Incorporation in Georgia means stepping into public view from Day 1. Every filing runs through eCorp, the state’s digital record of corporate life. The system tracks your business’s milestones as they happen: formation, officer appointments, and annual renewals. Each one is time-stamped and available for anyone to see. Within 90 days of formation, each corporation must file an annual registration to name its officers. That connects each business to real people before the business can open a bank account or sign a contract.

Below, we’ll explore how to incorporate in Georgia, including the legal requirements and costs.

What’s in this article?

• What does it mean to incorporate a business in Georgia?
  
• What are the advantages of forming a corporation in Georgia?
  
• What are the legal requirements to incorporate in Georgia?
  
• How much does it cost to incorporate in Georgia?
  
• What are the steps to incorporate your business in Georgia?
  
• How Stripe Atlas can help
  

What does it mean to incorporate a business in Georgia?

In Georgia, incorporation creates a separate legal entity, known as a corporation, that can own property, sign contracts, hire employees, and be held accountable in its own name. The moment your articles of incorporation are accepted by the secretary of state, your business becomes distinct from you. That separation protects your personal assets—as long as you follow the state’s rules (maintaining records, filing on time, and keeping finances separate). It’s a structure built to manage risk and establish clear ownership.

Georgia law requires at least 1 director (18 or older) and basic internal records: bylaws, meeting minutes, and a stock ledger. Within 90 days of formation, you must file an initial annual registration that lists principal officers, then renew your corporation each year before April 1.

Each corporation also needs a registered agent with a physical address in Georgia to receive legal notices. In Georgia, many new corporations are formed as C corporations (C corps)—businesses owned by one or more shareholders. If your business will pass on taxable income, losses, deductions, and credits to shareholders, elect S corporation (S corp) status with the IRS.

What are the advantages of forming a corporation in Georgia?

As of 2025, Georgia had 1.4 million small businesses that employed 1.8 million people—nearly 43% of the state’s employees. Georgia offers a combination of statutory clarity, low administrative overhead, and a probusiness tax environment that’s difficult to match in the region.

Here are some advantages of incorporating in Georgia:

• Liability protection and permanence: A Georgia corporation is a separate legal entity under Code of Georgia Title 14, which shields shareholders from business liability. Once formed, the corporation exists in perpetuity: ownership and directors can change, but the legal entity remains intact until it’s dissolved. If you’re a consultant or an investor, that continuity makes corporate diligence simpler because the business’s standing and amendments are permanently recorded in the Georgia Corporations Division database.

• Flexible capital formation: Georgia imposes no restrictions on the classes or number of authorized shares. Once the articles are filed and the shares are authorized, a corporation can issue stock in accordance with the authorized number. That flexibility, combined with low formation costs, makes it easier for early-stage businesses to structure ownership or attract equity partners without needing to rewrite the founding documents as they grow.

• Low taxes and costs: The state corporate income tax is a flat 5.19%. There’s no franchise tax. Instead, Georgia levies an annual net worth tax based on assets. Qualified businesses can claim credits for job creation, port activity, and film production. These programs have attracted industries such as logistics and entertainment to establish long-term operations in the state.

• Transparency and compliance: All corporate filings, officer names, and annual registrations are public through the online database. This provides an auditable trail of authority for lenders and counterparties.

• Workforce and infrastructure: Georgia backs incorporation with resources: Quick Start, the state-funded training program, develops customized workforce curricula for new and expanding businesses. The network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and regional chambers of commerce provides legal, accounting, and export support to fill the gap between formation and growth.

What are the legal requirements to incorporate in Georgia?

Before your Georgia corporation officially exists, it must meet several legal requirements. You’ll need a unique name, a registered agent with a Georgia address, and a short list of details for the articles of incorporation.

The steps below detail what the secretary of state requires for formation and what you’ll need to keep your business active once it’s formed.

Name and suffix

Your name must be unique in the public database and end with a corporate identifier such as “Inc.,” “Corp.,” or “Ltd.” You need additional clearance to use “Bank” or “Insurance.” You can reserve a name for 30 days (with a $35 fee), or you can file through eCorp once the name clears.

Articles of incorporation

This one document creates the business. It must include:

• Your corporate name

• The number of authorized shares (no minimum required)

• The registered agent’s name and physical address in Georgia

• The incorporator’s name and address

• The principal office’s mailing address

Optional clauses can define multiple share classes, benefit corporation status, or nonprofit purpose language. When the filing is accepted, the secretary of state issues a certificate of existence, which is date-stamped in the public index.

Registered agent

Georgia requires every corporation to have a registered agent with a physical address in the state who’s available during business hours. This address is public and must be kept current; missing or outdated agent information can lead the state to administratively dissolve the corporation.

Initial and annual registrations

Within 90 days of business formation, you must file an initial annual registration that lists your officers (usually CEO, CFO, and secretary) and pay $60, then renew by April 1 every year afterward. You can prepay up to three years. If you miss a filing, Georgia moves quickly to mark the entity as inactive.

Internal records

You need at least 1 director (18 or older) and internal records: bylaws, meeting minutes, and a stock ledger. Georgia doesn’t collect these, but they’re evidence that your corporation operates as a legal entity.

How much does it cost to incorporate in Georgia?

Georgia doesn’t bundle its corporate fees into mystery charges. You see the cost of every step up front, and there are no hidden fees or required minimum capital.

What are the steps to incorporate your business in Georgia?

Incorporation in Georgia runs through eCorp, the secretary of state’s live database. This system time-stamps filings on acceptance, requires a separate 90-day filing for officer selection, and posts annual registrations to the same public record. You can prepay for up to three years of annual registrations. If timing matters, the state offers expedited options: 2 days ($120), same day ($275), and 1-hour walk-in ($1,200).

Here’s a guide to incorporating in Georgia:

Pick the corporate structure you need

Georgia supports for-profit and nonprofit corporations, professional corporations (for licensed fields), and benefit corporations. Before you file, consider your funding model, tax strategy, and ownership. It’s much easier to start with the right structure than to convert later, which often requires new filings, legal fees, and tax elections.

Here are the structures to choose from:

• For-profit corporation: The standard model for businesses that issue stock and distribute profits to shareholders.

• Nonprofit corporation: A business organized for charitable, educational, or civic purposes. There are no shareholders, and profits must support the mission. Forming this kind of business is a common first step toward 501(c)(3) status.

• Professional corporation: A corporation for licensed fields such as law, medicine, and accounting. All shareholders must hold active state licenses, and the name must include “Professional Corporation” or “PC.”

• Benefit corporation: A for-profit entity with a public benefit purpose written into its articles. Directors are legally required to balance profit with measurable social or environmental goals.

• Foreign corporation: A business formed elsewhere but registered to operate in Georgia via a certificate of authority instead of new articles.

Each type is created or registered online through eCorp, which posts accepted filings to the state’s searchable public index.

Choose a name the state will accept

Search eCorp to confirm your preferred business name is distinguishable on Georgia’s record, and add a suffix such as “Inc.,” “Corp.,” or “Ltd.” You can reserve a name for 30 days, but you can also file as soon as the name clears.

Set your Georgia registered agent

List a registered agent who has a street address in Georgia and is available during business hours—no PO Boxes. Their address will be public, and they will receive state notices such as lawsuits and subpoenas. If the address changes, update it immediately in eCorp to avoid missed service and status problems.

Draft the articles of incorporation

Once you’ve gathered all your documentation, you can register your corporation online, by mail, or in person. On acceptance, you’ll receive a certificate of incorporation and a control number, which means your entity is in public view.

To file online, visit the secretary of state’s online services page, where you can create a user account and follow the instructions to register a business. To file by mail, download and fill out Transmittal Form — Corporation (CD 227) from the same website, and mail the completed articles of organization, transmittal form, and filing fee (paid by check or money order) to Office of Secretary of State Corporations Division, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE, Suite 313 West Tower, Atlanta, Georgia 30334.

Organize the corporation on paper the same day

You need certain records to prove your corporation functions as a corporation, though Georgia doesn’t collect them. Hold an organizational meeting (or written consent) to:

• Adopt bylaws

• Appoint initial directors and elect officers

• Issue shares and update the stock ledger

• Approve banking and signer resolutions

File the initial annual registration

Within 90 days of your incorporation date, you must file your initial annual registration through eCorp. This filing lists your principal officers (usually the CEO, CFO, and secretary) and requires a $60 fee.

Georgia aligns your filing schedule so you don’t have to file twice in quick succession. If you incorporate between October 2 and December 31, your first registration will count for the next calendar year as well.

If you don’t file your initial registration within 90 days, your corporation will fall out of good standing. Continued inaction will lead to administrative dissolution, which means the state can legally shut down your business and you will lose the right to do business in Georgia.

Keep good standing on a predictable beat

File the annual registration between January 1 and April 1 each year. Georgia lets you prepay up to three years, which is useful if you don’t want compliance tied to a single calendar reminder. If you do lapse, reinstatement costs more and requires you to catch up on filings.

Keep the public record accurate and your internal record clean

Stay current in eCorp by reflecting any changes to your registered agent, address, business name, share structure, or purpose. If your business merges or dissolves, file that, too. These updates keep your business visible and credible in the eyes of the state.

Keep your paperwork—bylaws, meeting minutes, stock ledger, and lists of officers and directors—just as organized. Georgia law requires at least 1 director 18 or older, and document every appointment and consent. Those records preserve your liability shield if anyone ever questions it.

How Stripe Atlas can help

Stripe Atlas sets up your company’s legal foundations so you can fundraise, open a bank account, and accept payments within two business days from anywhere in the world.

Join 75K+ companies incorporated using Atlas, including startups backed by top investors like Y Combinator, a16z, and General Catalyst.

Applying to Atlas

Applying to form a company with Atlas takes less than 10 minutes. You’ll choose your company structure, instantly confirm whether your company name is available, and add up to four cofounders. You’ll also decide how to split equity, reserve a pool of equity for future investors and employees, appoint officers, and then e-sign all your documents. Any cofounders will receive emails inviting them to e-sign their documents, too.

Accepting payments and banking before your EIN arrives

After forming your company, Atlas files for your Employer Identification Number (EIN). Founders with a US Social Security number, address, and cell phone number are eligible for IRS expedited processing, while others will receive standard processing, which can take a little longer. Additionally, Atlas enables pre-EIN payments and banking, so you can start accepting payments and making transactions before your EIN arrives.

Cashless founder stock purchase

Founders can purchase initial shares using their intellectual property (e.g., copyrights or patents) instead of cash, with proof of purchase stored in your Atlas Dashboard. Your IP must be valued at $100 or less to use this feature; if you own IP above that value, consult a lawyer before proceeding.

Automatic 83(b) tax election filing

Founders can file an 83(b) tax election to reduce personal income taxes. Atlas will file it for you—whether you are a US or non-US founder—with USPS Certified Mail and tracking. You’ll receive a signed 83(b) election and proof of filing directly in your Stripe Dashboard.

World-class company legal documents

Atlas provides all the legal documents you need to start running your company. Atlas C corp documents are built in collaboration with Cooley, one of the world’s leading venture capital law firms. These documents are designed to help you fundraise immediately and ensure your company is legally protected, covering aspects like ownership structure, equity distribution, and tax compliance.

A free year of Stripe Payments, plus $50K in partner credits and discounts

Atlas collaborates with top-tier partners to give founders exclusive discounts and credits. These include discounts on essential tools for engineering, tax, finance, compliance, and operations from industry leaders like AWS, Carta, and Perplexity. We also provide you with your required Delaware registered agent for free in your first year. Plus, as an Atlas user, you’ll access additional Stripe benefits, including up to a year of free payment processing for up to $100K in payment volume.

Learn more about how Atlas can help you set up your new business quickly and easily, or get started today.