The short answer
ZenBusiness's Starter plan is $0 plus the state fee, so forming through Starter costs nothing more than doing it yourself. The recurring costs come from the upper tiers. Pro is $199 a year and Premium is $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. A Pro customer who adds the registered agent pays $408 in year one ($110 state, $199 Pro, $99 agent) and $458 in each later year ($60 state, $199 Pro, $199 agent). Filing yourself costs $110 in year one and $60 a year after.
File yourself if you are comfortable completing an online state form, don't want a commercial registered agent, and will keep track of the annual deadline. That deadline falls between January 1 and April 1, starting the year after you form. Choose ZenBusiness if you would rather hand off the paperwork, or if you want a commercial registered agent from the same company that formed your LLC. Either way, get your EIN free from the IRS.
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Georgia fees and deadlines at a glance
| Item | Amount or requirement | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $110 ($100 filing + $10 service charge) | Georgia Secretary of State, How to Register a Domestic Entity |
| Annual registration | $60.00, online and paper | Georgia Secretary of State, How to File Annual Registration |
| First annual registration for a new LLC | Between January 1 and April 1 of the year after formation | Georgia Administrative Code, Rule 590-7-22 |
| Annual registration timing | Due by April 1. Can be filed from January 1, and up to 3 years in advance | Georgia Secretary of State, How to File Annual Registration |
| Late annual registration penalty | $25.00 | Georgia Secretary of State, How to File Annual Registration |
| Amended annual registration | $30.00 | Georgia Secretary of State, How to File Annual Registration |
| Not filing annual registration | Risks administrative dissolution | Georgia Administrative Code, Rule 590-7-22 |
| EIN | $0 from the IRS. Form the entity with the state first | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| Federal BOI report | US-formed companies are exempt | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information |
What filing yourself involves
Doing it yourself means filing Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State and paying the $110.00 fee listed in its domestic entity guide. You then get an EIN. The IRS's EIN page says the number is free and that you should form the entity with the state before you apply. The same IRS page warns against paying a third party for an EIN, so budget $0 for this step no matter which route you take.
After formation, the ongoing obligation is the annual registration. Under Georgia Administrative Code Rule 590-7-22, a newly formed LLC files its first one between January 1 and April 1 of the year after it was formed. The Secretary of State's annual registration guide sets the fee at $60.00 whether you file online or on paper. The same guide lists a $25.00 penalty for filing late and a $30.00 fee for an amended registration. It also lets you file up to three years in advance, which is a simple way to take the deadline off your mind.
Missing the filing is not a paperwork nuisance you can ignore. Rule 590-7-22 says an LLC that fails to file risks administrative dissolution.
On federal reporting, FinCEN's beneficial ownership page states that companies formed in the United States are exempt from BOI reporting. A Georgia LLC has nothing to file there.
What ZenBusiness adds, and what it costs
ZenBusiness prepares and submits the formation filing for you. What you pay depends on the tier and on whether you buy the registered agent service. The state fees above are charged either way and are separate from anything ZenBusiness charges.
| ZenBusiness charge | First year | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $0 (plus state fee) | $0 |
| Pro | $199 | $199/yr |
| Premium | $299 | $299/yr |
| Registered agent (separate on every tier) | $99 when forming with ZenBusiness | $199/yr |
The detail that matters most is that the registered agent service is not bundled, even with Premium. If you have seen a higher Premium price that included the agent, including on ZenBusiness's own help centre, that pricing is out of date. ZenBusiness's LLC formation page shows the current structure.
So it’s not a question of "is ZenBusiness worth it" but "are the recurring pieces worth it to you." Starter on its own costs the same as filing yourself, so it comes down to whether you would rather fill in the state's form or ZenBusiness's. Pro plus the agent adds $298 in year one and $398 a year after that on top of the state fees. Premium adds more.
This site earns a commission on some links on this page. That does not change what the page recommends, and for a good share of readers the recommendation here is to file yourself.
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Filing yourself compared with a service
Listed alphabetically, not ranked.
| Option | Provider fee (first year / renewal) | State fees | Registered agent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing it yourself | None | $110 to form, then $60/yr | Arranged by you |
| Northwest Registered Agent | As of 2026, check the provider's current pricing | Same state fees | As of 2026, its formation offer includes a year of its registered agent service |
| ZenBusiness | Starter $0 / $0. Pro $199 / $199. Premium $299 / $299 | Same state fees | $99 first year, then $199/yr, separate on every tier |
Filing yourself is the better call if you are a single owner with a straightforward business, you are comfortable with an online form, and you don't want a commercial registered agent. The work is one state filing, one free IRS application and one $60.00 registration a year.
ZenBusiness fits the reader who wants the formation handled, expects to use what Pro or Premium includes, and wants a commercial registered agent from the company that formed the LLC. The first-year agent discount helps in year one, but compare against the $199 renewal, not the $99.
Northwest Registered Agent belongs on the list for the reader whose real need is a registered agent rather than a formation service. As of 2026, its formation pricing includes a first year of its agent service. Check its renewal pricing before comparing it with ZenBusiness's $199.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Georgia LLC online filing fee at the Secretary of State?
The Georgia Secretary of State's guide to registering a domestic entity lists $110.00 for Articles of Organization, made up of a $100 filing fee and a $10 service charge. You pay this fee whether you file yourself or through a provider.
What are the official Georgia LLC formation filing fee and annual registration fee?
Formation costs $110.00. Annual registration costs $60.00, online or paper, according to the Secretary of State's annual registration guide. It is due by April 1, can be filed from January 1, and can be filed up to three years in advance. A late filing carries a $25.00 penalty, and an amended registration costs $30.00.
Is Georgia LLC name reservation optional?
This page does not state a name reservation fee or requirement, because we have not confirmed those details at the official source. The Georgia Secretary of State's website is the place to check before you file.
Do I need to pay anyone to get an EIN?
No. The IRS issues EINs free of charge and says not to pay a third party for one. Form your LLC with the state first, then apply.
Does a Georgia LLC need to file a BOI report?
No. FinCEN states that companies formed in the United States are exempt from beneficial ownership reporting.
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, and requirements vary by state and change over time.