Business obligations
AboutEspañol
Plan for Memphis, TN

Starting a Business in Memphis: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist

A step-by-step plan to open a business in Memphis: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.

Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.
Details

Permits and registrations specific to Memphis, TN

Sales tax permitTennessee sales and use tax registration
City of MemphisHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Shelby CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Local licenses and permits to obtain
  • Obtain Memphis / Shelby County business license · Shelby County Clerk, Business Tax Division (city)
  • File Shelby County business personal property return · Shelby County County Assessor of Property (county)
  • File the Shelby County hotel/motel occupancy tax return · Shelby County Clerk (county)
Register with these Tennessee agencies

Startup sequence and prerequisites in Memphis

Based on your selections, this plan has 25 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.

Do these first

  1. Maintain a registered agent in Tennessee
  2. File formation documents with the Tennessee Secretary of State
  3. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Then, once those are done

  • Register for unemployment insurance (Tennessee) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Tennessee sales and use tax registration (Tennessee) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Register for and file Tennessee entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • City/county business license (Business Tax) — Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain food service establishment / health permit — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Ensure certified food protection manager on staff — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Memphis — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain Memphis / Shelby County business license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Report new hires to the Tennessee new hire directory — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Display required federal labor law posters — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Complete Form I-9 for each new hire — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Display required Tennessee workplace notices — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Start planObligations (24)
Government fees

Known charges: $300.00 per year.

Total incomplete: some fees unknown

23 of 25 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 2 steps with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule. Fees that depend on your situation: File wage reports and pay unemployment insurance contributions (Tennessee).

File formationOct 25, 2026in 7 days
Ready to operateJan 1, 2027in 75 days
Opening dateNot setAdd a target opening date to check the plan fits
Progress0 / 25Saved in this browser

Things the formation documents depend on: a registered agent and any professional approvals.

Suggested planning date: Oct 25, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked

File the formation documents with the state.

Suggested planning date: Nov 8, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Maintain a registered agent in Tennessee

Obtain the EIN (and apply for tax-exempt status, for nonprofits). Most registrations need it.

Suggested planning date: Nov 11, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: File formation documents with the Tennessee Secretary of State

State tax accounts, trade name, foreign qualification and publication requirements.

Suggested planning date: Nov 25, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 25, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 25, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Licenses and permits you need before you operate: state, industry, local and professional.

Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 25, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Statutory deadline: Dec 25, 2026 · in 68 days
One-time
not individually checked
Applies because: Business is located in Memphis, TN. Schedule: Within 20 days after commencing business.After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Insurance, employment paperwork, new-hire reporting and workplace notices.

Suggested planning date: Jan 1, 2027
Per event
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Jan 1, 2027
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Jan 1, 2027
Per event
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Jan 1, 2027
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Recurring filings and payments, in the order they fall due.

Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · in 13 days
Quarterly
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31.
Statutory deadline: Nov 1, 2026 · in 14 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Applies because: Business operates in TN. Schedule: November 1.
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 105 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: January 31.
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 105 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: January 31.
Statutory deadline: Mar 1, 2027 · in 134 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Applies because: Business is located in Shelby County, TN. Schedule: March 1.
Statutory deadline: Apr 1, 2027 · in 165 days
fee $300.00
Annual
checked Oct 13, 2026
Applies because: llc formed in TN. Schedule: First day of the 4th month after fiscal year end (April 1).
Statutory deadline: Apr 15, 2027 · in 179 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Federal tax treatment is sole_prop. Schedule: April 15.
Monthly
not individually checked
Quarterly
checked Oct 13, 2026
Monthly
not individually checked
Suggested planning dates are allowances, not agency processing times. Statutory deadlines come from the rules and are labeled as such.

Common questions about Memphis

The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Memphis:

  • Contractor licensing: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
  • Real estate licensing: Tennessee Real Estate Commission
  • Alcohol licensing: Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission
  • Child care licensing: Tennessee Department of Human Services
  • Health facility licensing: Tennessee Department of Health
  • Obtain Memphis / Shelby County business license (Shelby County Clerk, Business Tax Division, city)
  • File Shelby County business personal property return (Shelby County County Assessor of Property, county)
  • File the Shelby County hotel/motel occupancy tax return (Shelby County Clerk, county)

With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: Tennessee sales and use tax registration (Tennessee); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; City/county business license (Business Tax) — Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Memphis; Obtain Memphis / Shelby County business license. Change the industry above to see yours.

Sources: sos.tn.gov, tn.gov, tn.gov

In your plan for Memphis, requirements come from four levels. Tennessee sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.

  • Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
  • State (11): Maintain a registered agent in Tennessee; File Annual Report (Tennessee); Register for and file Tennessee entity-level taxes; Tennessee sales and use tax registration (Tennessee)…
  • County (2): Obtain food service establishment / health permit; File Shelby County business personal property return
  • City (3): City/county business license (Business Tax) — Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Memphis; Obtain Memphis / Shelby County business license

Sources: sos.tn.gov, tn.gov

  • Register for unemployment insurance with Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
  • Workers' compensation: Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Required when: 5 employees (1 in construction)
  • Your plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the Tennessee new hire directory; Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required Tennessee workplace notices.

Sources: tn.gov, tn.gov

We use cookies for analytics (Google Analytics and PostHog) to see which pages help. Nothing loads until you choose. Privacy policy