How to Start an LLC in Georgia (2026): 7 Steps and the 3 Best LLC Services
Lesson answer for Georgia in 2026: if you want help with starting an LLC, use Mainstay Filing ($199), GA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Georgia Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. After the picks come 7 short steps; the state's own charge to file is $110.
Published prices, read November 12, 2026. The $110 state fee is extra in every row.
Forming the LLC, in order
Step1
Step 1: Name the company
A quick search of the state's business records tells you whether the name is free.
TipWrite down two backup names before you search.
Step2
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Georgia resident, a Georgia corporation or LLC, or a corporation or LLC from another state with authority to do business in Georgia. An entity cannot be its own agent.
The address has to be a Georgia street address that is also the agent's business office, and the agent has to be located there. A P.O. box or mail drop cannot be used.
TipEach pick above can serve as the registered agent.
Official source: Per sos.ga.gov, last confirmed October 2026
Step3
Step 3: Decide who files: you or a service
Two routes: file yourself and pay only the $110 state fee, or let a service do it for $199 more. Our picks are above.
Step4
Step 4: Complete and file the Articles of Organization
Fill in the Articles of Organization (Form CD 030) and send it to the Georgia Secretary of State with the $110 fee (O.C.G.A. § 14-11-203).
Official source: Per sos.ga.gov, last confirmed October 2026
Step5
Step 5: Get your EIN
After the Georgia approval, the IRS issues an EIN, the number banks and payroll use for the LLC. This step is included with Mainstay Filing.
Step6
Step 6: Put an operating agreement in writing
Put ownership and decision rules into an operating agreement and keep it with the company papers.
Step7
Step 7: Keep the LLC active
Keep the company in good standing with the annual registration: $60 every year, due April 1. Miss the date and $25 is added.
Official source: Per sos.ga.gov, last confirmed October 2026
Georgia costs by step
Step
Who you pay
Price
Formation filing
State
$110
Annual registration
State
$60 every year
Late fee
State
$25
A service, if you use one
The service
$199 year one
State fees, years one to three
State
$230
State amounts come from Georgia's official schedules (see References). The three-year state line adds the filing, the reports due in years two and three and any yearly minimum tax.
Why this order
On lesson steps handled, which carries 35%, Mainstay Filing scored above GA Registered Agent.org.
Having the annual registration handled outweighed GA Registered Agent.org's lower three-year cost.
Quick answers
What does it cost to form an LLC in Georgia?
Filing costs $110. Our picks charge $199 on top.
Which form creates the LLC?
It is called the Articles of Organization (Form CD 030), and it goes to the Georgia Secretary of State.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Georgia require each year?
The annual registration: $60, every year, due April 1.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes, by filing yourself for $110 and naming a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
In order: Mainstay Filing, GA Registered Agent.org and Georgia Registered Agent.co. Mainstay Filing comes first because formation, registered agent service and the annual registration sit under one $199 yearly price.