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Promote:Tennessee

Invest in Tennessee

A short guide for companies expanding into Tennessee: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.

1. Tennessee at a glance

Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance

2. Before you set up

The body that handles foreign investment and the zones, as the guide found them.

This guide does not cover the activities reserved for nationals. Before you apply, ask the body named above that handles foreign investment which activities are reserved.

Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States

3. Steps to set up

The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.

Setting up in Tennessee

  1. If your business is a corporation, register it with the Secretary of State, and register its business name with the clerk of the county where it is located.Tennessee Secretary of StateOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: SBA, Tennessee District business guide⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  2. Contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue about the state taxes your business must register for.Tennessee Department of RevenueOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: SBA, Tennessee District business guide⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  3. Get a business license from the local business license office where you plan to locate, and check the site's zoning first.Local business license officeOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: SBA, Tennessee District business guide⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  4. Contact the Department of Economic and Community Development before you commit to a site in Tennessee.Tennessee Department of Economic and Community DevelopmentOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: SelectUSA, state economic development organizations list⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

Show 4 more set-up steps
  1. Ask EDGE about payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreements, industrial revenue bonds and forgivable loans before you commit to a Memphis or Shelby County site.Economic Development Growth EngineOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: EDGE Memphis and Shelby County, financial assistance page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  2. If you import parts, ask EDGE how Foreign-Trade Zone 77, which covers all of Shelby County, would be activated for your site.Economic Development Growth EngineOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: EDGE Memphis and Shelby County, foreign-trade zone page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  3. Ask the Tennessee SBDC for free business advising on your Tennessee project.Tennessee Small Business Development CentersOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Tennessee SBDC International Trade Center, advising services⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  4. If you manufacture, ask Tennessee MEP which quality-system certifications your customers require and how long each takes.Tennessee Manufacturing Extension PartnershipOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Tennessee MEP, quality management systems page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States

4. Organizations that help investors

Start with Department of Revenue. Each card links to the organization’s own site.

Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets

Investment and business setup

Show 1 more organization

Customs and tax

Chambers and industry associations

5. Worth knowing

Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States

6. How Promote:Global helps

  • Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
  • Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
  • Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.

Turn this guide into your Tennessee project.

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Promote:Tennessee is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.

Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.