Georgia LLCs are relatively inexpensive — especially when you consider that an LLC can protect your personal assets and help grow your business. That’s why forming an LLC is the best choice for most small businesses.
The cost to form an LLC in Georgia starts at $100. This covers the primary cost of officially registering your LLC with the state.
Read our LLC Cost in Georgia guide below to learn more about LLC costs and other fees associated with all Georgia businesses.
Save Time With a Professional Service:
You can form an LLC yourself and save a little money or use a professional service and save a lot of time.
Northwest ($29 plus state fees)
How Much Is an LLC in Georgia?
Georgia LLC Filing Fee: $100+
To form an LLC in Georgia, you'll need to file the Articles of Organization (Form CD 030) with the Secretary of State. The Georgia Secretary of State charges a $100 fee to process and record this document online and $110 by mail.
You can complete this process yourself with our How to Start an LLC guide or use an LLC formation service.
Registered Agent Fee
Every Georgia LLC must appoint a registered agent. Your Georgia registered agent must be a resident of Georgia and must be available to receive service of process during normal business hours at a designated street address.
You can be your own registered agent in Georgia, or you can use a registered agent service for a minimal cost.
Recommended: Get free registered agent services for one year when you form an LLC with Northwest ($29 plus state fees).
Georgia Annual Registration Fee: $50+
Georgia requires LLCs to file an annual registration with the Secretary of State each year. The cost of filing this annual report is $50 online and $60 by mail.
Cost to Form a Foreign LLC in Georgia: $225+
LLCs registered in another state that want to expand into the state of Georgia must register as a foreign LLC in Georgia.
The cost for registering a Georgia foreign LLC is $225 online and $235 by mail. You can register a foreign LLC in Georgia by filing an Application for Certificate Of Authority for Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form CD 241).
Business Licenses and Permits
Your business might need federal, state, and local permits/licenses to legally operate in Georgia, depending on your industry and geographical location. This is true whether you form an LLC or any other type of business structure.
Learn more about state and local licensing in our Georgia business license guide.
Other Georgia Business Filing Fees
There are fees associated with other, optional business filings in Georgia.
‘Doing Business As’ (DBA) Name
When an LLC is registered with the state, the LLC’s name is also officially registered. Some business owners choose to also file for a DBA name, known as a trade name in Georgia.
File a Trade Name Application with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county your business is located and pay the required filing fee to create a name other than your legal LLC business name. This filing fee varies by county.
After filing a Trade Name Application, Georgia also requires that you publish a notice of the DBA filing for two consecutive weeks in the county newspaper. You are required to keep a copy of the published notice as proof. You’ll also need to pay for the cost of the advertisement directly to the newspaper.
Learn more in our Georgia DBA guide.
Certified Document Copies
You can get certified copies of your Georgia business documents online or by mail by ordering through the Secretary of State. The cost is $10 for up to 50 pages and then $0.25 per page thereafter.
Certificate of Existence
Also known as a Georgia Certificate of Good Standing, you can obtain this document by ordering online through the Secretary of State and paying the $10 fee. A Certificate of Existence is often required by banks and lenders.
Recommended: Learn more about LLC formation services in our Best LLC Services review.
How to Start an LLC in Georgia
Forming an LLC yourself is easy; just follow the five steps below.
Five Basic Steps to Start an LLC in Georgia
Step 1: Name Your Georgia LLC
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Step 3: File a Certificate of Formation
Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement
Step 5: Get an EIN
Step 1: Name Your Georgia LLC
When you name your Georgia LLC, you’ll need to choose a name that:
- Is available for use in the state of Georgia
- Meets Georgia naming requirements
- Is available as a web domain
Check web domain (URL) availability with GoDaddy:
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our free LLC name generator.
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Georgia LLCs are required to appoint a registered agent to receive service of process. Business owners can hire a registered agent service or appoint any Georgia resident that is 18 years or older and is available during normal business hours at a specified address to receive service of process.
Recommended: Northwest offers one full year of registered agent services with their $29 (plus state fees) LLC formation package.
Step 3: File Georgia Articles of Organization
To form an LLC in Georgia, you must file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. This can be done online with the Secretary of State or by filing Form CD 030 by mail.
For a closer look at the filing process, check out our Georgia Articles of Organization guide.
Step 4: Create an LLC Operating Agreement
Operating agreements are not required for Georgia LLCs, but it’s a good practice to have one.
An operating agreement outlines the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC, ensuring that all members are on the same page and reducing the risk of conflict down the line.
Learn more in our Georgia LLC Operating Agreement guide.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify businesses for tax purposes. Think of an EIN as a Social Security number for your LLC.
To learn how to get an EIN for free, visit our How to Get an EIN Number guide.
LLC Cost in Georgia FAQ
What is the cheapest way to start an LLC in Georgia?
The cheapest way to start an LLC in Georgia is to handle the registration process individually. In order to do this, you will need to follow these steps:
- Name your LLC
- Choose a registered agent: This can be a registered agent service or an individual.
- File the Georgia Articles of Organization: The filing fee for this is $100 and can be done online or by mail.
- Create an LLC operating agreement: This is usually not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended.
- Get an EIN: This is basically your business’s Social Security number (SSN).
How much does an LLC cost per year in Georgia?
LLCs are required to pay a $50 annual report filing fee to the Georgia Corporations Division.
The due date for the annual report is April 1. Late filings will incur a $25 penalty fee.
For a more in-depth analysis, see our How Much Does an LLC Cost? article.
How much does an LLC license cost in Georgia?
An LLC is not a business license, but a business entity. Forming an LLC in Georgia includes a filing fee of $100. Annual report fees are $50 ($60 if you file by mail).
You may be required to pay additional fees if you choose to pay for a registered agent service, an LLC formation service, or an LLC attorney.
See our How to Start an LLC in Georgia for more information on registering your business as an LLC.
Do LLCs pay taxes in Georgia?
Yes, LLCs are a “pass-through” tax entity. This means that the LLCs profits are “passed through” directly to its owner(s), who then pay income taxes independently.
This is advantageous compared to a corporation’s tax structure because it means that LLC members are not taxed twice.
Having said that, readers should keep in mind that LLCs are very flexible when it comes to how they can be taxed, and — depending on the specifics — they can choose to be taxed as a pass-through entity, a C corp, and an S corp.
For more information, see our How Is an LLC Taxed guide.
What are the tax benefits of an LLC?
The tax benefits of an LLC will depend on how you choose to be taxed, as well as on whether you are operating as a single or multi-member LLC.
Generally speaking, LLCs can choose to be taxed in several different ways, including:
- As a sole proprietorship or general partnership
- As a C corporation
- As an S corporation
See our Single-Member LLC Taxes guide for a detailed overview of the tax benefits of having an LLC as a small business.
Do I need to open a business bank account for my LLC?
Even though you do not necessarily “need” to open a bank account for your LLC, this is generally highly recommended for several reasons.
For one, having a separate bank account can allow you to maintain your LLC’s corporate veil — meaning that you will not risk losing your limited personal liability under the law. A business bank account also offers financial benefits, including the ability to build business credit more quickly and access to larger business loans.
Interested in opening a business bank account? See our review of the best banks for startups in 2024.