To start a business in Georgia, file Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division on eCorp for $110, get a free EIN, register for sales and withholding taxes on the Georgia Tax Center, and get a local business license (occupational tax certificate) from your city or county. Every Georgia LLC and corporation then files a $60 annual registration between January 1 and April 1.
Georgia fees changed on September 6, 2025, when the Corporations Division added a $10 service charge to most filings, so older guides quoting $100 or $105 are out of date. The figures below are as of October 2026.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Business Formation Services in Georgia (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming a business 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 | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 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 $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. 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.
Fees to start a business in Georgia at a glance
| Filing | Fee (online or paper) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | $110 | $100 fee + $10 service charge |
| Articles of Incorporation | $110 | Plus a $40 newspaper notice for corporations |
| Annual registration | $60 | Due January 1 to April 1; $25 late penalty |
| Amended annual registration | $30 | Used to change your registered agent mid-year |
| Name reservation | $35 | Holds a name for 30 days |
| Source | Corporations Division fee schedule | Effective September 6, 2025 |
Which structure suits a Georgia business?
- Sole proprietorship: no state filing and no liability protection. Register a trade name with your county if you use a brand.
- General partnership: also no state filing; partners share liability.
- LLC: $110 to form, $60 a year to keep active, and protection for members’ personal assets. Georgia’s LLC annual registration doesn’t even list members or managers.
- Corporation: the same $110 to file, plus a required newspaper notice and a first annual registration within 90 days of incorporating.
The LLC is the common choice for small Georgia businesses. Our Georgia LLC guide explains the Articles of Organization in detail.
Budgeting the first two years
A Georgia LLC pays $110 to form. Its first $60 annual registration isn’t due until the January-to-April window of the following year, so state filing fees over the first two years usually come to $170. A corporation pays the same $110 plus the $40 newspaper notice, and its first $60 registration comes within 90 days. Add $35 if you reserve the name first. Local occupational tax certificates and professional licenses are separate and vary by city, county and trade.
How do you name a Georgia business?
Search the Corporations Division’s records on eCorp before you file. An LLC name must contain “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “LC” or “L.C.,” and corporations need “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” “Company,” “Limited” or an abbreviation.
A name reservation holds a name for 30 days for $35. Our Georgia business name search guide covers the search screen.
To brainstorm, use the Namechk business name generator, then check matching domains and social handles on Namechk.
Trade names in Georgia
Georgia trade names, the state’s version of a DBA, are registered with the clerk of superior court in the county where the business operates, not with the Secretary of State. Ask the clerk about the local fee and any newspaper notice that applies.
What are Georgia’s registered agent rules?
Every Georgia LLC and corporation needs a registered agent at a Georgia street address; a P.O. box or mail drop can’t be used, and the agent must actually be located there. According to the Secretary of State’s FAQ, the agent can be an individual Georgia resident, a domestic corporation or another domestic LLC, or a foreign corporation or LLC authorized in Georgia. An entity cannot be its own registered agent.
A member or officer who lives in Georgia can serve personally. If you’d rather keep your address off the record, Mainstay Filing includes a registered agent for the first year with its formation service. Georgia has no standalone change-of-agent form: you change it on the annual registration ($60) or an amended annual registration ($30). Our Georgia registered agent guide has more.
How do you file with the Georgia Secretary of State?
- Create an account on eCorp, the Corporations Division’s online system.
- Choose Articles of Organization for an LLC or Articles of Incorporation for a corporation, and enter the name, principal office, registered agent and organizer or incorporator.
- Pay $110. Paper filings cost the same since September 2025 and must include Transmittal Information Form CD 231.
- Download the filed document for your bank and tax registrations.
Corporations: publish a notice of intent to incorporate
Georgia requires every new corporation to publish a notice of intent to incorporate in the official legal organ (newspaper) of the county where its registered office is located. Per the Secretary of State’s filing procedures, you send the notice and a $40 publication fee directly to the newspaper no later than the next business day after filing. It runs once a week for two consecutive weeks. LLCs don’t have this requirement.
After formation, adopt an operating agreement or bylaws to govern ownership and decisions. For a fuller cost breakdown, see Mainstay’s Georgia LLC cost guide.
Getting an EIN
Apply on the IRS website at no cost. You’ll need it for the Georgia Tax Center and most bank accounts, so apply as soon as the Secretary of State approves your filing and keep the IRS confirmation with your company records.
Companies created in the United States are exempt from federal BOI reporting under FinCEN’s final rule, effective August 14, 2026.
Registering for Georgia taxes
The Georgia Department of Revenue registers businesses through the Georgia Tax Center (GTC), where you choose Register a New Georgia Business.
- Sales and use tax: according to the Department of Revenue, anyone meeting Georgia’s definition of a dealer must register for a sales and use tax number and certificate of registration, even if all sales are online, out of state, wholesale or exempt. The state rate is 4%, and counties add local rates on top.
- Withholding: register in GTC before your first Georgia payroll.
- Unemployment insurance: employers register with the Georgia Department of Labor and report new hires.
- Special accounts: innkeepers, fireworks sellers and prepaid wireless retailers register for additional fee accounts.
Licenses and permits for Georgia businesses
Georgia doesn’t issue a general state business license. Instead, most cities and counties require an occupational tax certificate, often called a business license, issued where your business is located. Check with your city if you’re inside city limits or your county if you’re in an unincorporated area.
Regulated professions are licensed by state boards through the Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division and other agencies, and food businesses need health department approval. Home-based businesses should also confirm zoning rules with the local planning office before opening, since many jurisdictions issue a home occupation permit alongside the occupational tax certificate.
Banking, insurance and a website
Open a business bank account in your company’s name using your filed articles and EIN, and keep business and personal money separate.
General liability insurance covers most customer-facing risks; professional liability suits service businesses; and you should set up workers’ compensation coverage before hiring. Then claim a domain that matches your name and publish a basic website.
Our picks of the best website builders
Keeping a Georgia business in good standing
- File the annual registration every year between January 1 and April 1. The fee is $60 for LLCs and profit corporations, and filing after April 1 adds a $25 penalty.
- The first annual registration for an LLC is due in the year after formation; a new corporation files its first one within 90 days of incorporating.
- You can prepay up to three years at once ($60 per year).
- If nothing has changed and you’re current, the Secretary of State’s One Click Annual Registration lets you file without logging in.
- Entities that stop filing can be administratively dissolved; reinstatement costs $260.
FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Georgia?
Filing Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State costs $110, a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge, whether you file online or on paper, under the fee schedule effective September 6, 2025. Georgia LLCs then pay $60 every year for the annual registration, due between January 1 and April 1.
When is the Georgia annual registration due?
Georgia LLCs and corporations file their annual registration between January 1 and April 1 every year. The fee is $60, and filing after April 1 adds a $25 late penalty. An LLC’s first registration is due the year after it forms, while a new corporation files its first one within 90 days of incorporating.
Do Georgia corporations have to publish a notice?
Yes. Every new Georgia corporation must publish a notice of intent to incorporate in the legal organ newspaper of the county where its registered office is located. The notice and a $40 fee go to the newspaper no later than the next business day after filing, and it runs once a week for two weeks. LLCs are not required to publish.
Where do I register a DBA in Georgia?
Georgia trade names are registered with the clerk of superior court in the county where the business is located, not with the Secretary of State. Sole proprietors and partnerships using a business name should register, and so should LLCs or corporations operating under a different name. Ask the clerk about local fees and any notice requirement.
Can my LLC be its own registered agent in Georgia?
No. The Georgia Secretary of State’s FAQ states that an entity cannot be its own registered agent. A Georgia-resident member or officer can serve, as can another Georgia company or an authorized foreign company. The agent needs a Georgia street address, not a P.O. box, and can be changed through the annual registration or a $30 amended annual registration.
Do I need a sales tax number in Georgia?
Yes, if you meet Georgia’s definition of a dealer. The Department of Revenue requires dealers to register for a sales and use tax number and certificate of registration through the Georgia Tax Center, even if all sales are online, out of state, wholesale or exempt. The state rate is 4%, plus local rates.
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