LLC Cost in Georgia (2026) — Filing Fees and Annual Costs

State Filing Fee: $110 | Annual Registration: $60/year

Forming an LLC in Georgia requires filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $110, which includes the mandatory $10 service charge in effect since September 6, 2025. Georgia LLCs also have an Annual Registration of $60 per year.

Use our LLC Cost Calculator to estimate your total first-year cost including registered agent and optional formation services.

How to Use This Calculator

Using the LLC Cost Calculator for Georgia is straightforward. Start by selecting whether you’re forming a new LLC or maintaining an existing one, as initial and ongoing costs differ significantly. For new LLCs, indicate whether you’ll file online or by mail with the Georgia Secretary of State. Online filing is typically faster and includes expedited processing options. Next, specify if you need expedited processing—Georgia offers 2-day, same-day, and 1-hour rush services for additional fees. Choose whether you’ll use a registered agent service. While you can serve as your own registered agent, many business owners prefer a professional service for privacy and reliability. The calculator includes average annual costs for this service. Indicate if you’re filing a business name reservation before forming your LLC. This reserves your chosen name for 30 days and costs an additional fee. You’ll also select whether you plan to obtain necessary business licenses, as costs vary by industry and location within Georgia. For existing LLCs, enter how many years you’re calculating for. Georgia requires an annual registration, so ongoing costs accumulate yearly. The calculator will factor in annual registration fees, registered agent services if applicable, and estimated costs for maintaining good standing.

How We Calculate This

Our Georgia LLC cost calculator uses official fee schedules from the Georgia Secretary of State and Corporations Division, updated for 2026. Initial Filing Costs: The base Articles of Organization filing fee is $110 for online submissions and $110 for paper filings submitted by mail (both totals include Georgia’s mandatory $10 service charge). We add expedited processing fees when selected: 2-business-day processing adds $100, same-day processing (submitted by noon) adds $250, and 1-hour processing adds $1,000. These fees are cumulative—if you select expedited processing, you pay the base fee plus the expedite fee. Name Reservation: If selected, we add the $25 name reservation fee. This is optional but recommended if you’re not ready to file immediately and want to secure your business name. Registered Agent Costs: Georgia law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical Georgia address. If you choose a professional service, we estimate $125-$299 annually based on market rates for reputable providers. This is an average—actual costs vary by provider and service level. Annual Registration: Georgia requires an annual registration with the Corporations Division. The current fee is $60 per year, including the $10 service charge. We multiply this by the number of years you’re calculating to show cumulative ongoing costs. Publication Requirements: Unlike some states, Georgia doesn’t require LLC formation notices to be published in newspapers, so we don’t include publication costs. Business Licenses: While we include a field for business licenses, actual costs vary dramatically based on your business type, location, and activities. Professional services like law or medicine require state licensing. Retail businesses need local business licenses. We provide a placeholder to remind you of this expense, but you’ll need to research specific requirements for your situation. Total Calculation: The calculator sums all selected fees to provide first-year costs and separate ongoing annual costs. We distinguish between one-time formation expenses and recurring annual obligations so you can budget appropriately.

What the Results Mean

The calculator provides three key figures: initial formation costs, annual recurring costs, and total costs over your selected timeframe. Initial Formation Costs represent your out-of-pocket expenses to legally establish your LLC in Georgia. This includes state filing fees, any expedited processing, name reservation if applicable, and the first year of registered agent service. For a basic online filing without expediting or professional services, expect approximately $110. With expedited processing and a registered agent service, first-year costs typically range from $350-$650. Annual Recurring Costs show what you’ll pay each year to maintain your LLC in good standing. At minimum, this is Georgia’s $60 annual registration fee. If you use a registered agent service, add another $125-$299 annually. Most Georgia LLCs should budget $185-$360 per year for basic compliance. Cumulative Costs help with multi-year budgeting. A Georgia LLC operating for five years with standard services might cost $1,000-$2,000 total when accounting for initial formation and ongoing maintenance. These figures don’t include federal tax obligations, business insurance, business licenses beyond state registration, or operational costs. They strictly cover state-mandated filing and registration requirements. If your results seem higher than expected, review your selections. Expedited processing significantly increases costs but isn’t necessary unless you need immediate approval. If costs seem lower than anticipated, ensure you’ve included annual registration and registered agent services—these ongoing costs catch many new business owners off guard.

Tips and Common Mistakes

Don’t forget the annual registration. The most common mistake is budgeting only for formation costs and forgetting Georgia’s $60 annual registration fee. This is due during the fixed statewide window of January 1 to April 1 each year, with your first registration due the calendar year after formation. Missing this deadline can result in administrative dissolution of your LLC. Consider professional registered agent services carefully. While you can serve as your own registered agent and save $125-$299 annually, this means your name and home address become public record. You must also be available during business hours to receive legal documents. Most business owners find the privacy and reliability of professional services worth the cost. Budget for licenses separately. State LLC formation doesn’t authorize you to conduct business in regulated industries. Research specific license requirements through the Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division and your city or county business license office. These costs aren’t included in basic LLC formation fees. Standard processing is usually sufficient. Unless you have an urgent deadline like a contract signing or business opportunity, save the $100-$1,000 expedite fees. Standard online processing typically completes within 7-10 business days, which is adequate for most situations. Name reservation is optional but strategic. The $25 name reservation makes sense if you need time to gather documents or aren’t ready to file immediately. However, if you’re prepared to file your Articles of Organization today, you can skip this step and save the fee. Factor in federal and tax costs. While not part of state filing fees, remember you’ll need an EIN (free from the IRS) and may need to register for state tax accounts depending on your business activities. These don’t cost money but require time and attention.

FAQ

Q: Can I change my LLC name after filing without additional costs? No. Changing your LLC name in Georgia requires filing Articles of Amendment with the Secretary of State, which costs $20 for online filing or $20 for paper filing. This is why name reservation or careful initial selection is valuable. You can file a DBA (doing business as) name instead, which allows you to operate under a different name without formally changing your LLC’s legal name, but this also involves filing and fees at the county level (typically $30-$100 depending on the county). Q: What happens if I miss the annual registration deadline? Georgia provides a grace period, but your LLC can be administratively dissolved for non-payment of annual registration fees. If dissolved, you’ll need to file for reinstatement, which involves additional fees ($225 for expedited reinstatement) and back payment of missed annual registrations. You’ll also lose good standing status during this period, which can affect business operations, banking relationships, and legal protections. Set calendar reminders well before your April 1st deadline. Q: Are there any circumstances where LLC costs in Georgia would be higher than the calculator shows? Yes, several scenarios increase costs. Foreign LLCs (formed in another state but operating in Georgia) pay $235 for a Certificate of Authority. Professional LLCs may have additional requirements. If your LLC name is too similar to an existing business, you might need legal assistance resolving the conflict. Multiple business lines might require various licenses and permits. The calculator shows state-level LLC formation and maintenance costs specifically—it doesn’t include legal fees, accounting services, insurance, or industry-specific requirements that might apply to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions