How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Georgia?

Registering a business in Georgia costs $100 for the most common entity types when you file online with the Secretary of State. That is the filing fee by itself. Once you add the items most new owners also pay for — a local occupational tax certificate, the corporate publication notice if you incorporate, and the first annual registration — a realistic total cost to register a business in Georgia runs between $150 and $400, depending on your entity type and the city or county where you operate.

State Filing Fee by Entity Type

The Georgia Secretary of State charges a flat $100 online filing fee for the three most common business formations:

Nonprofit corporations also file through the Secretary of State, though the fee may differ depending on the organization type. Every state filing fee is non-refundable, whether your documents are approved or rejected.

Online vs. Mail Filing

How you submit the paperwork changes the total:

  • Online through eCorp at ecorp.sos.ga.gov — $100, paid by credit card or electronic check.
  • Mail or hand-delivery — $110, which is the $100 filing fee plus a $10 paper processing service charge.4Georgia Secretary of State. Filing Procedure – Corporation

Online is cheaper and faster. Standard online processing takes about seven business days. Mailed applications take longer because of postal transit and manual handling.

What Faster Processing Costs

If you need the registration moved up, Georgia offers two expedited tiers on top of the base fee:2Georgia.gov. Register a Corporation

  • Two-business-day processing — additional $100.
  • Same-day processing — additional $250, and the filing must be submitted before noon on a weekday.

Pay same-day only if a closing, loan, or contract genuinely needs the certificate by end of day. Most new owners can wait the standard week.

The $40 Publication Fee for Corporations

Georgia has a requirement that catches first-time incorporators by surprise: new corporations must publish a notice of intent to incorporate in a local newspaper. This applies to profit and professional corporations. It does not apply to LLCs or limited partnerships.

Under O.C.G.A. § 14-2-201.1, the notice goes to the newspaper designated for legal advertisements in the county where your registered office sits. The publication fee is a flat $40, paid directly to the newspaper. The notice runs once a week for two consecutive weeks, beginning within ten days after the newspaper receives it.5Justia. Georgia Code 14-2-201.1 – Publication of Notice of Incorporation

One reassuring detail: if you forget to send the notice, or the newspaper fails to publish it, your incorporation is not invalidated. The Secretary of State processes your articles independently of the publication.

Optional: Name Reservation and DBA

Neither of these is required to register your business, but both come up often enough to budget for.

A name reservation costs $35 total, which is a $25 filing fee plus a $10 service charge.6Georgia Secretary of State. Form – Name Reservation It holds the name for 30 days and cannot be renewed. The fee is non-refundable even if your desired name turns out to be unavailable. Most people filing online skip this because the eCorp portal checks name availability as part of the formation filing itself.

A trade name (DBA) is for operating under a name different from your registered entity name. DBAs are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court in your county, not with the Secretary of State, and the fee varies by county.7Georgia.gov. File for a DBA (Doing Business As) You’ll also need to publish the trade name in a local newspaper once a week for two consecutive weeks. A DBA does not create a separate legal entity and does not provide liability protection.

The $50 Annual Registration Fee

This is the recurring cost new owners most often miss when they price out registration. Every Georgia LLC and corporation, domestic or foreign, must file an annual registration with the Secretary of State. The fee is $50 per year.1Justia. Georgia Code 14-11-1101 – Filing Fees and Penalties

Miss the deadline and you’ll owe a $25 late penalty on top of the fee.1Justia. Georgia Code 14-11-1101 – Filing Fees and Penalties Keep ignoring it and the Secretary of State will administratively dissolve your business, which strips your liability protection and your good standing. Reinstatement runs $260, which is a $250 fee plus a $10 service charge, and that’s before you pay the back annual fees and penalties that have piled up.8Georgia Secretary of State. How to Guide: Reinstate an Entity Put the renewal date on your calendar the day you register.

Local Occupational Tax Certificate

After the state registration, most Georgia cities and counties require an Occupational Tax Certificate. This is a local business license, and it is entirely separate from your Secretary of State filing. The cost varies widely by jurisdiction.

Some localities charge a flat fee somewhere between $50 and $100. Others calculate the tax based on your gross receipts, number of employees, or both, which can push the total into several hundred dollars for larger operations. The certificate renews annually. Letting it lapse can trigger penalties or suspend your right to operate at that location.

There is no statewide standard. Call your city or county finance or planning department for the exact fee schedule before you open.

Your EIN Is Free

Most Georgia businesses need an Employer Identification Number from the IRS, and it costs nothing. Apply through the IRS online tool and the number is issued immediately on approval.9Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number

Ignore any third-party website that charges to get you an EIN. The IRS specifically warns against these services. The online application takes about 15 minutes and times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, so complete it in one sitting. Phone, fax, and mail applications are also accepted.

If You’re Registering from Another State

If your business is already formed somewhere else and you want to operate in Georgia, you register as a foreign entity. The filing fee is $235, which is $225 plus a $10 service charge, and it applies whether you’re registering an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership.10Georgia Secretary of State. How to Guide: Register a Foreign Entity

Foreign entities owe the same $50 annual registration as domestic ones.1Justia. Georgia Code 14-11-1101 – Filing Fees and Penalties Operating in Georgia without registering can expose you to penalties and leave you unable to enforce contracts in Georgia courts.

Smaller Costs Worth Knowing About

Registered agent. Every Georgia business must list a registered agent with a physical Georgia street address to accept legal documents.11Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia Business Forms You can serve as your own agent, or appoint someone you know, at no cost, provided they’re reachable at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services typically run $100 to $300 per year, which makes sense mainly if you don’t have a permanent Georgia office or want your home address off public records.

Certificate of Existence. When a bank or lender wants proof your business is in good standing, you can order a Certificate of Existence from the Secretary of State for $20, which is $10 plus a $10 service charge.12Georgia Secretary of State. Corporations Division Filing Fees You won’t need one to register, but it’s a common ask later.

Notary fees. Some formation documents and trade name filings need notarized signatures. Georgia caps notary fees at $2 per notarial act.13GSCCCA. Georgia Notary Law

Sales tax registration. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for a Sales and Use Tax account through the Georgia Tax Center. Registration is free.14Georgia Department of Revenue. How to Register a Sales and Use Tax Account Have your EIN ready before you start.