How to Register a Business in Georgia: Certificate of Authority Guide (2026)
If your company was formed in another state and now has employees, an office or regular business in Georgia, you register with the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division by applying for a Certificate of Authority. Here is what it costs, what you need, and what comes after.
Georgia at a glance
Item | Georgia |
|---|---|
Filing | Application for Certificate of Authority |
Where | Georgia Corporations Division, online at ecorp.sos.ga.gov or by mail |
State fee | $235 for corporations and LLCs ($225 filing fee plus $10 service charge) |
Typical processing | 1–2 weeks; faster expedited options available |
You'll need | Corporations: an original certificate of existence from the home state, no more than 90 days old. LLCs: none |
Registered agent | Required, located in Georgia |
Ongoing filing | Annual registration every year between January 1 and April 1 ($60) |
Do you need to register in Georgia?
You generally need to register if your company is "doing business" in Georgia, for example if you:
Have an office, store or warehouse in Georgia
Employ people who live and work in Georgia
Regularly sell to, or provide services for, Georgia customers
Activities that usually don't count on their own include holding a bank account in Georgia, holding internal meetings there, and isolated one-off transactions. If you're unsure, check with your attorney or book a call with us.
Hiring a remote employee in Georgia always means opening Georgia payroll tax accounts, even when Secretary of State registration isn't required. See the payroll section below.
How to register, step by step
Corporations: get a certificate of existence from your home state. Georgia wants the original, no more than 90 days old. LLCs can skip this step.
Choose a Georgia registered agent. See the rules below.
File online at ecorp.sos.ga.gov. Create an account, choose to register a foreign business, and pay the $235 fee by card. If you're in a hurry, two-business-day service costs an extra $120 and same-day service an extra $275.
Save your approval and Georgia control number. You'll need them for payroll and tax registrations.
Registered agent rules in Georgia
Every business registered in Georgia must keep a registered agent located in the state. The agent receives lawsuits and official notices for your company, so the address has to be staffed during business hours.
Using an employee as your agent is allowed, but it means legal papers go to one person's home, and they're lost if that person leaves. A commercial registered agent avoids that. Every AbstractOps plan includes registered agent service.
Annual registration: every year by April 1
Georgia requires an annual registration every year, starting the year after you register. You can file between January 1 and April 1, online or by mail, and the fee is $60.
Filing late adds a $25 penalty, and companies that don't file can have their Certificate of Authority revoked.
Georgia payroll accounts
If you have employees in Georgia, you'll also need:
A withholding account with the Georgia Department of Revenue.
An unemployment insurance account with the Georgia Department of Labor.
Our Georgia payroll tax registration guide walks through the details.
Georgia registration FAQ
How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC or corporation in Georgia?
$235: a $225 filing fee plus a $10 service charge.
How long does Georgia take?
Typically 1–2 weeks. Expedited service is available for an extra $120 (two business days) or $275 (same day).
Does Georgia require a certificate of good standing?
Corporations need an original certificate of existence from their home state, no more than 90 days old. LLCs don't.
When is the Georgia annual registration due?
Between January 1 and April 1 every year, starting the year after you register. The fee is $60.
Let us handle Georgia for you
AbstractOps files your Georgia registration, acts as your registered agent, opens your payroll accounts and tracks your annual filings, from $250 per state per year. Start a 7-day free trial or book a 15-minute call.
This guide is for general information and isn't tax or legal advice. Fees and rules change; confirm current requirements with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division.