The state charges the same fee either way. The Secretary of State's domestic entity guide lists $110.00 to file Articles of Organization ($100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge). ZenBusiness's published 2026 pricing puts its Starter tier at $0 plus that state fee, Pro at $199 a year, and Premium at $299 a year. Registered agent service is a separate $199 a year on every tier, including Premium, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness. In the first year, using ZenBusiness costs between $0 and $398 more than filing yourself, depending on the tier and whether you take the registered agent. The state does not process a ZenBusiness filing differently or faster than your own. You're paying for the work to be done for you, not for a better result.
After formation, the obligations are the same on either route. The Secretary of State's annual registration guide sets the fee at $60.00. Georgia's administrative rules require a new LLC's first registration between January 1 and April 1 of the year after it is formed, and an LLC that never files risks administrative dissolution. An EIN is free from the IRS, so it is never a reason to pay a service.
File it yourself if you're comfortable completing a state web form, have a Georgia address you're willing to use as registered agent, and will remember an April 1 deadline. Choose ZenBusiness if any of those is a real obstacle and the convenience is worth the difference to you.
Georgia LLC fees and deadlines
| Item | Amount or rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $110.00 ($100 filing + $10 service charge) | Georgia Secretary of State, domestic entity registration guide |
| Annual registration | $60.00, online or paper | Georgia Secretary of State, annual registration guide |
| First annual registration | Between January 1 and April 1 of the year after formation | Georgia Rule 590-7-22 |
| Ongoing annual registration | Due by April 1. May be filed from January 1, and up to 3 years in advance | Georgia Secretary of State, annual registration guide |
| Late annual registration | $25.00 penalty | Georgia Secretary of State, annual registration guide |
| Amended annual registration | $30.00 | Georgia Secretary of State, annual registration guide |
| Never filing annual registration | Risk of administrative dissolution | Georgia Rule 590-7-22 |
| EIN | $0 from the IRS, applied for after the LLC is formed | IRS, Get an employer identification number |
| Federal BOI report | US-formed companies are exempt | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting |
Filing yourself versus using ZenBusiness
The options below are listed alphabetically, not ranked. This site earns a commission on some links, including ZenBusiness. That does not change which option this page recommends for a given situation.
| Option | Service cost | State filing fee | Registered agent | What you're buying |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File directly with the Georgia Secretary of State | $0 | $110.00 | Name yourself or anyone with a Georgia address | Nothing. You complete the filing yourself |
| ZenBusiness | Starter $0, Pro $199/yr, Premium $299/yr | $110.00, paid on top of the tier | $199/yr on every tier, $99 for the first year when forming with ZenBusiness | Paperwork prepared and submitted for you |
What filing yourself involves
Filing directly means completing the Secretary of State's formation filing yourself and paying the $110.00 fee. You choose a name, name a registered agent with a Georgia street address, and submit. The state issues the same approval it would issue for a service's submission. The real work comes afterward: remembering the $60.00 annual registration each year between January 1 and April 1. The Secretary of State allows filing up to three years in advance, which removes most of the risk of forgetting.
Where ZenBusiness earns its fee
The strongest reason to pay is the registered agent. If you don't want to use your own address, or you won't reliably be available at a Georgia address during business hours, a paid agent solves that. ZenBusiness charges $99 for the first year and $199 a year after that.
Starter is the cleanest comparison. You pay the state fee and nothing else for the filing, so the only added cost is the agent if you choose it. Pro and Premium add a yearly charge on top. Check ZenBusiness's pricing page for exactly what each tier includes before buying, because tier contents change. If a tier's appeal rests on getting you an EIN, remember that the IRS issues one for free and advises against paying a third party for it.
If you want the filing and agent handled together and would rather not track them yourself, ZenBusiness is a sensible fit. Starter plus the discounted first-year agent comes to $209 in the first year, including the state fee.
Where filing yourself is the better call
Filing yourself makes more sense in these situations:
- You're forming a simple LLC.
- You're comfortable listing a Georgia address you control as a registered agent.
- You'll set a reminder for the annual registration.
In that case, a service adds cost without changing the outcome. Year one costs you $110.00. After that, you owe $60.00 a year. If you kept ZenBusiness's registered agent, you'd pay $199 a year on top of that from year two onward, plus the Pro or Premium renewal if you chose one of those tiers.
EIN and beneficial ownership
The IRS says to form the entity with the state before applying for an EIN, and the EIN itself is free. FinCEN's current guidance exempts companies formed in the United States from federal beneficial ownership reporting, so a Georgia LLC has no BOI report to file on either route.
FAQ
What is the Georgia LLC filing fee with the Secretary of State?
The Secretary of State's domestic entity guide lists $110.00 for Articles of Organization. That is a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge.
What is the official Georgia LLC filing fee online, and the annual registration fee?
The formation fee is $110.00, as listed above. The Secretary of State's annual registration guide sets the annual registration at $60.00, online or on paper. It is due by April 1, and you can file it up to three years ahead. Late filing carries a $25.00 penalty, and an amended registration costs $30.00.
What does ZenBusiness pricing look like for Starter, Pro and Premium in 2026?
- Starter: $0 plus the state fee.
- Pro: $199 a year.
- Premium: $299 a year.
Registered agent service is a separate $199 a year on every tier, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness. Some older sources show a $399 Premium tier with the agent included. That pricing is out of date.
Will ZenBusiness get my Georgia LLC approved faster?
No. The state handles a service's submission the same way it handles yours. What you're paying for is the paperwork being done for you.
Do I need to pay for an EIN?
No. The IRS issues EINs for free. Apply after your LLC has been formed with the state.
Sources
- Georgia Secretary of State, “How to Guide: Register Domestic Entity”
- Georgia Secretary of State, “How to Guide: File Annual Registration”
- Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, “Subject 590-7-22 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES - ANNUAL REGISTRATIONS”
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state and change over time.