Georgia LLC Costs – TRUE Prices to Form a GA LLC

Get Georgia LLC for The Best Price With Professional Help

Starting a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Georgia is easy and it costs $100 to file the Articles of Organization with the state. It’s a great way to establish credibility and protect your assets. Due to its flexibility and simplicity, it’s a popular type of business structure. It can be owned by one person, called a Single-Member LLC, or it can be owned by two or more people, called Multi-Member LLC.

The costs for getting a Georgia LLC are actually below average in the whole U.S. so it makes a quite an attractive state to start your business in.

If you want to skip the hassle of starting a Georgia LLC yourself, consider using professional help:

Table Of Contents

Get Georgia LLC for The Best Price With Professional Help
Some General Reasons to Create An LLC
Georgia LLC Costs and Fees Overview
Steps for Starting an LLC in Georgia (With Full Costs)
Annual Registration for Georgia LLCs
Additional Costs and Fees
Hire a Professional Company to Start Your Georgia LLC
- Start an LLC in GA With ZenBusiness
- Start an LLC in GA With Northwest Registered Agent
Frequently Asked Questions

Some General Reasons to Create An LLC

You separate your business and personal assets. If your business is sued, creditors can only take the assets of the LLC to settle the debts and liabilities. It means that your personal assets will be safe.
You won’t need to elect a board of directors, hold board meetings, keep a record of your meetings; so, it’s a quite flexible and simple way to start to run a business.
They’re low maintenance: once they are set up, there are only a couple of fees to keep it active.
It helps you to build – and maintain – your business’ credibility.

However, entrepreneurs often get lost in the process of forming their LLC: How much does it cost? How should I start? Should I hire a professional service?

Follow our step-by-step guide to start an LLC in The Peach State: get to know the costs, the process, and some useful advice. Read to the end to save some money and time.

If you’re interested in more in-depth info, here’s our full guide on starting a Georgia LLC.

Georgia LLC Costs and Fees Overview

Forming an LLC and keeping it in good standing involves some investment. The requirements and fees will vary depending on your business activity. We have broken down those fees, so you get an idea of the real cost. Keep in mind that some requirements are mandatory: Articles of Organization, Federal EIN; while others are optional or may vary: Name Registration, DBA, Registered Agent, Business Checking Account, Insurance.

The total cost starts off at $100, and, depending on different variables such as your business activity or the professional services that you hire, it will add up. The better you set the basis of your company, the most robust it will be in the long term.

Requirement	Cost
LLC Name	$25-$172
Name Registration	$25
DBA	$172
Registered Agent	From $50 annually
Articles of Organization	$100
Federal EIN	Free
Business Checking Account	$5 to $1,000
Business Permits	Depending on the business activity
Operating Agreement	$0
Insurance	Varies
Annual Registration for Georgia LLCs	$50

Steps for Starting an LLC in Georgia (With Full Costs)

1. Name of the LLC (Price: $25-172)

Learn about the Name Availability Standards and Restricted Names sections from the Georgia Secretary of State’s website to make sure you comply with the standards and create a name for your business. You may also verify that your chosen name has not been taken yet. For this purpose, check the Secretary of State’s online business search. It is also advisable to search the United States Patent and Trademark Office to verify if the name is available nationwide.

If you have come up with an original, simple, or ideally suited name for your LLC and don’t want anyone else to take it first, you have the option to reserve the business name while you’re in the process of making your business official, this is a helpful – but not mandatory – option if you already have the perfect name idea but you’re not yet ready to register with the Georgia Secretary of State.

File a name reservation online: there is a $25 fee; by mail or in person: there’s a $35 fee. Keep in mind that you will need to provide this information: applicant name, address, and contact information; up to 3 names to be reserved – first choice, plus two additional choices in case your chosen name is already taken -.

This reservation is for a period of 30 days, if you need to continue reserving your business name, you’ll need to reapply and pay again $25.

You might want to operate under a name other than the registered name (e.g., Cindy’s Bakery and Dairy Products, LLC operating as Cookies and Cream Bakery). That being the case, you can use a DBA (“doing business as”) also known as a trade name. There is no legal benefit or legal protection that you get from registering a DBA. It is useful if – for example – you want to create different brands or separately market a new division.

Start by filing your DBA with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where your principal place of business is located. Procedures are very similar from county to county, but they do vary. It will likely require you to fill out an application form and pay a filing $172 filing fee, we advise you to contact the correct County Clerk of Superior Court for instructions.

And finally, we recommend that you buy the domain so nobody else can use it. Check to see is your business name is available as a web domain, even if you don’t plan to make a business website today. You need to use an Internet domain registrar and web hosting such as GoDaddy, prices start at $4.99.

2. Choose a Registered Agent for Your Georgia LLC (Cost: $50-$125+)

Select a registered agent for your company. A registered agent is a person, or an entity located in the state of Georgia that you have designated to receive any service of process, documents, or other official communication on behalf of the business – think of it as “the mailbox” of your LLC or the point of contact with the state. The registered agent can be an owner, shareholder, officer of the business or any individual; or you can hire a professional corporate service company for this service. Using a registered agent service will help you to avoid fines and even dissolution. Some important tasks that the registered agent service will serve include maintaining a compliance calendar and reminding you when annual reports or other filings are due and helping you file them.

What’s a Registered Agent — read our guide here.

The cost of hiring a registered agent can range between $50 to $300 per year. It will save you a lot of paperwork, stress, and it’s worth the price. Currently, you can find dozens of registered services agents in the market, we have done some research for you, and we recommend two of them with an excellent cost-value relation: ZenBusiness ($99 yearly), they offer Worry-Free Compliance, which is a service that alerts you of important compliance events, covers your annual filing, and provides expert support; and Northwest Registered Agent ($125 yearly), their main features include instant service, real-time delivery, business data protection, and some great free online tools.

3. Register With the Secretary of State (Cost: $100)

You can register an LLC online, by mail, or in person.

Register online: this can be the easiest and most low-cost way. You will need to create a user account on the Secretary of State’s online services page, click on “create or register a business”, fill out the required information about your business entity and pay the $100 filing fee by approved credit card: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover – relatively. The processing time is 7 business days, but if you need it faster, don’t worry, you have the option to pay an additional fee of $100 to have it processed in two days or even $250 to have it processed in the same business day (if submitted before noon on a weekday).

Check out our full guide and template download for LLC Articles of Organization.

Register by mail: download and fill out the Articles of Organization for LLC (CD 030) form – you can also draft your own Articles of Organization – and the Transmittal Form — Limited Liability Companies (231), and mail them along with the $110 filing fee by check or money order to:

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

The processing time is 15 business days, but you also have the option to pay an additional fee of $100 to have it processed in two days, $250 to have it processed in the same business day (if submitted before noon on a weekday) or even $1,000 to have it processed in one hour.

Register in person: like the mailing option, download and fill out the Articles of Organization for LLC (CD 030) form – or your self-drafted own Articles of Organization – and the Transmittal Form — Limited Liability Companies (231) and submit them to the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division with the $110 filing fee.The main disadvantage is that the processing time varies, however, you have the option to pay an additional fee of $100 to have it processed in two days, $250 to have it processed in the same business day (if submitted before noon on a weekday) or even $1,000 to have it processed in one hour.

In conclusion, depending on how you apply and the processing time the payment ranges between $100 and $1,000, and the form of payment can be credit card, check, cashier’s check, or money order.

If you find the registration tricky or want to avoid the paperwork, you can always get some help. Our advice is to hire an LLC formation service: a good LLC formation service that is high-quality but also offers affordable features. We recommend Zenbusiness and Northwest Registered.

4. Get a Federal EIN (Cost: FREE)

An EIN or Employer Identification Number is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to business entities. Check the IRS resources to determine if you need it or not. Keep in mind that applying to get an EIN is a free service. EINs are used for:

Tax administration: for filing a tax return by mail.
Opening a bank account: most banks will require you to have an EIN to open a business checking account.
Applying for business licenses: in some cases, you will need an EIN to apply for business licenses.
Hiring employees
Privacy: if you don’t want to use or share your Social Security Number for business matters.

What is an EIN & how to get it?

You can apply for an EIN online. We highly advise you to wait until your LLC is approved by the State of Secretary to apply for the EIN.

5. Open a Business Checking Account (Cost: $5-$1000)

It is a smart decision to open a business checking account to keep separate your personal and business assets. In general, you will need a Social Security Number, Federal EIN, and articles of organization or incorporation. To know the specific requirements, terms, and fees you need to contact a couple of banking entities. Some benefits of opening a business checking account include:

Keep track of your LLC expenses: many businesses struggle to stay on top of their business finances. By having a business bank account, you will be able to track, record, and organize expenses and incomes and have a clearer picture of your business cash flow. This is an effective financial practice for your business.

Separate your personal and business assets: it’s the cornerstone of any business’ financial foundation and is critical for legal protections. If your business and personal finances aren’t separate, your legal protections aren’t in effect which means that creditors could attack your personal assets to collect on unpaid debts.
Simplify tax reporting: if your personal and business assets are separate you can easily deduct business expenses such as travel expenses and validate tax reports.
Deposit payments under your business name and have your customers write out checks to your business.
Accept Credit Cards: it helps you to boost your sales, legitimize your business and eliminate the risk of getting bad checks.

Some banks require an opening deposit, which can range from $5 to $1,000 or more, while others allow you to open the account with $0.

6. Business Permits (Cost: Depends on each business)

There is no general state business license in Georgia, but business licensing requirements depend on your business’s activity and location. A variety of industries and professions are regulated such as accountants, dentists, veterinaries, and many more. Also at the state level, businesses that sell taxable goods or services need a Georgia seller’s permit. Check the Georgia Online Application Services to submit the application. There is no fee for a Georgia seller’s permit, however, other licenses’ fees depend on the business activity. You might need an attorney to help you determine the laws for your business and location.

7. Operating Agreements (Cost: FREE)

An LLC operating agreement isn’t required in Georgia but is highly advisable. Operating agreements lay out the rules of your business’s financial and operating procedures. Among many things, it complies with the ownership structure, how members will go about voting on business matters, the amount of money each member has invested in the business, how profits and losses are divided, how roles and ownership will be transferred if a member leaves the company and the dissolution process. The document essentially rules the internal operation of the business, and it can be tailored to company-specific needs and structure. Once you have finished agreeing and composing your operating agreement, you do not need to file it with the Secretary of State. Keep it for your records and give copies to all the members of your LLC. Fortunately, you can find many free operating agreement tools and templates online.

Operating Agreement guide and template.

8. Get Business Insurance

Business insurance involves a variety of policy types that may or may not apply to your business. They help you to protect your business from financial loss that can result from accidents, workers’ compensation claims, property damage, and other risks. Having the right insurance policies is critical in minimizing the risk of claims against your business and it covers you from many headaches in the future.

Some of the most important ones are:

Workers’ Compensation Insurance: all employers with three or more full-time or part-time employees must have Workers’ Compensation Insurance and its primary objective is to cover the cost of medical care to an employee who suffers a work-related injury. It includes emergency treatment, hospitalization, prescriptions, among others. civil
Liability insurance: provides protection against claims resulting from injuries and damage to people and property caused by your products, business operations, or employees. If you were to drop a tree in someone’s property or damage someone’s car you would be covered.
Property insurance: it will cover you against most risks to property, such as fire, theft, and some weather damage. It provides coverage for buildings, contents, equipment, and other real and personal property owned by your business.
There are some examples of the types of insurance available for your business. The cost of the insurance depends on factors such as the level of risk of your business activities, how many employees do you have, the kind of equipment that you have. Learn more about business insurance by reading The Business Guide to Insurance of Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, John F. King.

Annual Registration for Georgia LLCs

You must file an annual registration for your LLC with the Secretary of State Corporations Division every year between January 1 and April 1. If you don’t file an annual registration for your business or fail to pay your fees, you might be subject to a civil suit, or your LLC might be dissolved. The fee is $100, and an annual fee of $50 is applied afterwards; there is an additional $10 service charge for submitting your registration by mail and a $25 late fee penalty.

Additional Costs and Fees

There are some other operational costs that you need to consider:

Equipment: almost every business will need a budget to finance equipment depending on the industry and size of the company.
Location: you might need to rent an office or retail space. You can reduce these costs if you work from home in the beginning, or in a co-working space, but at a later stage, you might consider purchasing a property or financing new construction.
Inventory: based on the nature of your business, you might need to secure inventory to sell.
Marketing: this will be key to boosting your sales and providing an instant visual impact for your business. It encompasses physical material, like signs, banners, flyers, and brochures, and digital marketing investments like paid ads or graphics design services.
Utilities: you’ll need to pay the electric, gas, water, internet, and phone bills for your office
Payroll: you’ll need to anticipate a budget to pay your employees, especially at early stages where the income can vary.

Hire a Professional Company to Start Your Georgia LLC

Forming your LLC can become a struggle: lots of paperwork and complicated procedures. We advise you to hire a reputable LLC formation service We have done some research and comparison and we can recommend two companies:

Start an LLC in GA With ZenBusiness

Starting at only $49 per year, their formation package is a good option to get your business started. They will secure your business name, file, and verify your documents with the state, and deliver your Articles of Incorporation. It also offers excellent customer support by chat or phone during business hours during the entire process. In general, they offer a complete formation service for a reasonable price – they use technology, innovation, and expert support to keep the costs down -, and you will have more time to focus on your business plan and your clients.

ZenBusiness Features

Registered agent services: you will have a full year of included registered agent services.
Name Search: they help you to verify if your desired name is available. In the event it has been already taken, they help you to find a suitable alternative
Verified filing: they file and verify your Articles of Organization and any other required paperwork to the Secretary of State.
Expert support: you will have access to filing experts by chat or phone during business hours throughout the entire process.
Free operating agreement template: not many companies include this in their basic packages, but ZenBusiness will provide you with a free template to help you with your business structure.

$0 + State Fees

Go to ZenBusiness.com

Rating: 4.8/5
Review count: 4830+

Form an LLC today with ZenBusiness for only $0 + State fees. They Have 98% customer satisfaction rating and over 4830+ verified reviews.

Start an LLC in GA With Northwest Registered Agent

The Georgia VIP Package starts at $45.00 per month. They are experienced and have a strong reputation. Northwest Registered Agent provides everything you need to operate at full capacity, which is very relieving. We highlight their top-notch support: they have a 98% customer satisfaction rating and over 4150+ verified reviews. It is a trustworthy indicator.

Northwest Registered Agent Features:

Registered agent services: they also include a year of registered agent service with the purchase of an LLC formation package.
The customer support is unparalleled: it’s likely that the first person you speak to will be able to answer your questions.
Fast and efficient: all orders are processed the same day.
Corporate Guides: professionals who specialize in your state’s filings.
They include what you need to open a business bank account: operating agreement, resolutions to open a bank account, and membership certificates.
Privacy: they don’t sell your information to third parties as many other companies do.
You’ll get annual report reminders if your LLC has an annual filing, which is very helpful.

$39+State Fees

Go to NorthWestRegisteredAgent.com

Rating: 4.9/5
Review count: 4850+

Form an LLC today with Nortwest. They have 98% customer satisfaction rating and over 4150+ verified reviews. They will include 1 year of free registered agent service!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Georgia Secretary of State’s contact information and mailing address?

Office of Secretary of State

Corporations Division

2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE

Suite 313 West Tower

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Contact

Primary: (404) 656-2817

Fax: (404) 656-0513

[email protected]

Are there any restrictions on what I can name my business?

The Secretary of State may restrict from use, require consent, or require further information before certain terms shall be used in an entity name. For example, the use of terms such as insurance,” “assurance,” “surety,” “fidelity,” “reinsurance,” “reassurance,” or “indemnity requires the written approval of the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.

Do I need to renew my DBA?

Trade names don’t need to be renewed. You’ll need to fill out a new registration form with amendments and pay a fee if you want to change your trade name.

What do I need to prepare to register my LLC with the Georgia Secretary of State?

Name of the LLC or a valid name reservation number

Name and address of the person filing for the LLC

A valid email address

The mailing address of the principal office

Name and address of the registered agent

Name and address of each organizer

Any optional provisions you need to add to your articles of organization

A form of payment

Are there tax incentives to establish a business in Georgia?

Yes, there are some tax advantages to doing business in Georgia. You can check if they apply to your business in the Tax Incentives For Georgia Businesses.

Do I need an EIN to register my business?

You don’t need an EIN to register your business entity with the Georgia Secretary of State