How to start an LLC in Georgia
Every step to form your LLC in Georgia, with the state's fees and the official page for each. Checked against the state's own pages on September 30, 2026.
- Filing fee
- $110
- Regular report
- $60
- What you file
- Articles of Organization
- Where
- The Georgia Secretary of State
Get the free checklist It follows these steps with you, for your business, and keeps track of what's done.
What an LLC costs in Georgia
| Filing Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State | $110 |
|---|---|
| The regular report that keeps it in good standing | $60 |
| An EIN from the IRS | Free |
| A registered agent | Free if you're your own; a service charges a yearly fee |
The state's fees only. Card or handling fees, a registered agent service, local licenses and taxes come on top where they apply. Checked against official sources on September 30, 2026. It's general information, not legal or tax advice.
Step by step
In the order most owners do them. Each step says where it happens and links to the official page.
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With the state
Check your name is free
Search the Georgia Secretary of State's business records to check no business already uses your name, or one too close to it. An LLC's name must also end with "LLC" or a similar ending.
-
Your records
Choose a registered agent
Every LLC and corporation in Georgia needs a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Georgia who receives legal papers and state notices for it. You can be your own, or pay a registered agent service.
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With the state
File your Articles of Organization
File them with the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division; online is quickest, with an account on their eCorp site, or you can file by mail. The fee is $110 (a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge) either way. Once they're filed, your business exists.
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Your records
Write an operating agreement
It sets out who owns the LLC, how decisions are made and what happens if someone leaves. It isn't filed with the state: keep it with your records. A lawyer can help you write one.
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With the IRS
Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is your business's tax number, for taxes, hiring and a bank account. Apply once your Articles of Organization are filed. It's free from the IRS: with a Social Security number or ITIN, you can apply on the IRS's own site and get it at once. Watch out for look-alike sites that charge for it.
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With the state
Register for state taxes
If you'll sell taxable goods or services, or hire employees, register with the Georgia Department of Revenue online through the Georgia Tax Center. Employers also have unemployment insurance responsibilities with the Georgia Department of Labor.
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City or county
Check local licenses and permits
Georgia's Secretary of State notes that almost every business also needs a city or county business license. Some occupations and professions are licensed by the state, and your city or county may need permits or zoning approval. The First Stop Business Information Center (404-656-2817) can help you find what applies.
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Your records
Open a business bank account
Keep the business's money apart from your own: it keeps your records clear at tax time, and keeps the LLC separate from you. Banks usually ask for your filed Articles of Organization and your EIN.
-
With the state
Put the annual registration in your calendar
Every Georgia LLC files an annual registration with the Secretary of State between January 1 and April 1 each year, starting the year after it's formed. The fee is $60 (a $50 filing fee plus a $10 service charge), and filing late adds a $25 penalty. An LLC that doesn't file can be administratively dissolved.
Questions about an LLC in Georgia
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Georgia?
The state's fee to file Articles of Organization is $110. To stay in good standing, it also files a regular report, which costs $60. An EIN from the IRS is free.
Does Georgia require a yearly report for an LLC?
Yes. Georgia asks every LLC for a regular report to stay in good standing. It costs $60, and the step below says when it's due and where to file it.
Can I form an LLC in Georgia myself?
Yes. You file Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State and pay the state's fee, and the steps above show where. You don't need a lawyer, though one can advise on your situation. PressUp's free checklist follows these steps with you.
Is this legal or tax advice?
No. PressUp isn't a law firm or an accountant. This guide is general information from Georgia's official pages, checked on September 30, 2026. For advice about your own situation, ask a lawyer or an accountant.
Where this comes from
Georgia's official pages, read on September 30, 2026:
- sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-register-domestic-entity
- sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/filing-fees-and-expedited-processing-document-filings
- sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-file-annual-registration
- sos.ga.gov/page/business-division-faq
- sos.ga.gov/page/first-stop-business-information-center
- georgia.gov/document/document/filing-procedure-corporationpdf/download
- maconbibb.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Trade-Name-Registration.pdf
- dor.georgia.gov/taxes/register-new-business-georgia
- gtc.dor.ga.gov/_/
LLC guides for other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming