Filing it yourself involves four pieces of work. You choose a name that includes an LLC designator and is distinguishable from existing Georgia entities. You name a registered agent with a physical Georgia address. You submit the Articles. Then you keep the company in good standing. That last part is where self-filers most often slip. The Secretary of State's annual registration guide sets the annual registration fee at $60.00, and Georgia's administrative rules require a new LLC to file its first one between January 1 and April 1 of the year after formation. A late filing carries a $25.00 penalty, and the same rules state that failing to file risks administrative dissolution.
Two follow-up steps cost nothing. The IRS issues an Employer Identification Number (EIN) free of charge, but only after the LLC exists with the state, and the IRS warns against paying a third party for one. FinCEN's beneficial ownership guidance states that companies created in the United States are exempt from federal BOI reporting, so a Georgia LLC has nothing to file there.
Georgia LLC fees and deadlines at a glance
| Item | Figure or requirement | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $110 ($100 filing + $10 service charge) | Georgia Secretary of State, domestic entity how-to guide |
| Annual registration | $60.00, online or paper | Georgia Secretary of State, annual registration how-to guide |
| First annual registration window | January 1 to April 1 of the year after formation | Georgia Administrative Code, Rule 590-7-22 |
| Ongoing annual registration timing | Due by April 1, may be filed from January 1, up to 3 years in advance | Georgia Secretary of State, annual registration how-to guide |
| Late annual registration penalty | $25.00 | Georgia Secretary of State, annual registration how-to guide |
| Amended annual registration | $30.00 | Georgia Secretary of State, annual registration how-to guide |
| Consequence of not filing | Risk of administrative dissolution | Georgia Administrative Code, Rule 590-7-22 |
| EIN | $0, apply after state formation | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| Federal BOI report | Not required for US-formed companies | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information |
How to file a Georgia LLC yourself, step by step
1. Choose and check the name. The name must include a designator that identifies it as a limited liability company, such as "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company." It must also be distinguishable from names already on record with the Secretary of State, so run a search in the state's business entity search before filing. If the name suggests a licensed profession or a regulated activity, check with the relevant licensing board first. Georgia also lets you reserve a name before filing. If you want to hold a name before you're ready to file, the Secretary of State offers name reservation and publishes its current terms and cost.
2. Name a registered agent. The registered agent receives legal papers and official notices for the LLC. The agent needs a physical street address in Georgia and must be available there during business hours. You can serve as your own agent, appoint another member or a trusted person, or hire a commercial agent. The agent's name and address go into the public record.
3. File the Articles of Organization. File online through the Corporations Division's filing system. Create an account, choose a domestic limited liability company, and enter the LLC name, principal office address, mailing address, registered agent details, and the organizer's information. Pay the $110.00 fee listed in the Secretary of State's domestic entity guide. Processing times vary with volume, so check the Corporations Division for current timing. An operating agreement, if the members adopt one, is kept internally and is not filed with the state.
4. Get an EIN from the IRS. Once the state has approved the LLC, apply for an EIN directly with the IRS. According to the IRS, the number is free, and you should never pay a third party to obtain it. The IRS also directs applicants to form the entity with the state first.
5. Put the annual registration on your calendar. The Secretary of State's annual registration guide sets the fee at $60.00 and the deadline is April 1. Georgia's rules place a new LLC's first filing between January 1 and April 1 of the year after it was formed. You can pay up to 3 years in advance, which removes the risk of forgetting. If details change after you file, an amended annual registration costs $30.00.
Doing it yourself versus hiring a service
The state fee is the same either way. A service does not get you a lower filing fee or faster access to the state. What you pay for is convenience and a few specific protections.
Filing yourself makes sense if you are comfortable with an online form, have a Georgia address you are willing to publish as the registered agent, and will reliably calendar an April deadline. The total state cost for the first year is the $110.00 filing fee, followed by $60.00 each year after.
A service makes more sense if you need a registered agent address or are out of state, if you want privacy for a home address, or if you want deadline reminders handled for you. If that describes your situation, you can compare ZenBusiness's LLC formation plans before filing. Its Starter plan is $0 plus the state fee, Pro is $199 a year, and Premium is $299 a year. Registered agent service is a separate $199 a year on every tier, including Premium, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with the company. So a formation service that includes a registered agent will cost more than the state fee alone, even on the free tier.
This site earns a commission on some links, including for ZenBusiness. That arrangement does not change the core point here: a Georgia LLC can be formed without any service at all.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Georgia LLC filing fee online with the Secretary of State?
The Georgia Secretary of State's domestic entity guide lists $110.00 for Articles of Organization, which is a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge. After that, the annual registration costs $60.00 a year, according to the Secretary of State's annual registration guide.
How do you form an LLC online with the Georgia Secretary of State, and what does the registered agent need?
File Articles of Organization through the Corporations Division's online system, then pay the $110.00 fee. The registered agent must have a physical Georgia street address and be available there during business hours. The agent can be you, another member, or a commercial agent.
Does a Georgia LLC need a registered agent and an annual registration?
Yes to both. Every Georgia LLC must maintain a registered agent. It must also file an annual registration, which costs $60.00 and is due by April 1. A new LLC files its first one between January 1 and April 1 of the year after formation, under Georgia Administrative Code Rule 590-7-22. Late filing adds a $25.00 penalty, and not filing risks administrative dissolution.
Do you need to pay for an EIN or file a BOI report?
No. The IRS issues EINs for free once the LLC has been formed with the state. FinCEN states that companies created in the United States are exempt from federal beneficial ownership reporting.
Sources
- Georgia Secretary of State, “How to Guide: Register Domestic Entity”
- Georgia Secretary of State, “How to Guide: File Annual Registration”
- Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, “Subject 590-7-22 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES - ANNUAL REGISTRATIONS”
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state and change over time.