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Best Georgia LLC Formation Service in 2026
Georgia is one of the cheaper Southern states to form an LLC in — $110 to file, $60 a year to keep it alive — but the service you pick still decides whether your company is bankable in 3 weeks or stuck in EIN limbo for 3 months. For non-US founders, that gap is the entire game.
We've used most of these providers ourselves. Here's the honest ranking based on what actually saves a one-person company founder time and money.
Quick verdict
| Service | Best for | Filing fee (Georgia) | Service fee | Reg. Agent | EIN included | Non-US friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doola | Non-US founders, one-person company | $110 | from $297 (Starter) | ✅ 1 yr | ✅ (incl. SS-4 paper filing) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Northwest | US residents wanting privacy | $110 | $39 + state | ✅ 1 yr | ❌ (+$50) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| ZenBusiness | US residents, low budget | $110 | $0 (Starter) | ✅ 1 yr | ❌ (+$99) | ⭐⭐ |
| LegalZoom | US residents wanting brand | $110 | $0 (Basic) | $249/yr | ❌ (+$79) | ⭐⭐ |
| Bizee (formerly IncFile) | US residents, free starter | $110 | $0 + state | ✅ 1 yr | ❌ (+$70) | ⭐⭐ |
| DIY (Georgia SOS direct) | Founders with US SSN + address | $110 | $0 | ❌ ($125+/yr separately) | DIY (free with SSN) | ⭐ |
Our recommendation for non-US founders: Doola — bundles LLC + EIN (SS-4 paper filing for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent + Mercury Bank introduction in one flow.
Disclosure: We have an affiliate relationship with Doola — we use the same code (LLCCLASS10, 10% off) for ourselves. We earn a referral only if you sign up through our link, at no extra cost to you.
Georgia LLC basics
- Filing fee: $110 (Articles of Organization + Transmittal Form, one-time, online)
- Annual Registration: $60 every year, due by April 1 (first one is the year after formation)
- State income tax: Georgia honors federal pass-through treatment; personal income tax is a flat 5.39%, but only on Georgia-sourced income
- Privacy: Members are not required on the public filing, but the registered agent's name and address are public
- Quirk: Georgia requires a separate Transmittal Form alongside the Articles. Most formation services bundle it; if you DIY, don't forget it or your filing gets rejected
- No general state business license required at the state level (county/city may differ)
The Annual Registration deadline of April 1 trips up a lot of first-year founders — Georgia does not send paper reminders to non-US addresses. Set a calendar alert the day you form.
Service-by-service breakdown
1. Doola — best for non-US founders forming a Georgia LLC
- Pricing: Starter $297/yr, Total Compliance $799/yr
- Includes: LLC filing (Articles + Transmittal) + EIN (SS-4 paper filing for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent (1 yr) + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction
- Turnaround: 2–4 weeks for non-US founders (EIN bottleneck), ~2 weeks for US founders (Georgia's online queue runs 7–10 business days)
- Why we use it: One platform, one invoice, and they actually file the SS-4 paper EIN application. That single step is what separates "working US bank account in a month" from "still waiting on the IRS in October."
- Caveat: Renewal cost is higher than Northwest. If you have a US SSN, the math on year 2+ favors Northwest.
→ Doola signup with LLCCLASS10 code (10% off)
→ Full Doola 2026 review
2. Northwest Registered Agent — best for US residents who value privacy
- Pricing: $39 service + $110 state + $125/yr registered agent after year 1
- Includes: LLC filing + 1 year RA + privacy-by-default (their address on public filings)
- EIN: NOT included, +$50, and US-only
- Pick if: You have a US SSN, want minimal upsells, and value low long-term cost
3. ZenBusiness — US founders on a budget
- Pricing: Free Starter (pays $110 state only), Pro $199/yr, Premium $349/yr
- EIN: NOT included on Starter, +$99
- Caveat: Aggressive renewal pricing in year 2 — the "free" tier ends up costing more than Northwest after 24 months
4. LegalZoom — brand recognition, expensive ownership
- Pricing: Basic $0 + state, Pro $249, Premium $349
- EIN: +$79
- Caveat: Registered agent is a $249/yr add-on (vs Northwest $125). Cancellation flow is hostile.
5. Bizee (formerly IncFile) — US-residents free starter
- Pricing: Free + state, Gold $199, Platinum $299
- EIN: +$70
- Caveat: Compliance reminders are flaky — we've heard from Georgia users who missed their April 1 deadline because Bizee's email went to spam
6. DIY — Georgia SOS direct
- Cost: $110 state filing + ~$125/yr registered agent (any provider)
- Pick if: You have a US SSN, a Georgia street address for the agent, and patience for the Transmittal Form quirk
- Skip if non-US: SS-4 paper filing from outside the US adds 4–8 weeks to your timeline. Doola handles it.
Step-by-step Georgia LLC formation
- Choose a name — must include "LLC", "L.L.C.", or "Limited Liability Company". Check it at the Georgia SOS business search.
- Designate a registered agent — must have a physical Georgia street address (no PO Boxes).
- File Articles of Organization + Transmittal Form — $110 to the Georgia Corporations Division. Online approval runs 7–10 business days; mail takes ~15 business days plus transit.
- Get an EIN from the IRS — free online with SSN (5 minutes). Non-US founders file SS-4 by fax or mail; 4–8 weeks. Doola does this for you.
- Open a US business bank account — Mercury Bank is the default for non-US founders. 3-hour approval when your LLC and EIN are clean.
- File the Annual Registration — $60, due by April 1 every year starting the year after formation. Miss it and you'll pay late fees plus risk administrative dissolution.
FAQ
How much does it cost to keep a Georgia LLC active each year?
$60 per year for the Annual Registration. That's it at the state level — no franchise tax, no separate LLET-style fee.
Can a non-US resident form an LLC in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia does not require US citizenship or residency. You need a Georgia-based registered agent and an EIN. Doola covers both, including the SS-4 paper filing for founders without an SSN.
What's the Transmittal Form and do I really need it?
Yes. Georgia requires the Articles of Organization to be accompanied by a Transmittal Form listing the LLC's contact info and organizer. Filing without it gets the whole package rejected. Every paid formation service bundles it.
Is Georgia better than Wyoming for a non-US founder?
For pure privacy and lowest long-term cost: no. Wyoming wins. Georgia makes sense if you actually do business in Georgia (real estate, e-commerce fulfillment, local services) or want a state with no annual report on members. See our best state for LLC comparison.