Starting a business in Georgia

HOW TO START A BUSINESS IN GEORGIA.

Starting a business in Georgia can and should be easier than you think. You file simple forms with the secretary of state, and your business is formed! Obviously there’s a few more things than that, but if you’d like to start your own business yourself, you will find it easy to hire us as your registered agent and you’ll find all the forms you could file to start a business in Georgia, along with great filing instructions on the quickest and cheapest ways to start your business in Georgia.

What’s the actual process to start a business in Georgia?

1. You file articles of incorporation for a Georgia corporation or articles of organization for a Georgia LLC with the GA Secretary of State. 
2. You obtain a federal tax ID number (FEIN or EIN) with the IRS after you have confirmation and filed articles from the State of Georgia showing your approved Georgia business.
3. Opening a business banking account under your new Georgia business name should be easy with these two items.
4. You register your Georgia LLC with the Georgia Department of Revenue or Georgia Department of Labor if you're going to have employees or need to withhold sales tax. 
5. You obtain a state trade license, if you actually need one. Most businesses don't, but if you do, these quick links and contact details are in your online account.
6. Some local cities or counties have a general license, but most don’t.
7. You obtain a local trade license if the city or county you’re going to be working in requires it.
8. If you’re going to have an office or shop you might need an approval from the city zoning for your type of business in that location.
9. If you get overwhelmed, just get your business pulling in money and worry about regulations later.

If you want a corporation, you file Georgia Articles of Incorporation:

It will cost $100 to file the articles of incorporation with the GA Secretary of State, plus a $25 minimum franchise tax fee. 
We custom draft your Georgia articles of incorporation when you hire Northwest to start your Georgia business. The basic requirements of Georgia corporations are:

• The Georgia Corporation must have a corporate ending such as INC, Incorporated, Corporation or a different variety.
• The Georgia corporation name must be different than already registered Georgia corporations
• The number of shares the Georgia Corporation is authorized to issue
• The corporation’s principal mailing address
• The name and office address of the registered agent in Georgia
• The name, address, and signature of the incorporator(s)

Georgia does not require original signatures on new Georgia corporation filings. Georgia just sends you an email when they complete your filing. You can click on the link to view your filed document.

If you want a LLC, you file Georgia Articles of organization:

To form a Georgia LLC, you file Georgia articles of organization. The Georgia Secretary of State articles of organization filing fee is $100. The basic requirements of Georgia LLC filings are:

• The business name must have a LLC ending or variation of it
• The Georgia company name must be different than already registered Georgia companies
• The Georgia LLCs principal mailing address
• The Georgia registered agent name and the physical address
• The name and address of the Georgia organizer(s)

Georgia does not require original signatures on new GA LLC filings. The Georgia SOS will just send you an email when they have filed your articles of organization. You just click the link in the email to open your filed articles.

Are you a do-it-yourselfer? You can save some money:

If you want to start a business in Georgia yourself, you can just hire us as your Georgia registered agent, and you'll instantly have the Georgia LLC or corporation forms to file along with filing instructions on the quickest, cheapest, and most efficient way to incorporate a Georgia corporation or form a Georgia LLC. You'll get the ongoing support of our online tools, reminders and the support of a professional Georgia registered agent service.