Georgia Secretary of State

How Much Does a Corporation Cost in Georgia?

Forming a corporation in Georgia means filing the Articles of Incorporation with the Georgia Secretary of State. The calculator below separates official government fees from estimates, and fixed costs from variable ones.

Entity type

LLC Corporation

An S corporation is a federal tax election, not a state entity type — both LLCs and corporations may qualify for it.

Registered agent

Act as my own agent — $0Generally allowed if you have an in-state address and are available during business hoursHire a service — about $200/yrMarket estimate (typically $100–$300/yr), not a state fee

Processing speed

Publication required: Georgia law requires new Corporations to publish a formation notice. It's included below as an estimated required third-party cost — paid to newspapers, not the state.

First-year government fees — Georgia Corporation

$100

First-year estimated total: $140Includes the labeled estimates and optional services below

Official state fees

Articles of Incorporation filing fee$100

Estimates — not charged by the state

Publication (legally required, paid to newspapers)Estimated required third-party cost$40

Ongoing fixed fees

Annual registration feeDue between January 1 and April 1 each year, beginning the year after formation$50 / yr

≈ $50/yr annualized for comparison — actual payment schedule shown above.

Five-year outlook

Fixed government fees (5 yrs)$300

Estimated total (5 yrs)$340

Educational estimate based on official fee schedules verified July 12, 2026 — not legal or tax advice. Fees, rules, and processing times change; confirm with the state or a qualified professional before relying on them.

The numbers behind this page

Every figure comes from the typed data record for Georgia, verified July 12, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom of this page.

Formation fees — Georgia Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Articles of Incorporation filing fee Online fee; paper filings cost $110.	$100	One-time	Official state fee

† Partially verified — corroborated but not confirmed on a machine-readable official page.

Recurring & conditional obligations — Georgia Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Annual registration fee Online fee; paper filings cost $60. Up to three years can be prepaid at once.	$50	AnnualDue between January 1 and April 1 each year, beginning the year after formation	Official state fee

† Partially verified — corroborated but not confirmed on a machine-readable official page.

Filing process & processing times

File online through Georgia's eCorp portal or by mail; corporations must also publish a notice of intent to incorporate.

Processing options for Georgia Corporation filings
Option	Typical turnaround	Added fee	Notes
Standard processing	5–10 business days	None	Online filings are processed in roughly a week; paper takes longer
Two-business-day expedited service	2–2 business days	$100
Same-day expedited service	0–1 business days	$250	Available for filings submitted before noon

Processing times are estimates based on currently available official guidance and change with filing volume — they are not guaranteed.

Publication requirement

Georgia requires new corporations to publish notice of formation. Expect roughly $40, paid to newspapers rather than the state. A notice of intent to incorporate must be published in the official legal-organ newspaper of the county where the corporation's initial registered office is located, with the $40 fee sent to the newspaper no later than the day the articles are filed.

Estimate methodology: Georgia statute sets a standard $40 publication fee paid directly to the county's official legal-organ newspaper.

Registered agent costs

Every Georgia Corporationmust continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical in-state address. Acting as your own agent costs $0 where you meet the state's eligibility rules; commercial services typically run $100–$300 per year. The calculator uses $200 — the midpoint of that range — when you choose a hired service.

Midpoint of the typical advertised price range for national commercial registered-agent services as of July 2026 (e.g. Northwest Registered Agent $125/yr, ZenBusiness $199/yr, LegalZoom $249/yr). Budget providers advertise below this range and premium corporate-service firms above it. Serving as your own agent costs $0 where you meet state eligibility rules.

Worth knowing about Georgia

Georgia corporations (but not LLCs) must publish a notice of intent to incorporate in the county legal-organ newspaper — a flat $40 paid to the paper.

Georgia Corporation cost FAQs

How much does it cost to start a corporation in Georgia?

The Georgia Secretary of State charges $100 to file the Articles of Incorporation. That figure excludes optional services and any variable taxes, which depend on your circumstances.

What are the ongoing costs of a corporation in Georgia?

Georgia corporations generally must pay the annual registration fee of $50 per year (due between January 1 and April 1 each year, beginning the year after formation).

How long does it take to form a corporation in Georgia?

Standard processing generally takes about 5–10 business days. Expedited options are available: two-business-day expedited service for $100 and same-day expedited service for $250. Processing times change with filing volume, so confirm current turnaround with the state before relying on a date.

Do I need a registered agent for a corporation in Georgia?

Yes. Every Georgia corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and official mail. You can generally act as your own agent at no cost if you meet the state's eligibility rules, or hire a commercial service — typically $100–$300 per year. Whether serving as your own agent is practical depends on your circumstances, including privacy and availability during business hours.

Does Georgia require corporations to publish a notice of formation?

Yes — Georgia law requires new corporations to publish notice of formation. Publication is paid to newspapers, not the state, and typically runs $40 depending on the county. A notice of intent to incorporate must be published in the official legal-organ newspaper of the county where the corporation's initial registered office is located, with the $40 fee sent to the newspaper no later than the day the articles are filed. Because this cost varies by county and newspaper, it appears as an estimated required third-party cost, separate from official state fees.

What this page doesn't cover

Federal, state, and local taxes beyond the fixed fees shown — income-dependent taxes are listed as variable obligations and never included in exact totals.
Business licenses, local permits, industry-specific registrations, and DBA filings.
Attorney, accountant, or filing-service fees beyond the labeled registered-agent estimate.
Whether a corporation — or Georgia — is the right choice for your situation. FormedIn provides general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice, and nothing here recommends an entity type or formation state for any specific person.

Fees, rules, deadlines, and processing times change. Confirm current requirements with the Georgia Secretary of State and consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or tax professional about your specific circumstances.

Sources

Georgia data last verified July 12, 2026.

Corporations Division — Filing Fees— Georgia Secretary of StateOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost? 2026 Guide— RegisteredAgentCost.comaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?— ZenBusinessaccessed July 12, 2026