How much does it cost to start an LLC in Georgia?

The Georgia Secretary of State charges a $110 filing fee for the Articles of Organization, which covers standard 7-business-day processing. Your total first-year cost is $170 when you add the $60 annual registration fee due by April 1. For example, if you form your LLC in October 2026, your first $60 annual registration is due April 1, 2027. Plan for this within your first year of operations. Additional costs may include a registered agent service and industry-specific business licenses. Georgia taxes LLC members on their share of the profit through its personal income tax. Check the current rate with the state tax agency. Exception: professional LLCs in regulated fields such as law, medicine, or engineering must obtain a separate state professional license before operating. File your Articles of Organization online at ecorp.sos.ga.gov to receive immediate submission confirmation and the fastest processing available.

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

Georgia publishes this figure, which many states don't: 7-10 business days online; 15 paper. In the Georgia Secretary of State's own words: "Online filings are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days of receipt by the Division. Paper filings submitted by mail or hand-delivery, and paper filings submitted online are generally processed in 15 business days of receipt by the Division.". The channel you choose matters, online filings in 7-10 business days; paper and mail filings in 15 business days. Expedited service is available on top of that: $120 for Two business days, $275 for Same day (must be received by noon on a business day), and $1,200 for One hour (reviewed 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on business days). Treat this as a genuine planning figure rather than a guarantee, and confirm it on the Georgia Secretary of State's own site before committing to a date.

Do I need to publish my LLC formation in Georgia newspapers?

No, Georgia doesn't require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. Once the Georgia Secretary of State approves your Articles of Organization, your LLC is legally formed and ready to operate without any additional publication step. This is a significant cost advantage over states like New York, where mandatory newspaper publication is charged at rates the newspapers set. Arizona requires a newspaper notice of a new LLC's formation, run three consecutive times within 60 days, unless the LLC's statutory agent has a street address in a county of more than 800,000 people (currently Maricopa and Pima Counties), where the Arizona Corporation Commission posts the notice online for free. For example, a Georgia LLC formed on a Monday is fully operational by the following Wednesday with zero publication costs. Exception: certain Georgia regulated industries may have public notice requirements associated with specific professional licensing. Check with your industry's regulatory board if you operate in a licensed profession. Confirm your LLC is officially active by verifying your approval in the Georgia Secretary of State's online database at ecorp.sos.ga.gov.

Can I be my own registered agent in Georgia?

Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent for your Georgia LLC as long as you've a physical Georgia street address, P.O. boxes aren't permitted, and remain consistently available during standard business hours to receive legal documents on behalf of the LLC. For example, an Atlanta business owner operating from a commercial office can designate themselves as registered agent at no additional cost. Exception: if you work from home and prefer to keep your residential address off the public Georgia business registry, or if you travel frequently and can't reliably maintain a daytime presence at your listed address, a professional registered agent is the safer choice. Missed service of process can result in a default court judgment against your LLC. Professional registered agent services charge a yearly fee that varies by provider. Update any registered agent changes with the Georgia Secretary of State promptly to remain in good standing.

Should a Georgia LLC have an operating agreement?

This page has not confirmed whether Georgia law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement, so it does not answer yes or no. A written agreement signed by every member is worth having either way. An operating agreement is an internal document that defines ownership percentages, profit and loss allocations, management voting rights, and the process for adding or removing members. For example, two co-founders with a signed operating agreement can resolve a profit distribution dispute without litigation, saving thousands in legal fees. Exception: without a written operating agreement, Georgia's default LLC statutes under the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act govern how your business operates, which may not reflect your actual intentions as an owner. Single-member LLCs especially benefit from this document because it reinforces the legal separation between the owner and the business entity, which matters if your LLC is ever challenged in court.

What is the annual report requirement for Georgia LLCs?

Georgia LLCs must file an annual registration by April 1 each year with a $60 fee paid to the Georgia Secretary of State. For example, if your LLC is formed in September 2026, your first annual registration is due April 1, 2027, just seven months into your first year of operations. The annual registration updates your registered agent's name and address, your principal office location, and your manager or member information to keep the state record current. Filing online through the Georgia Secretary of State's portal is the fastest and most reliable method. Exception: LLCs that miss the April 1 deadline face late penalties and potential administrative dissolution if the registration remains unfiled for an extended period. There's no grace period guaranteed, so always file on time. Set a recurring calendar reminder each year for March to give yourself adequate time to complete and submit the April 1 annual registration at ecorp.sos.ga.gov.

Start Your Georgia LLC in 7 Simple Steps

Form your limited liability company quickly and affordably with Georgia's business-friendly filing process and $110 state fee.

By Edmond Hui · Last updated: October 2026

Filing an LLC in Georgia costs $110 upfront, takes 7 to 10 business days online; 15 paper, and has an annual report due April 1 ($60). See breakdown below.

Georgia's $110 LLC filing fee is lower than in 20 of the other 49 states and the same as in 2 other states

This competitive pricing makes Georgia an attractive option for entrepreneurs looking to minimize startup costs while accessing a strong business environment in the Southeast.

Source: MyStateLLC 50-state analysis 2026

Read this guide for another state:

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Form your LLC with Northwest ($39 + state fee)Includes a year of registered agent service. After year one, registered agent service is $125/yr. That enrolls you by default in annual report filing at $100 plus state fees, charged automatically to your saved payment method and cancellable any time.

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Quick Facts

State filing fee	$110
Processing time	7 to 10 business days online; 15 paper
Annual report due	April 1
Annual report fee	$60
State income tax	Yes. Members pay state income tax on pass-through profits. Check the current rate with the state tax agency.

Source: Georgia Secretary of State (verified July 2026)

Step diagram for forming an LLC in Georgia, showing the 7 required steps, $110 state filing fee, $60 annual report. — The 7 steps to form an LLC in Georgia, with the state's own filing fee and annual report cost. Source: Georgia Secretary of State, verified July 2026.

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

1
Choose a Unique LLC Name
Your Georgia LLC name must include 'Limited Liability Company,' 'LLC,' or 'L.L.C.' and be distinguishable from existing business entities in the state. Search the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division database to verify availability before filing.
How to search Georgia's business entity records →
Pro tip: Reserve your chosen name for 90 days by filing a Name Reservation form with a $25 fee if you're not ready to file immediately.
2
Designate a Registered Agent
Georgia requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal documents and official correspondence. You can serve as your own registered agent or hire a professional service.
Georgia registered agent rules, costs and options →
Pro tip: A professional registered agent service puts its address, not yours, on the registered agent line of the public filing, and accepts legal papers during business hours.
3
File Articles of Organization
Submit your Articles of Organization to the Georgia Secretary of State either online or by mail with the $110 filing fee.
What You File in Georgia
In Georgia, the formation document is the Articles of Organization (Form CD 030), filed with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division. The state filing fee is $110. Georgia lets you fill in and file the Articles of Organization online. The state's published processing time: 7 to 10 business days online; 15 paper. The form itself requires the LLC's name. Where Georgia requires its Transmittal Information Form (Form CD 231), which only some filings need, the registered agent's name, the registered office address, a mailing address, the organizer's name, the county and an email address go on that document. Every line of the Articles of Organization, field by field →
Processing Times
- Online: 7-10 business days. Online filings are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days of receipt by the Division.
- Mail: 15 business days, Paper filings ... are generally processed in 15 business days of receipt by the Division.
- Expedited: $120 for Two business days, $275 for Same day (must be received by noon on a business day), and $1,200 for One hour (reviewed 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on business days)
Pro tip: File online through the Georgia Secretary of State website for faster processing and immediate confirmation of your submission.
4
Create an Operating Agreement
This page has not confirmed whether Georgia law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement. A written agreement signed by every member is worth having either way: it records who owns what share, who makes decisions and how profits are divided. It's essential for multi-member LLCs and provides legal protection for single-member LLCs.
Georgia LLC operating agreement: what to include →
5
Obtain an EIN from the IRS
Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) directly through the IRS website at no cost. Most banks ask for this federal tax ID to open a business bank account, and the IRS requires one if the LLC hires employees, owes certain employment or excise taxes, or is taxed as a partnership or corporation.
How to get your LLC's EIN from the IRS, free →
6
Open a Business Bank Account
Separate your personal and business finances by opening a dedicated business bank account using your EIN and Articles of Organization. Georgia banks typically require these documents plus a valid photo ID to establish business accounts.
Business bank accounts for Georgia LLCs →
7
Obtain Required Business Licenses
Research and obtain any necessary business licenses or permits based on your industry and location within Georgia. Common requirements include local business licenses, sales tax permits, and professional licenses depending on your business activities.
Does your Georgia LLC need a business license? →

Watch: How to Start an LLC in Georgia (2026): Step-by-Step Guide

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each Secretary of State publishes for forming an LLC, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you what your own filing needs: fees and forms change between our reviews, several occupations cannot use an ordinary LLC at all and must use a professional entity, and your city or county may require a registration of its own. Confirm the current fee and form with the filing office named on this page before you send anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

: The Georgia Secretary of State charges a $110 filing fee for the Articles of Organization, which covers standard 7-business-day processing. Your total first-year cost is $170 when you add the $60 annual registration fee due by April 1. For example, if you form your LLC in October 2026, your first $60 annual registration is due April 1, 2027. Plan for this within your first year of operations. Additional costs may include a registered agent service and industry-specific business licenses. Georgia taxes LLC members on their share of the profit through its personal income tax. Check the current rate with the state tax agency. Exception: professional LLCs in regulated fields such as law, medicine, or engineering must obtain a separate state professional license before operating. File your Articles of Organization online at ecorp.sos.ga.gov to receive immediate submission confirmation and the fastest processing available.
: Georgia publishes this figure, which many states don't: 7-10 business days online; 15 paper. In the Georgia Secretary of State's own words: "Online filings are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days of receipt by the Division. Paper filings submitted by mail or hand-delivery, and paper filings submitted online are generally processed in 15 business days of receipt by the Division.". The channel you choose matters, online filings in 7-10 business days; paper and mail filings in 15 business days. Expedited service is available on top of that: $120 for Two business days, $275 for Same day (must be received by noon on a business day), and $1,200 for One hour (reviewed 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on business days). Treat this as a genuine planning figure rather than a guarantee, and confirm it on the Georgia Secretary of State's own site before committing to a date.
: No, Georgia doesn't require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. Once the Georgia Secretary of State approves your Articles of Organization, your LLC is legally formed and ready to operate without any additional publication step. This is a significant cost advantage over states like New York, where mandatory newspaper publication is charged at rates the newspapers set. Arizona requires a newspaper notice of a new LLC's formation, run three consecutive times within 60 days, unless the LLC's statutory agent has a street address in a county of more than 800,000 people (currently Maricopa and Pima Counties), where the Arizona Corporation Commission posts the notice online for free. For example, a Georgia LLC formed on a Monday is fully operational by the following Wednesday with zero publication costs. Exception: certain Georgia regulated industries may have public notice requirements associated with specific professional licensing. Check with your industry's regulatory board if you operate in a licensed profession. Confirm your LLC is officially active by verifying your approval in the Georgia Secretary of State's online database at ecorp.sos.ga.gov.
: Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent for your Georgia LLC as long as you've a physical Georgia street address, P.O. boxes aren't permitted, and remain consistently available during standard business hours to receive legal documents on behalf of the LLC. For example, an Atlanta business owner operating from a commercial office can designate themselves as registered agent at no additional cost. Exception: if you work from home and prefer to keep your residential address off the public Georgia business registry, or if you travel frequently and can't reliably maintain a daytime presence at your listed address, a professional registered agent is the safer choice. Missed service of process can result in a default court judgment against your LLC. Professional registered agent services charge a yearly fee that varies by provider. Update any registered agent changes with the Georgia Secretary of State promptly to remain in good standing.
: This page has not confirmed whether Georgia law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement, so it does not answer yes or no. A written agreement signed by every member is worth having either way. An operating agreement is an internal document that defines ownership percentages, profit and loss allocations, management voting rights, and the process for adding or removing members. For example, two co-founders with a signed operating agreement can resolve a profit distribution dispute without litigation, saving thousands in legal fees. Exception: without a written operating agreement, Georgia's default LLC statutes under the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act govern how your business operates, which may not reflect your actual intentions as an owner. Single-member LLCs especially benefit from this document because it reinforces the legal separation between the owner and the business entity, which matters if your LLC is ever challenged in court.
: Georgia LLCs must file an annual registration by April 1 each year with a $60 fee paid to the Georgia Secretary of State. For example, if your LLC is formed in September 2026, your first annual registration is due April 1, 2027, just seven months into your first year of operations. The annual registration updates your registered agent's name and address, your principal office location, and your manager or member information to keep the state record current. Filing online through the Georgia Secretary of State's portal is the fastest and most reliable method. Exception: LLCs that miss the April 1 deadline face late penalties and potential administrative dissolution if the registration remains unfiled for an extended period. There's no grace period guaranteed, so always file on time. Set a recurring calendar reminder each year for March to give yourself adequate time to complete and submit the April 1 annual registration at ecorp.sos.ga.gov.

Sources

5 documents

Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified Georgia sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so.

sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/filing-fees-and-expedited-processing-document-filingsGeorgia Secretary of State: business entity filings
sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/Reference%20-%20Filing%20Fees%20(Effective%209.6.2025).pdfGeorgia LLC filing fees
rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/590-7-22Georgia statute: Annual Registration
law.onecle.com/georgia/title-14/14-11-1103.htmlGeorgia statutory text, unofficial mirror: Annual Registration
ecorp.sos.ga.gov/oneClickARGeorgia Secretary of State: file the Annual Registration

More for Georgia LLCs

Ready to Form Your Georgia LLC?

$39 with Northwest, plus your $110 state fee. Northwest's $39 includes a year of registered agent service.

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Prefer to file directly? File yourself at the Secretary of State → ($110 state fee, no service fee)

Not sure which service is right? Compare formation services →

Edmond Hui · Founder, MyStateLLC

Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.

How we check facts

Start Your Georgia LLC in 7 Simple Steps

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose a Unique LLC Name

Designate a Registered Agent

File Articles of Organization

What You File in Georgia

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain an EIN from the IRS

Open a Business Bank Account

Obtain Required Business Licenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

More for Georgia LLCs

Start and set up

Taxes, money and growth

Stay compliant

Operate in other states

Compare structures

By owner type

By profession

Ready to Form Your Georgia LLC?

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose a Unique LLC Name

Designate a Registered Agent

File Articles of Organization

What You File in Georgia

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain an EIN from the IRS

Open a Business Bank Account

Obtain Required Business Licenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

More for Georgia LLCs

Start and set up

Taxes, money and growth

Stay compliant

Operate in other states

Compare structures

By owner type

By profession

Ready to Form Your Georgia LLC?

More Georgia LLC Guides

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