and Business filing portal — where you can e-file a name reservation, formation documents, and more. Mail and walk-in filing remain available for every form if you prefer paper.
As always, the registry only tells you what is registered in Tennessee. Round out your check with a web search and a USPTO trademark search before printing signage — Secretary of State acceptance is not trademark clearance.
Tennessee Naming Rules Under T.C.A. § 48-249-106
A Tennessee LLC name must contain "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "LLC" or "L.L.C." under T.C.A. § 48-249-106. Corporations, under § 48-14-101, must include "corporation," "incorporated," or "company," or an abbreviation. The name generally must be distinguishable upon the Secretary of State's records from every existing entity and reserved name.
Distinguishability works the usual way: changing punctuation, spacing, or the designator rarely clears a conflict; changing a substantive word does. If your search turns up a close call, have a fallback name ready before you pay any filing fee.
Regulated words add review time. Banking, trust, savings, and credit-union terms generally route through the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, and insurance wording is typically reviewed under Department of Commerce and Insurance rules. Names implying an unlawful purpose are rejected outright.
The Flat-$20 System: Reservations and Assumed Names in Tennessee
A Tennessee name reservation costs $20 and holds the name for four months. File Form SS-9425 online at tncab.tnsos.gov, by mail, or in person. One caution: the form does not say whether a reservation can be renewed, so treat the four months as a hard deadline and plan your formation filing inside it.
The assumed name works the same way price-wise: Form SS-4402, $20, filed online at tnbear.tn.gov, valid for five years, renewable for another $20 with Form SS-4481. Because assumed names are registered at the state level, they appear in the same searchable database as entities — a genuine convenience for name checking.
The flat-$20 pattern breaks at formation: Tennessee charges $50 per LLC member with a $300 floor and a $3,000 ceiling, and the annual report repeats that structure with its own $300 minimum. For most small LLCs (six members or fewer), that means $300 to form and $300 per year.
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