Step 1: Choose a name Georgia will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “LLC” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Georgia Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Georgia against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $35 ($25 + $10 service charge), online or on paper, for 30 days (not renewable). See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Georgia who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Georgia companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Georgia Secretary of State. The fee is $110 ($100 + $10 service charge), online or on paper. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. 7 to 10 business days online; about 15 business days on paper. Faster service: $120 for two business days, $275 same day, $1,200 within one hour. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Georgia doesn't require one (O.C.G.A. § 14-11-1107(b)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Georgia LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Georgia has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Georgia LLC annual report
Fee: $60 online or on paper ($50 fee + $10 service charge; Annual Registration). Due: April 1 each year (multi-year registrations for 2 or 3 consecutive years are available); $25 late fee after April 1. (Source: Renew LLC, georgia.gov.)
| After formation | Georgia |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $60 annual registration each year ($50 + $10 service charge; Jan 1 to Apr 1) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $20 ($10 + $10 service charge) |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Georgia certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Georgia
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $110 |
| First year, state fees | $110 |
| Each year after | $60 |
Over five years, Georgia's state fees come to $350. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Reference filing fees (effective 9 6 2025) (PDF), sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business division FAQ, sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-07
rules.sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-07
How guide how reserve name, sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-07
How file annual registration, sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-07
File DBA doing business, georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Corporation filing procedure, georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Register LLC, georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Renew LLC, georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Starting business guide, georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Filing fees and expedited processing document filings, sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-08
rules.sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-09
rules.sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-09
rules.sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-09
rules.sos.ga.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Georgia
- Choose a name Georgia will accept and check it against the Georgia Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Georgia.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State ($110).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Georgia?
$110 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $110 in the first year and $60 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Georgia?
The Georgia Secretary of State gives 7 to 10 business days online; about 15 business days on paper. Faster service: $120 for two business days, $275 same day, $1,200 within one hour.
Do I need an operating agreement in Georgia?
Georgia doesn't require one (O.C.G.A. § 14-11-1107(b)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Georgia online?
Yes. The Georgia Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for $110.
When is the Georgia LLC annual report due?
April 1 each year (multi-year registrations for 2 or 3 consecutive years are available); $25 late fee after April 1.
Does Georgia require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Georgia's recurring filing: $60 annual registration each year ($50 + $10 service charge; Jan 1 to Apr 1).