How Much Does an LLC Cost in Georgia (Filing Fees Explained)

Published by Jon Morgan | Co-Founder & Chief Editor

Last updated: August 22, 2026

FACT CHECKED by Aran Quinn, CPA, Esq., LL.M

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Forming an LLC in Georgia costs $110. That's the total fee for the Articles of Organization, paid to the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division, whether you file online or by mail.

After formation, Georgia LLCs owe a $60 Annual Registration each year, due between January 1 and April 1. A handful of other costs show up along the way, some mandatory and some optional.

Here's every fee you'll run into, from formation through the years after, plus what's worth paying for even when the state doesn't require it.

Quick Summary

One-Time Formation Costs in Georgia

These are the fees you pay once, when the LLC comes into existence, plus an optional filing some founders handle at the same time. It's a similar lineup to LLC costs in every other state, just with Georgia's own numbers attached.

1. Articles of Organization ($110 - Mandatory)

Filing your Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State costs $110. That's a $100 base fee plus a $10 service charge. The total applies whether you file through the eCorp portal or by mail, so there's no cheaper channel to hunt for anymore. The how to start an LLC in Georgia guide walks through the full filing steps.

Standard online processing runs about seven business days. If you need it faster, Georgia offers two paid expedite tiers. $230 total gets your filing turned around in two business days, and $385 total gets same-day processing if you submit before noon.

2. Business Name Reservation ($35 - Optional)

Reserving a name before you're ready to file costs $35. That covers a $25 base fee and a $10 service charge. The reservation holds the name exclusively for 30 days.

You don't have to reserve a name first. If you're ready to file your Articles of Organization now, just skip this step.

Ongoing Costs to Maintain Active Status in Georgia

Once your LLC is formed, several recurring costs keep it in good standing. Every LLC owes at least one of them, no matter its industry.

1. Local Business License (Varies by City/County - Mandatory)

Georgia has no state-level general business license. Instead, most of its 500-plus cities and 159 counties require their own occupation tax certificate before you can legally operate.

The cost depends entirely on where you're located and what you do. Contact your city or county's business licensing office before you open your doors. The fee and application process vary widely from one jurisdiction to the next.

2. Annual Registration ($60/Year - Mandatory)

Every Georgia LLC files an Annual Registration each year. It costs $60 total: $50 for the registration itself, plus a $10 processing add-on. The filing window runs January 1 through April 1.

Your first Annual Registration isn't due right after formation. It's due between January 1 and April 1 of the year after the calendar year your LLC was formed. That's the same window you'll use every year after that.

Miss the April 1 deadline and a $25 late penalty gets added. Georgia also lets you file the Annual Registration up to three years in advance. You pay the full rate each year, with no discount for bundling [1].

3. Registered Agent Service ($80-$300 Annually - Optional)

A registered agent is the person or company that accepts legal documents and official correspondence on your LLC's behalf. You can act as your own registered agent for free, and any qualified LLC member can take that job too.

Hiring a paid registered agent service in Georgia instead typically runs $80 to $300 a year, based on the provider you pick. The trade-off is privacy and one less compliance date to track yourself.

4. Taxes (Mandatory)

Georgia LLCs are pass-through entities by default, so members report their share of profit on personal returns. If your LLC sells physical goods, you'll also likely owe Georgia's 4% state sales tax, plus whatever local rate your county adds on top.

Self-employed members typically owe 15.3% in federal self-employment tax, covering Social Security and Medicare. If you elect corporate tax treatment instead, the IRS applies a flat 21% federal corporate rate to the LLC's taxable income [2]. That flat rate tends to work out better for owners who reinvest most of their profit. It's less useful for owners who pay most of it out to themselves.

Optional Costs Worth Knowing About in Georgia

A few more costs come up only in specific situations, closing with the one that should never cost you anything.

1. Operating Agreement (Optional, but Recommended)

Georgia doesn't legally require an operating agreement, but skipping one leaves ownership shares, management structure and exit terms unsettled if a dispute ever comes up. It's the document that spells out how your LLC actually runs day to day.

Drafting your own operating agreement costs nothing if you use a free template. One of the best LLC filing services in Georgia will draft one for roughly $50 to $200 instead. A custom attorney-drafted agreement typically runs $200 to $1,000 or more, worth the price once your LLC has multiple owners.

2. DBA / Trade Name Registration (~$150-$210 - Optional)

Georgia has no statewide DBA registry for LLCs. You might want to operate under a name different from the one on your Articles of Organization. If so, you register the trade name with the Superior Court Clerk in the county where your business sits.

Fees vary by county, generally landing between $150 and $210. On top of the filing fee, Georgia requires the name to run in the county's legal-organ newspaper. That notice must appear once a week for two straight weeks, which adds to the total cost.

3. Certificate of Existence ($20 - Optional, but Recommended)

A Certificate of Existence, sometimes called a Certificate of Good Standing elsewhere, confirms your LLC is legally registered and current on its filings. It costs $20, whether you order it online or by mail. That's a $10 base fee plus a $10 service charge.

Banks, investors and out-of-state filing offices often ask for one before they'll do business with you. That's especially true if you're borrowing money or expanding across state lines.

4. EIN from the IRS ($0 - Free)

Your Employer Identification Number comes from the IRS, not the state, and applying costs nothing. Getting one online takes about 10 to 15 minutes once you have your formation details on hand.

Some formation services charge $50 to $100 to file this step for you. Handle it yourself and you'll spend a few minutes instead of that money. You'll need the EIN anyway to open a business bank account or hire employees.

References:

1. https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/georgia/Ga-Comp-R-Regs-R-590-7-22-.10
2. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p542.pdf

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