A Certificate of Existence in Tennessee verifies that a business is registered with the state and up to date on filings and fees. You may need it when applying for loans, licenses, or other transactions. The Secretary of State offers expedited processing for a fee. Obtaining the certificate typically takes 3-10 business days and costs $15-20.
Situations Requiring a Certificate of Existence
- Applying for business loans or lines of credit
- Renewing a business license
- Entering into certain business transactions
- Opening a bank account
Scam Alert
The Secretary of State warns Tennessee businesses about a scam mailer requesting payment for a "Tennessee Certificate of Existence." This mailer is fake. Legitimate certificates come directly from the Secretary of State.