- Filing fee
- $110
- Annual Registration
- $60
- First-year gov. cost
- $110
- Publication
- Not required
The steps, in order
Pick a name Georgia will accept
Name reservations are optional but brief, lasting only 30 days.
Search existing Georgia business names before you commit. Georgia naming rules in detail.
Appoint a registered agent
Mandates a registered agent with a physical street address in the state.
You can serve as your own agent, but your address will be public. Compare Georgia registered agent options.
File the Articles of Organization
Submit it to the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division through the official filing portal and pay $110. $100 statutory fee plus a $10 service charge, applies equally to online and mail-in filings.
Processing: online 7 to 10 business days; by mail Up to 15 days. Expedite: 2-business-day processing for $100, Same-Day service for $250, and 1-hour service for $1,000..
Write an operating agreement
Not legally required to be filed; recommended to be kept internally.
Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is free from IRS.gov. You'll need it for a business bank account and, if you hire, for payroll.
Stay in good standing
File the Annual Registration ($60), due Between January 1 and April 1. $25 penalty. Georgia report deadlines.
Every Georgia LLC fee
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $110 | $100 statutory fee plus a $10 service charge, applies equally to online and mail-in filings. |
| Annual Registration | $60 | annual, Between January 1 and April 1 |
| Name reservation (optional) | $35 | 30 days |
| Change of registered agent | $0 | Can be updated during the annual registration filing without a separate form. |
| Amendment | $30 | |
| Certificate of good standing | $20 | |
| Certificate of Authority | $235 | For LLCs formed in another state |
| Certificate of Termination (Form CD 415) | $0 | |
| DBA / assumed name | $166 to $175 | county |
How Georgia compares nationally
- Georgia's filing fee of $110 is the 24th highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $104).
- Georgia's first-year government cost of $110 is the 23rd lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $125).
- Georgia's yearly cost after that of $60 is the 21st highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $45).
See every state side by side in our LLC cost by state table.
File it yourself or use a service?
Filing directly with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division costs $110 and nothing else, but you'll need a registered agent with a Georgia street address, and that address goes on the public record. A formation service files for you and acts as your agent. Here's what that adds over three years, before Georgia's own fees:
| Route | Year one with Georgia fee | 3-year service fees |
|---|---|---|
| File yourself, be your own agent | $110 | $0 |
| Northwest | $149 | $289 |
| Bizee Basic | $110 | $298 |
Bizee vs Northwest, compared · All LLC services ranked
State taxes to plan for
Standard LLCs are passthrough and do not face a specific entity-level franchise fee. Flat personal income tax rate of 4.99% on profits.
What's different about Georgia
- Allows business owners to pre-pay their Annual Registration for up to three consecutive years ($180).
- Mandates that Trade Name registrations be published in the county's legal newspaper once a week for two weeks.
- No blanket state business license; entrepreneurs secure a local business license from their specific city or county.
More Georgia LLC guides
Georgia LLC questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Georgia?
The Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division charges $110 to file the Articles of Organization. Counting mandatory first-year items, expect about $110 in government fees (Formation fee.).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Georgia?
Online: 7 to 10 business days. By mail: Up to 15 days. Expedited: 2-business-day processing for $100, Same-Day service for $250, and 1-hour service for $1,000..
Does a Georgia LLC have to file an annual report?
Yes. Georgia requires the Annual Registration, which costs $60, filed annual. Due: Between January 1 and April 1. $25 penalty.
Can I be my own registered agent in Georgia?
Yes. Mandates a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. Your agent's address becomes public record.
Does Georgia require publishing a notice for a new LLC?
No. Georgia has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs, based on our latest check.
Is an operating agreement required in Georgia?
Not legally required to be filed; recommended to be kept internally.
What taxes does a Georgia LLC pay to the state?
Standard LLCs are passthrough and do not face a specific entity-level franchise fee. Flat personal income tax rate of 4.99% on profits.
Sources and verification
Last checked against official state sources on . States change fees with little notice, so confirm on the filing portal before you pay. How we verify.