Georgia LLC Cost: $100 Online to File (2026)

Fact-checked and updated September 14, 2026.

A Georgia LLC costs $100 to form online according to the georgia.gov “Register an LLC” instructions (updated June 2026), or $110 by mail or in person. The recurring SOS filing is an annual registration of about $60 (January 1–April 1; $25 late fee). You can file through eCorp or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the state fee shown at checkout. Optional services cost extra.

This guide is for creating a new Georgia LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Georgia’s foreign-qualification requirements before creating a second company.

Georgia LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Start with georgia.gov — Register an LLC and the renew / annual registration page. These are government charges, separate from anything a formation company bills you.

Budget example: $100 online to form plus about $60 for the first annual registration equals roughly $160 across those two SOS filings (timing of the first registration should be confirmed on eCorp). That is not an all-in startup budget: permits, insurance, taxes, professional help, and subscriptions are separate.

Secondary commentary has claimed a $10 online service charge that would make online formation $110. The official georgia.gov how-to still publishes $100 online / $110 mail. This guide treats $100 as the primary published online amount—verify the total on the eCorp payment screen before you submit.

Should you file on eCorp or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you are comfortable creating an eCorp account, completing Articles, and keeping your own records. Choose a filing service if you prefer a guided questionnaire and help preparing the paperwork. Either way, you decide ownership, addresses, and management.

ZenBusiness lists Starter at $0 without a base-plan renewal. Its optional first year of Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199/year; registered-agent service is listed at $199/year (intro pricing may show about $99 for the first year—confirm at checkout). EIN and operating-agreement services are separate Starter purchases. Check the current package terms and checkout selections.

A free introductory service can become a recurring expense. Before paying, review the initial total, renewal amounts, and cancellation terms. Keep a copy of your selections. A reminder is not confirmation that a required state filing was submitted, and the state filing fee remains separate.

Can you be your own Georgia registered agent?

Yes. You must select a Georgia registered agent (person or entity) with a physical Georgia street address for service of process. A member may serve if they provide a qualifying Georgia street address. The LLC registered office is the agent’s Georgia street address. See georgia.gov register guidance.

Consider whether you can reliably receive legal documents at that address during business hours. If your day is spent at customer sites or events, a commercial agent may be more practical. Compare delivery procedures and renewal costs before choosing.

Plan your address use before filing. Georgia business records are publicly searchable. The registered-agent address is one field; mailing and other required addresses are separate. Hiring an agent does not automatically make every address private. Supply accurate information in every field.

How to file your Georgia LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name. Search eCorp and include an LLC designator. Filing acceptance is not a trademark clearance. Optional name reservation is available in eCorp (confirm the current fee there).
2. Gather addresses and agent details. Have the filer name/address, valid email, principal-office mailing address, Georgia registered-agent name and street address, and each organizer’s name and address ready.
3. Decide who manages the company. Agree on ownership and management before banking. Ask your bank what documents it needs.
4. Review and submit. Prefer eCorp online (~7 business days standard on georgia.gov) or mail (~15 business days) with Form 231. Pay $100 online or $110 mail/in person as published, plus any expedite tier you select.
5. Confirm acceptance. Save the filed Articles, payment receipt, and entity details. A payment alone is not proof every detail was accepted correctly.

How long does approval take?

georgia.gov lists roughly 7 business days for standard online filings and about 15 business days for mail, with optional expedite add-ons (+$100 for 2 business days, +$250 same business day before noon on a weekday, and +$1,000 one-hour for mail/in-person paths). A service’s preparation time is separate from Georgia’s review. ZenBusiness lists standard preparation at 7–10 business days before state processing; faster service preparation does not guarantee immediate state approval.

If a lease, financing, or opening date depends on the LLC, leave room for name conflicts and corrections. Completing an online questionnaire is not the moment the company is approved.

Georgia LLC annual registration: what happens after formation?

The annual registration updates or confirms the state’s business record; it is not an income-tax return. An active LLC must register even when its information has not changed. File between January 1 and April 1 unless a multi-year registration already covers the year. See georgia.gov — Renew an LLC.

The indexed SOS annual-registration amount for LLCs is about $60 (online or paper on the SOS how-to fee table indexed during research). georgia.gov notes an additional $10 service charge for mail. Late filing after April 1 adds $25. Multi-year options (current year only, 2 years, or 3 years) are offered on the renew page—confirm the live eCorp total.

First-year timing: practice and common SOS guidance point to the calendar year after formation for the first annual registration, but georgia.gov renew does not spell that first-year rule in one explicit sentence. After formation, check eCorp for your entity’s due year rather than assuming a formation-year filing.

Continued failure can lead to administrative dissolution. If you buy compliance assistance, check that the registration was actually submitted. There is no separate SOS franchise tax on LLCs identified for this guide—local occupational tax certificates remain separate.

Starting near year-end? Confirm any delayed-effective options in eCorp if offered. Choose the date around your actual business start, then verify the first annual-registration year on the entity record.

After filing: get the business ready to operate

• Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Georgia’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.
• Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. An EIN service fee pays someone to assist; it is not an IRS charge. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
• Separate business finances. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
• Check taxes and operating permissions. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
• Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly before buying a BOI filing add-on.

For a simple one-owner operation, organize these tasks into a short checklist. Where ownership, investors, or tax elections are complicated, formation paperwork alone will not resolve those decisions.

Match insurance to the work your LLC performs

Entity formation and insurance solve different problems. Ask the insurer to identify the correct business and operations; ask clients or landlords what coverage and certificate of insurance they require. Use the relevant guide to compare coverage:

• Georgia cleaning business insurance
• Georgia food truck insurance
• Georgia HVAC insurance
• Georgia landscaping insurance
• Georgia daycare insurance

Continue with the Georgia business guide for the broader startup process.

Georgia LLC questions before you file

What is the cheapest way to form a Georgia LLC?

georgia.gov lists $100 to file Articles of Organization online by credit card, or $110 by mail/in person. Filing directly avoids a third-party preparation charge; ZenBusiness Starter also advertises a $0 formation service fee. Confirm the live eCorp checkout total before paying. Optional expedite fees and later annual registration are additional.

Is the Georgia annual registration due when I form the LLC?

Usually no—the first annual registration is generally due the calendar year after formation, filed between January 1 and April 1. Confirm the due year on eCorp for your entity. The indexed SOS amount is about $60; mail may add $10.

Can I be my own Georgia registered agent?

Yes, if you provide a physical Georgia street address for service of process. The registered office is the agent’s Georgia street address. A P.O. box-only setup does not meet that street-address need.

Does forming an LLC give me a Georgia business license?

No. Formation creates the entity with the Secretary of State. Local occupational tax certificates, industry permits, and tax accounts are separate; check your county/city and industry before opening.

Can I get an EIN without buying a service?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs free. Form the LLC first, then check eligibility for the IRS online application or use its alternative application instructions.