How Much Does it Cost to Start a Georgia LLC on Your Own? (2026)

Beyond the initial state filing fee, forming your company independently requires no mandatory additional expenses. Obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is $0 (free) directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and entity owners should never pay a third-party service for an EIN. Under current federal guidelines, companies created within the United States are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting.

To maintain your business in good standing, Georgia requires an annual registration fee of $60.00 ($50 filing fee plus a $10 service charge). This fee is due between January 1 and April 1 of each year beginning the calendar year after formation. Late submissions incur a $25.00 penalty, and failing to file risks administrative dissolution. In total, starting a Georgia LLC independently costs $110.00 in year one, followed by $60.00 annually in recurring state maintenance fees.

Fact Table

Understanding Georgia LLC Filing Fees and Procedures

Forming a domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Georgia requires submitting Articles of Organization to the Corporations Division of the Georgia Secretary of State. The official cost to file Articles of Organization is $110.00, which includes a base filing fee of $100.00 and a $10.00 service charge. The Secretary of State charges this same $110.00 fee whether you file electronically via the eCorp portal or by mail. If you elect to file by mail, you must also include Transmittal Information Form CD 231 alongside your printed Articles of Organization.

Before applying for federal tax identification, you must form the entity with the state first. Once the Georgia Secretary of State approves your Articles of Organization and issues your certificate of organization, you can request an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. An EIN is free directly from the IRS at $0. Business owners should never pay a third party for an EIN, as the official online application provides instant approval at no charge. Additionally, domestic companies formed in the United States are exempt from federal Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting with FinCEN.

Recurring Georgia LLC Compliance Costs

To keep an LLC active and in good standing with the state, business owners must submit an annual registration to the Georgia Secretary of State.

• Annual Registration Fee: The annual registration fee is $60.00 ($50.00 filing fee plus a $10.00 service charge). This rate applies identically to online and paper submissions.
• Filing Window: For a newly formed LLC, the initial annual registration window opens between January 1 and April 1 of the year following formation. You do not owe an annual registration fee during the calendar year in which your LLC is initially created.
• Advance Filing Option: Georgia permits business owners to file annual registrations up to 3 years in advance if they wish to lock in compliance for multiple years at once.
• Late Fees and Penalties: If you miss the April 1 deadline, the state assesses a late filing penalty of $25.00. Persistent failure to file annual registrations risks administrative dissolution, which revokes the LLC's legal authority to conduct business in Georgia.
• Amended Annual Registration: If you need to update business information (such as principal address or registered agent details) outside of the annual filing window, the fee for an amended annual registration is $30.00.

DIY Filing vs. Using a Formation Service

Filing for a Georgia LLC on your own is a straightforward process. If you are comfortable entering your company details into the state's online portal and managing ongoing deadlines yourself, filing directly with the Georgia Secretary of State for $110.00 is the most economical approach.

However, some business owners prefer using a commercial formation service to handle document preparation, provide registered agent representation, or manage recurring compliance reminders. Commercial services charge varying service fees in addition to the mandatory $110.00 Georgia filing fee.

Below is a comparison of commercial formation providers (listed alphabetically, not ranked):

When deciding between independent filing and a commercial service, consider your personal comfort with administrative tasks. If you already have a physical street address in Georgia to serve as your registered office and do not mind logging into the state system once a year, handling the filing yourself saves you from ongoing subscription fees.

For business owners who want guided filing, streamlined compliance alerts, or a separate business address to maintain privacy, choosing a formation service can be a practical option. We recommend ZenBusiness for entrepreneurs who seek structured compliance tracking and simplified management tools, while acknowledging that filing on your own directly through the Georgia Secretary of State remains the fastest way to form an LLC at absolute minimum cost.

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