Key Takeaways

  • The total Georgia LLC cost starts at $100 for the Articles of Organization, with optional expedited processing fees up to $200.
  • Annual registration renewals cost $30, due by April 1 each year.
  • Additional costs include name reservation ($25), registered agent services, and business license fees depending on the county or city.
  • Georgia also offers Series LLCs, allowing separate “cells” within one entity for asset protection.
  • Publication of a Notice of Intent and maintaining compliance with the Georgia Secretary of State are required for good standing.

If you are forming an LLC, then you may want to know about LLC Georgia Secretary of State. A Georgia LLC can be formed by filing with the Secretary of State, or SOS. There is a $100 filing fee. The filing must include the articles of incorporation.

Subsequent to incorporating in Georgia, the party filing must publish a Notice of Intent to Incorporate in a newspaper, be it general or legal focused, in the county that the LLC is located. In addition to a Notice of Intent, you must file an Initial Annual Return within 90 days of incorporating the LLC, along with a $30 filing fee. An Annual Report is due yearly by April 1.

The state of Georgia charges $100 each for both an articles of incorporation filing and an organization filing. If you file the Articles of Incorporation online, the Georgia Secretary of State office will generally take 5-12 business days to process. You can also file these papers via mail, with a processing time of 5-12 business days from the time of receipt. To expedite, you can pay $100 for a 24 hour turnaround and same day service costs $200.

Reserving a Name

In Georgia, there is no name reservation requirement. To see if your chosen business name can be used, you can use the free business name search that is available online.

Georgia LLC Costs and Filing Fees

When starting a business, the Georgia LLC cost depends on the type of filing and additional services you select. The basic Articles of Organization fee is $100 when filed online and $110 if submitted by mail. Processing typically takes 5–12 business days, but expedited options are available—$100 for 24-hour service and $250 for same-day processing.

Additional formation-related fees include:

  • Name Reservation (optional): $25, valid for 30 days if you want to secure your name before filing.
  • Registered Agent Service: Free if you act as your own agent; typically $50–$150/year for professional services.
  • Operating Agreement: Not required by law, but recommended for defining ownership and management.
  • Business License Fees: Vary by location; for instance, Atlanta may charge between $75 and $400, depending on business type and revenue.

Foreign LLCs registering in Georgia must pay a $225 filing fee for the Application for Certificate of Authority. While these are the primary costs, maintaining good standing also requires ongoing annual fees and taxes described below.

Notice of Intent

The law requires that when you file a notice of intent to incorporate your business that you forward a publication fee of $40 to the newspaper no later than the business day after filing the articles of incorporation with the SOS.

All corporations are required to publish a notice of intent to incorporate in the official legal ledger of the county where the registered corporation will be located or in a newspaper that has general circulation in that county. The newspaper must have 60 percent of subscribers read the paper with a paid subscription.

Moreover, a Georgia corporation must file its initial return within 90 days of its incorporation. The cost for such a filing is $30. Corporations formed between October 2 and December 31 of a given year file the initial return from January 1 to April 1 of the following year. For corporations, a Georgia annual return will cost $30 every April 1st. The filing window for these returns are anytime between January 1st and April 1st of a given year.

Similarly, for Georgia LLCs, an initial report must be submitted between January 1st and April 1st of the following year that the LLC was formed. It has a $30 filing fee. After that year, the LLC annual report has a submission deadline of April 1st and has a $30 fee.

Annual Registration and Ongoing Fees

Every LLC in Georgia must file an Annual Registration with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $30 and is due by April 1 each year. The first annual registration is due between January 1 and April 1 of the year following formation. Failure to file on time can result in late penalties and administrative dissolution.

If your LLC misses the deadline, you’ll need to pay $60 for reinstatement, plus the original fee. Additional ongoing costs may include:

  • Registered Agent renewal: Typically renewed annually with the service provider.
  • Business License renewals: Local counties and cities may charge renewal fees depending on your operations.
  • State taxes: While LLCs don’t pay corporate income tax directly, members may owe individual state taxes on distributed income.

These ongoing costs are critical for maintaining your LLC’s good standing with the Georgia Secretary of State.

Business Taxes in Georgia

  • The Georgia corporate tax rate is 6%.
  • In general, the Georgia sales tax rate is 7.02%.
  • The state levies a 4% sales tax plus the local tax averages at 3.02% , for a total of 7.02%.

Additional Tax and Compliance Considerations

Although Georgia LLCs are pass-through entities, certain state-level taxes may apply depending on your business activity.

  • State Income Tax: Members report LLC profits on their individual returns, typically at rates between 1% and 5.75%.
  • Sales and Use Tax: The average combined rate in Georgia is about 7%, depending on your county.
  • Employment Taxes: LLCs with employees must register for withholding tax and unemployment insurance with the Georgia Department of Revenue.
  • Franchise Taxes: Georgia does not charge a traditional franchise tax for LLCs, making it more affordable than some neighboring states.

Maintaining compliance also involves keeping accurate records, paying taxes on time, and renewing your business license annually.

Forming an LLC in Georgia

1. Choosing your LLC’s Name :

  • An LLC name must contain one of the following: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," "L.L.C.," "Limited Company," "LC," or "L.C." The name, including additions like LLC, is limited to 80 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
  • The name must be recognizably different from other names on the SOS file. You can check for name availability in the SOS business name database.

2. Filing the Articles of Organization

  • The articles must list the LLC's name and preferably include the managers’ names and addresses.
  • The SOS requires a $100 filing fee, which can be submitted online or via mail.
  • Provided that there are no issues with your filing, the State will provide approval for your LLC called a Certificate of Organization.

3. Appointing a Registered Agent

For service of process, every LLC in the state of Georgia must appoint an agent that can receive service of process in Georgia. A registered agent can be an individual or business that agrees to receive legal requests on behalf of the LLC. This is relevant in the event that the LLC is sued. A registered agent is required to have a physical street address located in Georgia.

Understanding Georgia Series LLCs

Georgia law now permits Series LLCs, which allow business owners to establish one “master” LLC with multiple “series” or divisions underneath it. Each series can have its own members, assets, and liabilities, functioning as separate entities within one overarching LLC.

Benefits of a Georgia Series LLC include:

  • Simplified management under a single filing.
  • Reduced filing costs compared to forming multiple LLCs.
  • Asset segregation — one series’ liabilities don’t affect another.
  • Flexibility in ownership and operations.

To form a Series LLC, you must clearly identify it in the Articles of Organization and follow all state compliance rules for each individual series. Because this is a relatively new structure in Georgia, consulting a business attorney is strongly advised to ensure proper documentation and liability protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How much does it cost to start an LLC in Georgia?
    It costs $100 to file online or $110 by mail with the Georgia Secretary of State. Optional expedited processing can range from $100 to $250.
  2. Are there any annual fees for a Georgia LLC?
    Yes. Every LLC must file an Annual Registration costing $30, due by April 1 each year.
  3. How long does it take to form an LLC in Georgia?
    Standard processing takes 5–12 business days, while expedited options can process your filing in as little as 24 hours.
  4. Do I need a business license for a Georgia LLC?
    Most Georgia LLCs need a local business license, issued by the city or county. Costs vary based on business size and location.
  5. What is a Series LLC, and is it allowed in Georgia?
    Yes, Georgia now allows Series LLCs, which let business owners create multiple protected divisions within one LLC, each with separate assets and liabilities.

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