Georgia LLC Filing Fees and Requirements
Forming an LLC in Georgia costs $100 online or $110 by mail. Learn the filing fees, annual registration requirements, and what you need to stay in good standing.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Georgia LLC filing fees at a glance
Filing fee: $100 online / $110 by mail (Articles of Organization)
Processing time: ~7 business days online; ~15 business days by mail; expedited options available
State agency: Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
Annual report due: April 1 each year; filing window opens January 1
State tax rate: Georgia has no state-level LLC franchise tax; LLCs are subject to Georgia income tax on business income
Georgia LLC filing fees and requirements
Forming an LLC in Georgia requires filing Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State and paying a $100 state fee online or $110 by mail. After formation, you'll need to file an annual registration each year by April 1 and meet any applicable licensing requirements for your industry and location.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Georgia?
The base cost to form a Georgia LLC is $100 when you file online or $110 when you file by mail. Those fees go to the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division and are non-refundable. Georgia is one of the more affordable states for LLC formation, and the online process is straightforward.
If you need your LLC approved faster, Georgia offers expedited processing for an additional fee on top of the standard $100 online filing fee: 2-business-day processing costs an extra $100, same-business-day processing (submitted before noon on a weekday) costs an extra $250, and 1-hour processing costs an extra $1,000.
- Online filing fee: $100 (standard processing ~7 business days)
- Mail filing fee: $110 (standard processing ~15 business days)
- Expedited 2-business-day processing: $100 additional
- Expedited same-business-day processing: $250 additional
- Expedited 1-hour processing: $1,000 additional
What do you file to form a Georgia LLC?
To form a Georgia LLC, you file Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division. You can file online, by mail, or in person. Online filers create an account through the Secretary of State's business services portal. Mail filers submit the Articles of Organization along with the Transmittal Form — Limited Liability Companies (Form 231) and payment.
The Articles of Organization must include your LLC's exact legal name, the principal office mailing address, and the name and address of the person filing. If you reserved a business name before filing, you'll need to provide the name reservation number. Georgia uses a standard template form (CD 030), or you can file a drafted document that meets the statutory requirements.
Georgia annual registration requirements
Georgia LLCs must file an annual registration each year to stay in good standing. The deadline is April 1, and the filing window opens January 1. The standard fee is $60 when filed online. If you file by mail, Georgia adds a $10 service charge, bringing the total to $70. Mail filings must be postmarked by April 1 to avoid a late fee.
The April 1 deadline catches some business owners off guard — it's earlier than most states. Mark it on your calendar at the start of each year. Online payment is accepted by major credit card. Mail payments can be made by check, certified bank check, or money order.
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Every LLC needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. You'll use it to open a business bank account, file federal and state taxes, and hire employees. The IRS issues EINs at no cost — you can apply at irs.gov/ein. Most applicants get their EIN the same day when applying online.
Even if your LLC has no employees, an EIN keeps your Social Security number off business documents and makes it easier to separate your personal and business finances from day one.
Georgia business licenses and permits
Georgia doesn't issue a single statewide general business license, but most businesses need at least one license or permit before they start operating. What you need depends on your industry, your location, and the type of work you do. Local county and city governments often have their own requirements on top of any state-level ones.
Common requirements include a local business license or occupational tax certificate from your county or city, state professional licenses for regulated industries like healthcare or contracting, and federal permits for certain activities like selling alcohol or firearms. A tax professional or attorney familiar with Georgia regulations can help you figure out exactly what applies to your business.
LLC operating agreement in Georgia
Georgia doesn't legally require an LLC to have an operating agreement, but having one is worth the effort. An operating agreement sets out how your business is run — how decisions get made, how profits and losses are divided, how members can join or leave, and what happens if the business dissolves. Without one, Georgia's default LLC statutes fill in the gaps, which may not reflect what you actually want.
For single-member LLCs, an operating agreement also reinforces that your business is a separate legal entity — which matters if your liability protection is ever questioned.
Foreign LLC registration in Georgia
If your LLC was formed in another state but you want to do business in Georgia, you need to register as a foreign LLC. This means filing an Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Limited Liability Company with the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division. The filing fee is commonly cited as $225–$235 depending on the filing method.
A foreign LLC registering in Georgia must also appoint and maintain a Georgia registered agent with a physical street address in the state — no P.O. boxes. The registered agent receives official notices and service of process on behalf of your LLC.
FAQ
We collect the state fee at cost and pay it directly to the Georgia Secretary of State on your behalf when we file your Articles of Organization. You're not charged anything beyond the actual state fee — no markup.
Yes. Georgia LLCs must file an annual registration each year by April 1 to stay in good standing. The standard fee is $60 online or $70 by mail. If you miss the April 1 deadline, Georgia can assess a late fee and eventually administratively dissolve your LLC.
It depends on your industry, location, and the type of work you do. Georgia doesn't have a single statewide general business license. Most businesses need a local occupational tax certificate from their county or city, and some industries require state-level professional licenses. Start with your county or city government's business licensing office to find out what applies to you.
It depends on your location and business type. Local occupational tax certificates — the most common license requirement for Georgia businesses — vary by county and city. Fees typically range from $50 to several hundred dollars per year. State professional licenses carry their own fee schedules set by the relevant licensing board. Check with your local government and any applicable state licensing board for exact amounts.
Standard online processing takes about 7 business days. Mail filings take about 15 business days. If you need it faster, Georgia offers expedited options: 2-business-day processing for an extra $100, same-business-day processing for an extra $250 (submitted before noon on a weekday), and 1-hour processing for an extra $1,000.
The Georgia Secretary of State charges $100 to file Articles of Organization online and $110 by mail. The annual registration fee is $60 online or $70 by mail. Foreign LLCs registering in Georgia pay approximately $225–$235 for a Certificate of Authority. Expedited processing fees range from $100 to $1,000 depending on the turnaround time you need.
No. Georgia doesn't legally require an LLC to have an operating agreement. But having one is worth it. Without an operating agreement, Georgia's default LLC statutes govern how your business operates — and those defaults may not match what you and your co-owners actually want. An operating agreement also helps reinforce that your LLC is a separate legal entity.
