A Georgia registered agent must be located in Georgia and have a physical Georgia street address where legal papers, documents and official notices for your business can be delivered. Every Georgia LLC and corporation names one when it forms through the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division. The simplest time to change agents is during your annual registration ($60, filed January 1 to April 1). After that year’s registration is on file, a change costs $30 with an Amended Annual Registration (Form CD 920), per the Corporations Division fee schedule effective September 6, 2025.
Georgia’s annual deadline is strict: a company that misses it can be administratively dissolved. For most owners we recommend Mainstay Filing as registered agent, at $149 a year.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Registered Agents in Georgia (2026)
Here are our top picks for registered agent service in Georgia, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Georgia registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Registered agent service with a flat renewal price | $149/year (renews at $149) | Registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost) |
| 2 | GA Registered Agent.org | Georgia registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Georgia Registered Agent.co | Georgia registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Georgia. It costs $149/year (renews at $149) and covers registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost). The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. GA Registered Agent.org
GA Registered Agent.org is a Georgia registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Georgia Registered Agent.co
Georgia Registered Agent.co is a Georgia registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Georgia registered agent quick reference
| Topic | Georgia (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who can serve | A Georgia resident, a domestic corporation or LLC, or a foreign corporation or LLC authorized in Georgia |
| Address | A Georgia street address identical to the agent’s business office; no P.O. box or mail drop |
| Can the LLC be its own agent? | No |
| Role | Receives legal papers, documents and official notices for the business |
| Change agent with Amended Annual Registration (CD 920) | $30 ($20 + $10 service charge) (SOS fee schedule) |
| Annual registration | $60 ($50 + $10 service charge), January 1 to April 1 |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $110 ($100 + $10 service charge), online or paper |
| Missed annual registration | Administrative dissolution or revocation possible; $25 late fee on late-postmarked mail filings |
| Filing office | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division |
What is a registered agent in Georgia?
A registered agent is the person or company designated to receive legal papers, documents and official notices on behalf of a business. If someone files a lawsuit against your Georgia LLC, the summons goes to the registered agent at the registered office listed with the Secretary of State.
Because the agent’s details are public in the Georgia business search, the registered office effectively becomes the company’s legal front door. A missed delivery there can mean a missed court date, so reliability matters more than convenience.
Georgia’s registered agent requirements
Georgia’s rule for LLCs is in O.C.G.A. § 14-11-209. According to the Secretary of State’s business division FAQ, the agent may be an individual resident of Georgia, a domestic corporation or LLC, or a foreign corporation or LLC holding a certificate of authority in Georgia. The LLC cannot be its own agent. The rules in practice:
- In-state location. The state’s official LLC guide says a registered agent must be located in Georgia.
- Physical street address. The registered office must be a Georgia street address identical to the agent’s business office. A P.O. box or mail drop cannot be used, and the agent must be located at that address.
- Named at formation. The Articles of Organization (Form CD 030 for LLCs) list the registered agent and registered office.
- Kept current. If your agent’s information changes, update it, at the latest on the next annual registration.
Individuals, including owners and members, can serve as long as they have a Georgia street address and can be found there. Businesses that offer registered agent services can also serve.
How do you change your registered agent in Georgia?
Option 1: during annual registration
According to Georgia.gov, you can update registered agent information when you file your annual registration, as long as you have the new agent’s name and physical Georgia street address. The change is available through the Secretary of State’s Online Services and by mail. The faster One Click Registration option does not allow changes, so use the full filing if you are switching agents.
- Log in to eCorp between January 1 and April 1.
- Choose the full annual registration rather than One Click Registration.
- Enter the new agent’s name and Georgia street address in the registered agent section.
- Review officers and addresses, pay the annual registration fee, and submit.
There is no separate charge for changing the agent on the annual registration itself, which costs $60 ($50 plus a $10 service charge) online or on paper. A $25 late fee applies if a mailed filing is not postmarked by April 1. You can also prepay one, two or three years at once.
Option 2: a standalone change filing
Once the current year’s annual registration is on file, you change the agent with an Amended Annual Registration for LLC (Form CD 920), online through eCorp or on paper. The fee is $30: a $20 filing fee plus the $10 service charge. List the current agent for verification, then the new agent’s name and Georgia street address, and have an authorized person sign. A commercial agent will typically prepare this filing for you when you sign up.
Should you act as your own registered agent in Georgia?
Many Georgia owners name themselves, especially at formation. Weigh the practical points before you do.
| Question | If you serve yourself | If you hire an agent |
|---|---|---|
| Who sees the address? | Your Georgia street address is public | The agent’s address is public instead |
| Who accepts lawsuits? | You, at that address | Agent staff, who forward them to you |
| What if you move? | You update the agent record | Nothing changes for the state record |
| Out-of-state owner? | Not an option without a Georgia address | Works |
| Cost | $0 | Annual service fee |
Serving yourself suits owners who run a Georgia storefront or office with steady hours. If you work from home, travel, or plan to move, an agent avoids awkward deliveries and a stream of address updates.
What happens if a Georgia company ignores its registration and agent duties?
Georgia.gov warns that an LLC that misses its annual registration is administratively dissolved, and that failing to file or pay can lead to a civil suit or administrative dissolution or revocation. Because state notices and legal papers go to the address on file, an outdated registered agent is one of the most common reasons owners miss these warnings.
Reinstatement is possible in many cases, but it takes paperwork and fees that are easy to avoid by keeping the agent current.
A simple yearly checklist
- Put January 1 to April 1 on your calendar for the annual registration.
- Confirm the registered agent and its Georgia street address are still correct before you file.
- Use the full annual registration, not One Click, whenever anything has changed.
- Keep a copy of each filing and the agent’s contact details with your company records.
Related Georgia guides
For a full walkthrough of Articles of Organization and the annual registration, read how to start an LLC in Georgia. To compare structures, see how to start a business in Georgia. Before filing, check your name with the Georgia business name search guide and generate alternatives with our business name generator.
FAQs
What are the registered agent requirements in Georgia?
A Georgia registered agent must be located in Georgia and have a physical Georgia street address where legal papers, documents and official notices can be delivered. The agent can be an individual, such as an owner, or a business that provides registered agent services. A P.O. box does not meet the street address requirement.
How do I change my registered agent in Georgia?
The simplest route is your annual registration, filed between January 1 and April 1, where you can enter the new agent’s name and Georgia street address through Online Services or by mail. One Click Registration does not allow changes. You can also file a separate change in eCorp at any time.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in Georgia?
Georgia charges $30 ($20 filing fee plus a $10 service charge) for an Amended Annual Registration (Form CD 920) that changes the agent, per the fee schedule effective September 6, 2025. If you change the agent on the annual registration itself, there is no extra charge beyond the $60 registration.
Can I be my own registered agent in Georgia?
Yes, if you are a Georgia resident with a Georgia street address where you can be found to accept legal papers. The LLC itself cannot be its own agent. Your address becomes part of the public business record. Owners who live outside Georgia, travel frequently or work from home often prefer a commercial registered agent.
When is the Georgia annual registration due?
Georgia annual registrations are due between January 1 and April 1 each year, according to Georgia.gov. Mailed filings not postmarked by April 1 owe a $25 late fee, and an LLC that does not file can be administratively dissolved. Companies that already filed a multi-year registration can skip the years it covers.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Georgia?
The Georgia Secretary of State charges $110 to file Articles of Organization, a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge, whether you file online or on paper, under the fee schedule effective September 6, 2025. Paper filings include the Transmittal Form (CD 231), and a registered agent must be named in the filing.
What is the best registered agent in Georgia?
Our recommendation is Mainstay Filing at $149 per year, with the same price at renewal and the switch from your old agent handled for you. GA Registered Agent.org is an alternative at a flat $99 per year with an in-state street address and online document scans.
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