How to Start an LLC in Georgia (2026 Guide) | Start a Business in Georgia

Georgia charges $100 to file your LLC online. The form takes about ten minutes to fill out. You’ll have an approved LLC in roughly seven business days — faster if you pay for expedited processing. That’s the short version.

Here’s the longer one — every step, every form name, every URL, every dollar amount, laid out so you can get this done in a single sitting.

What You Need Before You Start

Get three things sorted before you touch any paperwork:

Your LLC name. Have a first choice and a backup. You’ll check availability in Step 1.
Your registered agent decision. That’s the person or service that receives legal mail on behalf of your LLC. You can be your own agent, or pay a service $39-199/year. More on this in Step 2.
Your management structure. Member-managed (all owners run the business) or manager-managed (one or more designated managers run it). Most small LLCs go member-managed. You’ll pick this on the filing form.

Total cost: $100 state filing fee online + $0-39 for a formation service + $60/year Annual Registration starting the following year. That’s it. No franchise tax, no hidden charges.

Time commitment: About 30 minutes of active work. Then roughly 7 business days for the Corporations Division of the Georgia Secretary of State to approve your filing — unless you pay for expedited processing.

Step 1 — Choose Your Georgia LLC Name

Your name must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” somewhere in it. That’s a hard legal requirement under the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act (O.C.G.A. Title 14, Chapter 11).

Before you file anything, check whether the name is available. Go to the Georgia eCorp portal:

https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/

Click on the business search function, type in your desired name, and hit search. Takes 30 seconds. The name must be distinguishable from any existing registered entity in Georgia — meaning it can’t be identical or confusingly similar to a name already on file with the Secretary of State.

If your name is available and you’re ready to file today, skip straight to Step 2. No need to reserve it.

If you’re not ready to file yet, you can reserve the name for 30 days for $25. But honestly, if you’re reading this guide, you’re probably filing today. Save the twenty-five bucks.

One thing to skip: Don’t pay a formation service to run a name search for you. The eCorp tool is free, public, and gives you the same results they’d get.

Georgia Name Restrictions

A few names you can’t use without extra approvals:

“Bank,” “trust,” “insurance” and similar terms require licensing from the appropriate Georgia regulatory agency
“University,” “college” require authorization from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
The name can’t imply the LLC is a government agency

Georgia is less restrictive than some states on naming, but stay away from regulated industry terms unless you actually hold the licenses.

Step 2 — Pick Your Registered Agent

Georgia Code O.C.G.A. §14-11-209 requires every LLC to have a registered agent. This is the person or entity designated to receive service of process (lawsuits, government notices, tax documents) on your LLC’s behalf.

The requirements are simple but non-negotiable:

Must have a physical street address in Georgia. No PO Boxes.
Must be available during normal business hours to accept documents in person.

You have three options:

Option A: Be your own registered agent. Free. But your home address goes on the public Secretary of State record, and you need to be physically available at that address during business hours. If you work from home and don’t mind a public address, this works fine.

Option B: Use someone you know. A friend, family member, or business partner with a Georgia street address. Also free. But they need to understand the responsibility — missed legal documents can mean default judgments against your LLC.

Option C: Use a commercial registered agent service. Costs $50-199/year. Your address stays off public records. They handle everything professionally. If you don’t have a Georgia office or you value privacy, this is the move.

Two solid options here: Northwest Registered Agent bundles LLC formation for $39 plus state fees and includes a full year of registered agent service free. ZenBusiness starts at $0 for formation (plus state fees) with registered agent available as an add-on. Both handle the eCorp paperwork for you if you’d rather not do it yourself.

For a detailed comparison, check out our review of the best LLC formation services for Georgia.

Step 3 — File Your Articles of Organization

This is the actual filing that creates your LLC. Georgia calls this document the Articles of Organization.

You have two ways to file:

Option 1: File Online (Recommended)

Go to the Georgia eCorp portal: https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/

Create an account if you don’t have one. Then select the option to form a new domestic LLC.

The online form asks for:

LLC name (the one you searched in Step 1)
Registered agent name and street address (from Step 2)
Principal office address (can be your home address)
Management structure (member-managed or manager-managed)
Organizer name and address (that’s you)
Mailing address for the LLC

Filing fee: $100 online. Pay by credit card.

Processing time: approximately 7 business days. Need it faster? Georgia offers expedited processing:

2-business-day processing: $100 additional
Same-day processing: $250 additional

Those expedited fees are on top of the $100 filing fee. So same-day gets you an approved LLC for $350 total. Worth it if you need to move fast — say, you’re about to sign a lease or close a client contract. Otherwise, standard processing is fine.

Option 2: File by Mail

Download the Articles of Organization form from the Georgia Secretary of State website. Fill it out — same information as the online form. Mail it to:

Corporations Division Georgia Secretary of State 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE Suite 313 Floyd West Tower Atlanta, GA 30334

Include a check or money order for $110 payable to “Georgia Secretary of State.” Yes, it’s $10 more by mail.

Mail filing takes longer. Expect 2-3 weeks including mail transit time. There’s no real advantage to filing by mail unless you don’t have internet access, and if you’re reading this, you do.

If you’d rather not deal with the eCorp portal yourself

A formation service like Northwest or ZenBusiness will file the Articles of Organization on your behalf. You fill out their simpler intake form, they handle the state submission. Northwest charges $39 plus the $100 state fee. ZenBusiness starts at $0 plus the state fee. Both get the job done.

Step 4 — Get Your EIN (Free)

Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is essentially a Social Security number for your business. You need it to:

Open a business bank account
Hire employees
File federal tax returns for the LLC

Apply directly on the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online

It’s free. Always has been, always will be. The online application takes about 15 minutes, and you get your EIN immediately when you finish.

The IRS online EIN application is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time.

Do not pay a formation service, lawyer, or anyone else to get your EIN. Some services charge $50-100 for this. It’s a free government form. You’re filling in your name, address, and business type. That’s it.

Step 5 — Create Your Operating Agreement

Georgia doesn’t legally require an operating agreement. But you should have one anyway. Here’s why.

An operating agreement defines the rules of your LLC: who owns what percentage, how profits get split, who makes decisions, and what happens if a member wants to leave or the LLC dissolves.

Without one, Georgia’s default LLC statutes govern your business. Those defaults might not match what you and your co-owners actually agreed to. Even single-member LLCs need an operating agreement — it reinforces the legal separation between you and your business, which is the whole point of having an LLC.

Banks often ask for a copy when you open a business account. Some won’t let you open one without it.

Your options for getting one:

Free templates are available online. A basic single-member operating agreement is straightforward enough that a template works fine for most people.
Northwest Registered Agent includes a customizable operating agreement template with their formation package.
A lawyer can draft a custom agreement for $500-1,500. Worth it if you have multiple members with complex ownership arrangements or significant assets. Overkill for a solo freelancer or side business.

Step 6 — Open a Business Bank Account

Mixing personal and business money is the fastest way to lose your LLC’s liability protection. Courts call it “piercing the corporate veil,” and it happens when a business owner treats the LLC’s bank account like their personal piggy bank.

Open a dedicated business checking account. Bring these to the bank:

EIN confirmation letter (from Step 4 — you can print it immediately)
Approved Articles of Organization (from your eCorp account after approval)
Operating agreement (from Step 5)
Government-issued photo ID

Where to open it depends on what you need:

Online banks like Relay or Mercury offer no-fee business accounts, solid integrations with accounting software, and quick setup. Good if you don’t need to deposit cash.

Local Georgia credit unions like Georgia’s Own Credit Union or Delta Community Credit Union often have lower fees than big banks and more personal service. Worth checking if you want a relationship with a local banker.

Big banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Truist) have the widest ATM and branch networks across Georgia. Usually come with monthly fees unless you maintain a minimum balance.

Pick what fits your business. Don’t overthink it — you can always switch later.

Georgia LLC Ongoing Requirements

Your LLC is formed. Now keep it in good standing.

$60 Annual Registration. This is due between January 1 and April 1 each year — not on your formation anniversary like some states. The fee breaks down to $50 base registration plus a $10 online service fee. Every LLC in Georgia pays this regardless of revenue or when they filed.

File your Annual Registration through the eCorp portal at https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/. You’ll confirm your registered agent, principal office address, and other basic information.

Miss the deadline and the Secretary of State will administratively dissolve your LLC. Georgia doesn’t mess around here. A dissolved LLC loses its liability protection and its legal authority to do business. You can reinstate, but it costs more and creates a gap in your protection. Set a calendar reminder for January — pay the $60 before April 1.

A few things Georgia doesn’t require:

No franchise tax. Some states hit LLCs with steep annual franchise taxes (California’s $800/year minimum is the poster child for this). Georgia doesn’t have one. The $60 Annual Registration is your only recurring state fee.
No separate annual report. The Annual Registration doubles as your annual report. One filing, one fee.

Georgia state taxes. Georgia has a graduated state income tax ranging from 1% to 5.49%. Your LLC’s income passes through to your personal return and is taxed at your individual rate. If you’re selling goods, Georgia’s state sales tax is 4%, but local jurisdictions add their own — combined rates can reach up to 8.9% depending on where you operate. Register with the Georgia Department of Revenue for state tax obligations.

Local business licenses. Your city or county may require a local business license or occupation tax certificate. This varies by location — Atlanta has different requirements than Savannah, which differs from Augusta. Check with your local government.

How Much Does a Georgia LLC Cost? (Full Breakdown)

Item	One-Time	Annual	Notes
Articles of Organization (online)	$100	—	Required. Filed through eCorp.
Articles of Organization (mail)	$110	—	Alternative to online filing.
Annual Registration	—	$60	Due Jan 1 - Apr 1 every year.
Registered Agent Service	—	$50-199	Optional. Free if you serve as your own.
Formation Service	$0-39	—	Optional. Northwest is $39; ZenBusiness starts at $0.
EIN (IRS)	$0	—	Always free. Don’t pay anyone for this.
Operating Agreement	$0-150	—	Free templates available. Lawyer-drafted costs more.
Name Reservation	$25	—	Optional. Only if you’re not filing right away. 30 days.
Expedited Processing (2-day)	$100	—	Optional. Standard processing is ~7 business days.
Expedited Processing (same-day)	$250	—	Optional. For when you need it yesterday.

Realistic first-year total: $100-349 depending on your choices. The only truly mandatory costs are the $100 filing fee and the $60 Annual Registration (which you’ll owe in the next Jan-Apr window).

For comparison: a California LLC costs $70 to file but $800/year in franchise tax. Virginia runs $100 to file plus $50/year. Delaware is $90 to file plus $300/year. Georgia sits solidly in the affordable column — especially since there’s no franchise tax.

FAQ

How long does it take to form an LLC in Georgia?

Standard online filing through the eCorp portal takes approximately 7 business days. Pay an extra $100 for 2-business-day processing or $250 for same-day processing. Mail filings take 2-3 weeks including transit time. The actual form takes about 10 minutes to fill out.

Do I need a business license for my Georgia LLC?

Georgia doesn’t issue a general statewide business license. But your city or county almost certainly requires a local business license or occupation tax certificate. Some industries (contractors, food service, healthcare) also need state-level professional licenses through Georgia’s Professional Licensing Boards. Check with your local government and the Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Division for your specific situation.

Can I be my own registered agent in Georgia?

Yes. You must have a physical street address in Georgia (not a PO Box) and be available during normal business hours to accept legal documents. The tradeoff: your home address becomes part of the public Secretary of State record, searchable by anyone. If privacy matters to you or you’re not reliably at one address during business hours, a commercial registered agent service is worth the $50-199/year.

What’s the difference between an LLC and a sole proprietorship in Georgia?

A sole proprietorship offers zero liability protection — if someone sues the business, your personal assets (house, car, savings) are fair game. An LLC creates a legal wall between your personal assets and business liabilities. An LLC also gives you more flexibility on how you’re taxed (you can elect to be taxed as an S-corp, for example). The filing cost is $100. For most people, the liability protection alone is worth it.

Can I form a Georgia LLC if I don’t live in Georgia?

Yes. There’s no residency requirement. You’ll need a registered agent with a physical Georgia address, which means you’ll almost certainly need a commercial registered agent service since you won’t have a Georgia address yourself. Everything else — the filing, the EIN, the bank account — can be done remotely. Many out-of-state business owners form Georgia LLCs because the costs are low and there’s no franchise tax.

Does a single-member LLC need an operating agreement?

Georgia law doesn’t require it, but you should absolutely have one. A single-member operating agreement documents that your LLC is a separate legal entity from you personally. Without it, a court could more easily “pierce the veil” and hold you personally liable for business debts. It also makes opening a bank account easier — many banks ask for a copy. Free templates take 15 minutes to customize.

What happens if I don’t file the Annual Registration?

The Secretary of State will administratively dissolve your LLC. Georgia’s deadline is April 1 each year, and they don’t give a long grace period. A dissolved LLC loses its liability protection and its legal authority to do business in Georgia. You can reinstate, but it costs more and creates a gap in your protection. Set a calendar reminder for January. Pay the $60.

What to Do Right After Filing

Your Articles of Organization are approved. Your LLC exists. Here’s your immediate checklist:

Download your approved Articles of Organization from the eCorp portal. Keep a copy with your business records.
Apply for your EIN at IRS.gov. Do this the same day.
Draft your operating agreement. Even a simple template version. Do it before you forget.
Open a business bank account within the first week. Start clean — every business dollar goes through the business account.
Check your local business license requirements. Call your city or county government office.
Register with the Georgia Department of Revenue if you’re collecting sales tax or have employees.
Set a calendar reminder for your Annual Registration — due between January 1 and April 1.

That’s the whole process. Six steps, $100 to the state, and a half hour of your time. Your Georgia LLC is real, legal, and ready to operate.