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How to Set Up a Georgia LLC on Your Own

Technically speaking, you don’t have to use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. These services are incredibly helpful, but you can save money by completing the process yourself.

You can read our complete guide to DIY an LLC setup in Georgia, but here’s a quick look at the process:

Choose a business name

Every LLC in Georgia needs a name that’s memorable and gives potential clients a good idea of what goods or services are available. The name also needs to be unique — both for legal reasons and so your business stands out from the competition.

Appoint a GA registered agent

As we’ve mentioned in this guide, every LLC needs an agent who can accept service of process on your behalf. In all states, you can act as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical address in the state. That said, we generally recommend that you appoint someone else (like an online service) to act as your agent.

File the Articles of Organization

This document, once filled out and filed, officially forms your business in the state of Georgia. You’ll need to provide some important information, including your contact information, your business address, signatures for your LLC’s members, and more. Georgia has a $100 filing fee.

Setting up the LLC is as easy as 1-2-3; it’s the maintenance requirements that are a bit more complicated:

Register for and pay taxes

If you have employees, you’ll need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. Then there are state-specific taxes, too. Regardless of how your entity is taxed, the top income tax rate you’ll pay is 5.75%. That’s the corporate flat rate, and the individual rate ranges between 1 and 5.75%. There’s also the sales tax to account for (4% plus local rates). More information about these and other taxes can be found at the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Get licenses and permits

Most businesses in Georgia will need to get an operating license, but don’t go to the Secretary of State to get them. Instead, those licenses are administered on the county level. The majority of businesses will also need to obtain professional licenses, too. Check out the state’s Licensing page to learn more.

Create an operating agreement

Even single-member LLCs should create a “master document” that sets out how the business will operate, both now and in the future.

File your annual report

Each year, your LLC will need to file an annual report to update the state about the standing of your business. It’s due between January 1 and April 1, and the filing fee is $50 ($60 for mail-in filings).

Obtain business insurance

Every business with employees needs to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and a commercial vehicle policy for company-owned vehicles. You may also want to get a general business liability policy, too.

Get a business bank account

You should sign up for a business bank account so you can write checks and make purchases in the name of the business instead of pulling from your personal accounts (a legal no-no).

This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. For more detailed guidance, we recommend contacting an attorney or checking out the full Georgia LLC Formation Guide.

What Is a Georgia LLC?

LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnerships, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes. For more a more in-depth description see: What is an LLC?

The Total Cost of Forming and Maintaining an LLC in Georgia

You cannot form an LLC in Georgia without filing the Articles of Organization, the document that officially registers your business within the state. This filing costs $100 to file online, with an additional $10 fee if you opt to file by mail instead.

No matter what entity type you form, your business will need to submit an Annual Registration each year. This filing costs $50 plus $10 if you choose to file by mail.

Another important expense you can’t overlook is the general business license. Unlike many states, Georgia does not require this filing on the state level; instead, you will apply for that license on the county level. Each county changes its own filing fee.

Last but not least, you’ll want to keep annual taxes in mind. Georgia charges a flat rate for corporations and a bracketed personal income tax rate. Beyond that, you’ll also have to pay federal taxes, along with several others. Read more about Georgia costs – Georgia LLC costs.