Georgia LLC State Fees and Filing Requirements
The following details reflect the official fees, deadlines, and legal requirements published by the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division and federal regulators.
| Requirement / Action | Official Fee or Window | Official Source |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization Filing | $110.00 ($100 filing fee + $10 service charge) | Georgia Secretary of State How-To Guide |
| Annual Registration Fee | $60.00 (online or paper filing) | Georgia Secretary of State How-To Guide |
| First Annual Registration Window | January 1 through April 1 of the year following formation | Rules and Regulations of Georgia (GAC 590-7-22) |
| Annual Registration Filing Window | Due by April 1 annually (advance filing up to 3 years permitted) | Georgia Secretary of State How-To Guide |
| Late Registration Penalty | $25.00 penalty fee | Georgia Secretary of State How-To Guide |
| Non-Compliance Consequence | Administrative dissolution of the LLC | Rules and Regulations of Georgia (GAC 590-7-22) |
| Amended Annual Registration Fee | $30.00 | Georgia Secretary of State How-To Guide |
| Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) | $0.00 (Free directly from the IRS) | Internal Revenue Service |
| Federal Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) | Exempt for US-formed entities under the August 14, 2026 rule | Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) |
DIY Filing vs. Commercial LLC Services in Georgia
Forming a limited liability company in Georgia involves specific administrative steps with the state government. While the mechanics are straightforward, deciding whether to file yourself or hire a service depends on your budget, time availability, and privacy concerns.
Drafting and Submitting Articles of Organization
To create a Georgia LLC yourself, you log into the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division online portal (eCorp) and complete the Articles of Organization. The state fee is $110.00, which consists of a $100.00 base filing fee and a $10.00 mandatory electronic service charge, as outlined in the Secretary of State's official registration guide. When you file directly, you enter your business name, primary office address, registered agent details, and organizer information.
When you hire an LLC formation service, the provider collects your business information through their own website interface and submits the Articles of Organization to the state on your behalf. The service does not alter state requirements or bypass state fees. Instead, it acts as an intermediary, double-checking your form entries for common clerical errors before submitting them through the eCorp portal.
Registered Agent Requirements and Address Privacy
Georgia law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent who has a physical street address in Georgia. P.O. boxes are strictly prohibited. The registered agent must be available at that physical location during standard business hours to accept service of process, official legal notices, and state correspondence.
If you choose the DIY route, you or another member of your LLC can act as your own registered agent at no extra cost, provided you have a physical street address in Georgia. However, the address listed for your registered agent becomes part of the public record on the Secretary of State website. If you operate a home-based business, using your personal address as your registered agent address exposes your home location to public databases and solicitations.
A commercial registered agent service provides a physical Georgia business address to receive legal notices on your behalf. Commercial formation services frequently bundle registered agent services or offer them as add-on subscriptions. Using a commercial agent keeps your personal home address off the public record and ensures that legal documents are received even if you are out of the office.
Ongoing Compliance: Annual Registrations
Forming the entity is only the first step. To keep your LLC in good standing, Georgia requires an annual registration. For newly formed domestic LLCs, the first annual registration must be filed between January 1 and April 1 of the year immediately following formation, according to Rule 590-7-22 of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia.
The fee for filing an annual registration is $60.00, whether completed online or on paper. Business owners may file their annual registration up to three years in advance starting January 1. If an LLC fails to file its annual registration by the April 1 deadline, the state assesses a $25.00 late penalty fee. Continuing failure to file exposes the company to administrative dissolution, meaning the state revokes the LLC's legal entity status. If you need to update business information during the year outside the standard registration window, an amended annual registration costs $30.00.
When you handle compliance yourself, you must set calendar reminders to file the $60.00 annual registration through eCorp every year between January 1 and April 1. An LLC service automates this tracking process by sending deadline alerts or filing the annual registration on your behalf for a service fee plus the state's $60.00 charge.
Post-Formation Tasks: EIN and Federal Reporting
After your LLC is formed with the Georgia Secretary of State, you may need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the federal government for tax purposes and opening a business bank account. You must form the entity with the state before applying for an EIN.
An EIN is 100% free ($0) directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) online application system. You should never pay a third-party commercial service for an EIN, as the IRS process takes only a few minutes to complete on irs.gov. LLC services often market EIN procurement as a paid add-on, but doing it yourself takes minimal effort and incurs zero cost.
Regarding federal tax and reporting obligations, under the rule effective August 14, 2026, entities formed within the United States are exempt from federal Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Domestic Georgia LLCs do not need to file BOI reports or pay filing fees for BOI compliance.
Provider Comparison: Service Options as of 2026
The following providers offer formation and compliance services in Georgia. Listed alphabetically, not ranked:
| Provider | Entry-Level Package Fee | Registered Agent Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bizee | $0 + state fee | Included 1st year ($119/yr renewal) |
| LegalZoom | $0 + state fee | $249/yr |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 + state fee | $125/yr |
| Rocket Lawyer | $99.99 + state fee | $249.99/yr ($124.99/yr for members) |
| Tailor Brands | $0 + state fee | $199/yr |
| ZenBusiness | $0 + state fee | $199/yr ($99 1st year with formation) |
Prices for commercial providers move over time and are current as of 2026. Entry-level $0 packages across various providers pass through the mandatory Georgia state fee of $110.00 while charging no additional base filing service fee.
For filing services, ZenBusiness provides a structured option for business owners who prefer a guided approach. ZenBusiness pricing is structured into three tiers: Starter at $0 plus state fees, Pro at $199 per year, and Premium at $299 per year. Registered agent service is a separate $199 per year service across all tiers, though discounted to $99 for the first year when you form an LLC with them.
When DIY Makes Sense vs. When to Use a Service
Filing yourself directly through the Georgia Secretary of State eCorp website is the best route if you want to keep costs to the absolute minimum of $110.00, feel comfortable entering your own business information online, and have a physical Georgia street address you do not mind exposing on public records.
Using a commercial service like ZenBusiness makes sense if you prefer an organized dashboard to track annual filings, want to protect your personal home address from public records via a registered agent service, or want automated compliance reminders to avoid the $25.00 late fee and risk of administrative dissolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register a business online in Georgia, and what are the annual registration and registered agent requirements?
You register an LLC online in Georgia through the Secretary of State Corporations Division eCorp portal by filing Articles of Organization and paying the $110.00 filing fee ($100 filing fee plus $10 service charge). Georgia law requires you to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in Georgia to accept legal notices during business hours. Once formed, you must file an annual registration with a $60.00 fee between January 1 and April 1 every year starting the year after formation.
What are the Georgia Secretary of State LLC filing fees and annual registration deadlines?
The primary filing fee to form a domestic LLC in Georgia is $110.00 ($100 base fee + $10.00 online service charge). Annual registrations cost $60.00 and are due by April 1 each year, starting the year after your LLC is formed. You can file your annual registration as early as January 1, and the state allows advance filing for up to three years. If you miss the April 1 deadline, Georgia charges a $25.00 late penalty fee, and failure to pay can result in administrative dissolution.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
- Georgia Secretary of State, “How to Guide: Register Domestic Entity”
- Georgia Secretary of State, “How to Guide: File Annual Registration”
This article provides general information rather than legal advice, and requirements vary by state and change over time.