Here's what you need in Georgia
Official state business portal: Starting a Business Guide (Georgia.gov). Georgia.gov has a step by step guide to starting a business, with links to the Secretary of State, Department of Revenue and Department of Labor.
| What you need | Who issues it | Official fee | Links | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General state business licenseWe have not yet found an official state page that says whether Georgia requires a general state business license. Check with your city or county and the Georgia Secretary of State before you open. | State of Georgia | Not yet verifiedCheck with the agency | Source | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Form an LLCArticles of Organization. To form an LLC, file Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State. You can file online, by mail or in person, and you must file an annual registration each year. | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | $100 online, $110 by mail | Applyat ecorp.sos.ga.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Business name (DBA)Trade name (DBA) registration. Trade names are registered at the county level, with the Clerk of the Superior Court where your business is located. You must also publish a notice in the local newspaper for two weeks in a row. | Clerk of the Superior Court in your county | Set by each county | Source | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Sales tax permitSales and use tax certificate of registration. If you sell taxable goods in Georgia, register for a sales and use tax number with the Department of Revenue through the Georgia Tax Center. The registration does not need to be renewed. | Georgia Department of Revenue | Fee not published.Ask the agency | Applyat gtc.dor.ga.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Unemployment insurance (once you hire)Unemployment insurance tax account. Use the Online Employer Tax Registration on the Georgia Department of Labor website. You get a letter that says whether you must pay unemployment insurance tax, and if you are liable you set up an account right away. | Georgia Department of Labor | You pay tax on wages | Applyat dol.georgia.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Federal tax ID (EIN)Employer Identification Number (EIN). You need an EIN if you have employees or pay certain federal taxes, and banks often ask for one. Apply online with the IRS and you get the number in minutes. | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Free | Applyat irs.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
Costs after you start
What an LLC in Georgia pays or files after it is formed.
| What you need | Who issues it | Official fee | Links | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RegistrationEvery Georgia LLC files an annual registration with the Secretary of State each year, by April 1. You can also pay for 2 or 3 years at once. The fee is not shown here because we could not confirm it on the official fee page; check it on the Secretary of State website before you pay. | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | Not yet verifiedCheck with the agency | Source | Nov 7, 2026 |
Licenses by type of business
State level licenses. Your city or county may add its own permits.
| What you need | Who issues it | Official fee | Links | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair salon, barber shop or nail salonSalon or barber shop license. Salons and barber shops need a state license, and so does each cosmetologist or barber who works there. Licensing is handled through the Georgia Secretary of State. | Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers | Fee not published.Ask the agency | Source | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Child care in your homeFamily Child Care Learning Home license. You need a Family Child Care Learning Home license if you care for 3 to 6 unrelated children under 13 in your home for pay. Caring for more than 6 children for pay needs a child care center license. | Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (Bright from the Start) | $50 a year | Applyat decal.ga.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Selling alcohol (bar or restaurant)Alcohol license. Bars and restaurants apply for a state alcohol license from the Georgia Department of Revenue through the Georgia Tax Center. You also need a local alcohol license from your city or county. | Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol and Tobacco Division | Depends on the license type (state retail beer or wine license $50 each) | Applyat dor.georgia.govSource | Nov 7, 2026 |
| General contractorResidential or general contractor license. Georgia requires residential and general contractors to hold a state license. Plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors are licensed by a separate state board, and some trades such as painters and handymen do not need a state license. | Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors | Fee not published.Ask the agency | Source | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Selling homemade food (cottage food)Cottage food (House Bill 398). Since July 1, 2025, cottage food makers no longer need a state license. You can sell foods that are not potentially hazardous directly to consumers and to retail stores, and you must complete an approved food safety training program. | Georgia Department of Agriculture | No state license needed | Source | Nov 7, 2026 |
What is different in Georgia
- At $100, the LLC filing fee is near the middle: 18 of 49 verified states charge less and 21 charge more.
- Where to file a business name (DBA): Trade names are registered at the county level, with the Clerk of the Superior Court where your business is located. You must also publish a notice in the local newspaper for two weeks in a row.
Steps to start a business in Georgia
Pick a structure and register it
Sole owners can start under their own name. To form an LLC, file the Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division ($100).
Get a free EIN
Apply on irs.gov. You need it to hire, and banks usually ask for it. Never pay a website for an EIN.
Register your business name
If you trade under a name that is not your legal name, file a DBA with the Clerk of the Superior Court in your county.
Register for sales tax
If you sell taxable goods or services, get your permit from the Georgia Department of Revenue before your first sale.
Get a state license for your type of business
Salons, child care, alcohol, building work and home food each have their own state rules. See the table above.
Check city and county permits
Ask about a local business license, zoning, health and building permits before you sign a lease.
Register as an employer when you hire
Open a state unemployment insurance tax account with the Georgia Department of Labor.
City and county permits
Cities and countys in Georgia can require their own business license, zoning approval, health permit or building permit. Rules change from place to place, so ask your city hall and county clerk before you sign a lease. Home businesses often need a home occupation permit.
In the biggest cities, ask these local governments:
- Atlanta: the city, and Fulton County. City of Atlanta (atlantaga.gov)
City rules and fees are not in our guide yet.
Questions about business licenses in Georgia
Do I need a business license in Georgia?
We have not yet verified this on an official page. Check with the State of Georgia.
How much is an LLC in Georgia?
The Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division charges $100 online, $110 by mail to file the Articles of Organization. To form an LLC, file Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State. You can file online, by mail or in person, and you must file an annual registration each year.
Does an LLC need a business license in Georgia?
Yes, if your type of business or your location requires one. Forming an LLC only registers your company with the state; it is not a license. An LLC in Georgia still needs any state license for its type of business and any local business license from its city or county.
Do I need a sales tax permit in Georgia?
Yes, if you sell taxable goods or services. If you sell taxable goods in Georgia, register for a sales and use tax number with the Department of Revenue through the Georgia Tax Center. The registration does not need to be renewed.
How much is a DBA in Georgia?
Trade names are registered at the county level, with the Clerk of the Superior Court where your business is located. You must also publish a notice in the local newspaper for two weeks in a row. Official fee: Set by each county.
Can I sell homemade food from home in Georgia?
Since July 1, 2025, cottage food makers no longer need a state license. You can sell foods that are not potentially hazardous directly to consumers and to retail stores, and you must complete an approved food safety training program. Fee: No state license needed.
Do contractors need a state license in Georgia?
Georgia requires residential and general contractors to hold a state license. Plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors are licensed by a separate state board, and some trades such as painters and handymen do not need a state license.
Do I need an EIN?
You need an EIN if you have employees or pay certain federal taxes, and banks often ask for one. Apply online with the IRS and you get the number in minutes. It is free: never pay a website for an EIN.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from an official government page, checked on the date shown. Facts we could not confirm are marked Not yet verified and show no number. How we check.
- General state business license State of Georgia Not yet verified Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Form an LLC Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Business name (DBA) Clerk of the Superior Court in your county Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Sales tax permit Georgia Department of Revenue Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Unemployment insurance (once you hire) Georgia Department of Labor Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Child care in your home Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (Bright from the Start) Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Selling alcohol (bar or restaurant) Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol and Tobacco Division Checked Nov 7, 2026
- General contractor Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Selling homemade food (cottage food) Georgia Department of Agriculture Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Annual Registration Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division Not yet verified Checked Nov 7, 2026
- Federal tax ID (EIN) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Checked Nov 7, 2026