- Georgia LLC costs at a glance
- How long it takes, and what faster costs
- The detail most people miss: your members stay off the record
- How to form a Georgia LLC, step by step
- Who can be your registered agent
- Already have an LLC in another state?
- The annual registration rule that catches new owners
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To form a Georgia LLC, you file articles of organization with the Georgia Secretary of State and pay $110: a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge, as of October 2026. You need a registered agent located in Georgia. Every year after that, you file an annual registration between January 1 and April 1, which costs $60.
Georgia's filing fees are $100 to form and $50 a year, but the Secretary of State adds a $10 service charge to both, so the amounts you'll pay are $110 and $60. Here's the full picture from the state's own guides, plus one detail that makes Georgia unusually private.
Georgia LLC costs at a glance
All figures are from the Georgia Secretary of State, as of October 2026, and every fee is non-refundable:
| Filing or service | What you pay | How it breaks down |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of organization (online or by mail) | $110 | $100 filing fee + $10 service charge |
| Annual registration | $60 | $50 filing fee + $10 service charge |
| Late annual registration penalty | $25 | On top of the $60 |
| Name reservation (lasts 30 days) | $35 | $25 filing fee + $10 service charge |
| Reinstatement after administrative dissolution | $260 | $250 filing fee + $10 service charge |
| Dishonored check or card payment | $30 | NSF charge, plus the original fee |
How long it takes, and what faster costs
Online filings are generally processed in about 7 business days. If you upload your own paper articles online, allow about 10 to 14 business days, and paper filings sent by mail take about 15 business days from receipt. The state warns that late December through January is slower.
| Speed | Extra fee on top of $110 |
|---|---|
| Two business days | $120 |
| Same business day (submitted before noon) | $275 |
| One hour (paper filings) | $1,200 |
Expedited reviews only run during business hours on business days, so a same-day request sent in the afternoon is reviewed by noon the next business day.
The detail most people miss: your members stay off the record
Georgia's own FAQ says its LLC law requires only the registered agent to be listed. Members and managers aren't listed on the articles, and there's no procedure for changing them with the Secretary of State. That's a privacy advantage: owner names don't go on the state's filing. The flip side is that the state's records won't prove who owns your LLC, so your operating agreement becomes the document that does. My guide to writing an operating agreement covers what to put in it.
How to form a Georgia LLC, step by step
- Check your name is available. You can reserve it for 30 days for $35, but it isn't required, and you can't reserve the name of an entity dissolved in the last 5 years.
- Choose a registered agent located in Georgia to receive legal papers and official mail.
- Prepare any optional provisions you want in the articles.
- File online, where the articles are generated for you, or draft your own and either upload them or mail them with the LLC transmittal form (231).
- Pay $110 by card online, or by check if you file by mail.
- Once the LLC exists, get an EIN from the IRS. The Secretary of State doesn't issue or keep EINs. My guide to getting an EIN for a small business walks through it.
Who can be your registered agent
Georgia's FAQ, citing O.C.G.A. section 14-11-209, lists three options for a domestic LLC: an individual resident of Georgia, a Georgia corporation or LLC, or an out-of-state corporation or LLC that holds a certificate of authority to transact business in Georgia. You can be your own agent if you live in the state. Whoever you pick receives service of process and official mail, so a reliable address matters more than a cheap one.
Already have an LLC in another state?
Then you don't form a new one. An LLC formed elsewhere is a foreign LLC under Georgia law and may not transact business in the state until it obtains a certificate of authority. The FAQ warns that if you skip it, the company may not be able to file a lawsuit in Georgia. My guide to registering a foreign LLC explains the process.
The annual registration rule that catches new owners
Your first annual registration isn't due in the year you form the LLC. It's due between January 1 and April 1 of the following year, and every year after that. You can file up to 3 calendar years in advance, which is the easiest way to stop it ever slipping. Online annual registrations are processed immediately, with no expedite fee. Changes to your principal office or registered agent also go through the annual registration or an amended one.
If you don't file, the LLC can be administratively dissolved. You can reinstate within 5 years for $260, as of October 2026. My full guide to Georgia annual registration covers the filing itself.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
My verdict
Georgia is fair value for an LLC: $110 to start and $60 a year, as of October 2026, with owner names kept off the public filing. Budget for the real figures rather than the $100 and $50 filing fees alone, and file the annual registration three years ahead if you'd rather not think about April 1 again.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Georgia?
It's $110, as of October 2026: a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge, whether you file online or by mail.
How much is the Georgia LLC annual registration?
It's $60, as of October 2026 ($50 filing fee plus $10 service charge), due between January 1 and April 1 each year.
When is my first Georgia annual registration due?
Between January 1 and April 1 of the year after the calendar year in which you formed the LLC.
Does Georgia list LLC members publicly?
No. Georgia LLC law requires only the registered agent to be listed, so members and managers aren't on the articles of organization.
How fast can I form a Georgia LLC?
Online filings generally take about 7 business days. Two-day processing costs an extra $120 and same-day processing an extra $275, as of October 2026.
What happens if I miss the April 1 deadline?
There's a $25 late penalty, and an LLC that doesn't file can be administratively dissolved. Reinstatement within 5 years costs $260, as of October 2026.
Does my Georgia registered agent have to be in Georgia?
Yes. The registered agent must be located in Georgia.
