Summary of costs to form an LLC in Georgia
Are you looking for a quick summary of your LLC start-up registration costs? Below are the most common fees you can expect to pay:
| LLC filing fee | $110 ($100 + $10 state service charge) |
| Business licenses & permits | Vary by city or county and by business type |
| Filing a DBA (required if you use a trade name) | Varies by county (about $160–$175 at the Clerk of Superior Court), plus a newspaper publication fee |
| Net worth tax (only if taxed as a corporation) | $0 if business net worth is $100,000 or less; maximum of $5,000 |
| Annual registration | $60 ($50 + $10 service charge) |
| Operating agreement (optional) | Up to $1,000 if you hire an attorney or a service |
| Registered agent service (optional) | $50 to $300 per year |
| Reserve business name (optional) | $35 ($25 + $10 service charge), held for 30 days |
Starting a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Georgia is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming and costly. You can reduce your stress significantly by researching all steps involved or using an LLC formation service to take you through each step. This guide presents basic start-up costs when doing your Georgia LLC registration.
General steps and costs when forming a Georgia LLC
Keep in mind that costs can vary significantly by county and it may be necessary for administrators to occasionally increase prices to cover processing fees. Even so, the estimates below will help you plan your administrative start-up costs.
Naming your Georgia LLC
The Peach State allows new LLC owners to conduct a Georgia entity search at no cost. You also have the option of reserving a business name for 30 days for $35 ($25 + $10 service charge) while you are still in the process of launching your LLC. You may wish to do this if you have your heart set on a certain business name and have concerns it may not be available when you are ready to claim it.
A common practice among LLC owners in Georgia is to register a single business name and then operate several branches of the company under different names. You need to file “Doing Business As” (DBA) paperwork, called trade name registration in Georgia, before operating under additional names. You file it with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where your business mainly operates. Fees vary by county, at about $160–$175 per Georgia DBA, plus a separate newspaper publication fee.
Filing articles of organization and annual reports in Georgia
Georgia requires all new LLC owners to file articles of organization before officially recognizing the company’s status. The current fee to do so is $110 ($100 filing fee + $10 state service charge, online or paper). You may see this referred to as an LLC filing fee.
The Secretary of State also requires LLCs to file an annual registration that confirms or updates the LLC’s registered agent and addresses. Annual fees are $60 ($50 + $10 service charge), which you pay between January 1 and April 1. A $25 late penalty applies after April 1. This is required even when your LLC has not made any changes.
Appointing a registered agent
In Georgia, all LLCs are required to designate a registered agent Georgia that businesses can depend on to receive legal correspondence on behalf of the company. This person must be available during regular business hours and receive mail at a street address rather than a post office box. You do not have to pay a fee if you choose to be your own registered agent or appoint someone to the task.
Many LLC owners opt to use a registered agent service to keep their addresses private and free themselves from having to be available during regular business hours. The registered agent service receives and logs all official communication for the LLC. Fees for such services typically range from $50 to $300 per year.
Creating an operating agreement
Georgia does not require LLC members to create an operating agreement, but doing so is highly beneficial. An operating agreement outlines such things as the names of members and their roles, the initial investments, and the formal process to follow when a member decides to leave the LLC.
You and your business partners do not need to file an operating agreement with the state if you choose to create one. You also do not need to pay anything to create the agreement if you decide to prepare it yourselves. Expenses can add up to over $1,000 if you seek help from an attorney.
Other annual and additional Georgia LLC costs
The above are some basic business costs you should expect to incur, while the fees below do not always apply to every situation.
Net worth tax (only if taxed as a corporation)
Georgia does not impose a franchise tax on LLCs. Instead, it has a net worth tax that applies to corporations and to LLCs that choose to be taxed as corporations. LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities, which is the default for most LLCs, don’t owe it. Be careful not to confuse the net worth tax with income tax, as they are not the same thing.
The Georgia Department of Revenue collects the net worth tax on Form 600 (or Form 600S), together with the corporate income tax return. You do not owe it if the net worth of your business is $100,000 or less.
Georgia calculates the net worth tax amount based on a company’s net worth. The maximum amount assessed is $5,000 for a net worth that exceeds $22 million. You might want to consider hiring an accountant or tax advisor to help determine if you are liable for paying this tax.
Business licenses & permits
State, county, or local governments may require your business to obtain certain licenses and permits before you can officially begin serving customers. Licenses grant you permission to perform certain actions, while the purpose of a permit is to ensure your business follows established safety guidelines.
You do not need to obtain a general business license at the state level when you operate an LLC in Georgia. However, most Georgia cities and counties require a local business license or occupation tax certificate. You apply with your city if your business is inside city limits, or with your county if it’s in an unincorporated area. Examples of cities that require one include:
- Atlanta
- Columbus
- Macon
- Sandy Springs
- Savannah
Certain types of businesses require special business licenses. Common examples include bars, massage therapists, and pool halls. Here are some examples of other types of licenses or permits you may need to obtain in Georgia:
- Building and zoning, if constructing a new business
- Business tax number, if selling taxable goods or services
- Home occupation permit for home-based businesses
- Professional license for certain careers, such as accountant or interior designer
- Signage permit
Due to the large number of potential permits or licenses you may need to obtain, and the varying cost for each, your best bet is to contact your city or county for local licenses, and the Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards for professional licenses.
Annual report
A Georgia LLC annual report is required by the state to update any pertinent information and ensure compliance with all state laws. This report, called the annual registration, is filed between January 1 and April 1 each year, and the fee to file it is $60 ($50 + $10 service charge). A $25 late penalty applies after April 1.
LLC fee
The initial fee to register an LLC is $110 ($100 + $10 service charge), and the cost is $60 each year thereafter to file the annual registration.
Expenses you can write off
Although you might be feeling overwhelmed at the number of fees you could potentially be responsible for paying to form your LLC, the good news is you can write most of them off on your federal tax return. The following represent the most common examples:
- Articles of organization fees
- Attorney fees
- Costs associated with preparing an operating agreement
- DBA fees
- General filing fees
- Registered agent service fees
Georgia LLC state fees
Below are the main fees that can be relevant for LLCs in Georgia. Please note that these are base fees, and a $10 state service charge applies to most filings, online or paper (since September 6, 2025).
| Fee type | Fee cost |
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | $100.00 |
| Annual Registration | $50.00 |
| Certificate of Authority to Transact Business in Georgia (Foreign LLC) | $225.00 |
| Certificate of Authority Late Filing Penalty (Foreign LLC) | $500.00 + fees imposed if registered correctly |
| Amended Certificate of Authority (Foreign LLC) | $20.00 |
| Amended Annual Registration | $20.00 |
| Penalty for Late Filing of Annual Registration | $25.00 |
| Articles of Amendment; Restatement | $20.00 |
| Name Reservation (30-Day) | $25.00 |
| Articles of Merger | $20.00 |
| Certificate of Conversion | $95.00 |
| Statement of Commencement of Winding Up (LLC) | $0 + $10 service charge |
| Certificate of Termination (LLC) | $0 + $10 service charge |
| Application for Withdrawal of Certificate of Authority (Foreign LLC) | No Fee |
| Application for Reinstatement (Domestic LLC) | $250.00 |
| Registered Agent Resignation | No fee online / $10 paper |
| Mass Registered Agent Name Change | (minimum 4 entities; $5.00 per entity) |
| Registered Office Address Change | ($5.00 per entity; minimum fee $20.00) |
Conclusion
Knowing the LLC formation fees you are responsible for paying and remitting the correct amount can be challenging. You can save money by choosing to complete the process yourself, but it may end up costing more in the long run if you miss deadlines or make mistakes. Hiring an LLC formation service can provide you with valuable peace of mind at this exciting yet stressful time.
FAQ
The filing fee for Articles of Organization is $110 ($100 + $10 state service charge).
LLCs must file an annual registration each year between January 1 and April 1. The fee is $60 ($50 + $10 service charge), with a $25 late penalty after April 1.
It depends on your location and business type. Most Georgia cities and counties require a local business license or occupation tax certificate, and some industries need special permits.
Yes. Optional expenses include $35 to reserve a name, $50–$300 per year for registered agent services, and up to $1,000 for an operating agreement. If you operate under a trade name, DBA registration is required and costs about $160–$175 in county clerk fees, plus newspaper publication.
Yes. Fees such as filing, DBA registration, registered agent services, and attorney costs are generally tax-deductible as business expenses.