How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Georgia?
Last updated: March 2026
Georgia Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$100
Sales Tax Rate
4.0%
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr
Cost of Living Index
93.9
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$50
Starting a Business in Georgia
Georgia requires a business license from the city or county where the business is located. The Secretary of State handles entity formation.
Georgia has a flat 5.39% individual income tax rate (phasing down to 4.99% by 2029). Corporate income tax is 5.75%.
Georgia's business-friendly environment and Atlanta's role as a Southeast hub attract significant corporate investment. The film industry has also created demand for related services.
For official formation documents, visit the Georgia Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Georgia
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Georgia’s cost of living index of 93.9. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $6,580 | $18,800 | $43,240 |
| Airbnb / Vacation Rental | Real Estate | $10,340 | $28,200 | $84,600 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $75,200 | $188,000 | $470,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $9,400 | $28,200 | $75,200 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $18,800 | $51,700 | $122,200 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $4,700 | $28,200 | $94,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $70,500 | $188,000 | $470,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $18,800 | $89,300 | $282,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $94,000 | $329,000 | $799,000 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,100 | $61,100 | $164,500 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $28,200 | $94,000 | $282,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $23,500 | $94,000 | $282,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $94,000 | $376,000 | $940,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $117,030 | $312,080 | $1,170,300 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $117,030 | $511,360 | $1,460,760 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $9,870 | $26,320 | $65,800 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $11,280 | $49,820 | $122,200 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $37,600 | $112,800 | $282,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,410 | $10,340 | $34,780 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $28,200 | $94,000 | $282,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $23,500 | $112,800 | $329,000 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $23,500 | $61,100 | $141,000 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $1,880 | $8,460 | $24,440 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $47,000 | $263,200 | $705,000 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $7,520 | $20,680 | $51,700 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $18,800 | $51,700 | $141,000 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $18,800 | $75,200 | $235,000 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $56,400 | $169,200 | $470,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $28,200 | $75,200 | $188,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $235,000 | $470,000 | $940,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $3,760 | $11,280 | $30,080 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $4,700 | $14,100 | $47,000 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $14,100 | $51,700 | $150,400 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $7,520 | $37,600 | $112,800 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $47,000 | $122,200 | $329,000 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $18,800 | $51,700 | $122,200 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $18,800 | $70,500 | $188,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $9,400 | $48,880 | $122,200 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $70,500 | $235,000 | $705,000 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $42,300 | $112,800 | $188,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $15,040 | $33,840 | $75,200 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $47,000 | $188,000 | $564,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $18,800 | $51,700 | $122,200 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $18,800 | $56,400 | $141,000 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $18,800 | $65,800 | $188,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $47,000 | $235,000 | $940,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,100 | $70,500 | $235,000 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $1,880 | $9,400 | $31,020 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $37,600 | $122,200 | $282,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $18,800 | $65,800 | $188,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $18,800 | $70,500 | $188,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $14,100 | $37,600 | $84,600 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $14,100 | $37,600 | $94,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $23,500 | $84,600 | $235,000 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $9,400 | $37,600 | $112,800 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $94,000 | $235,000 | $564,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $11,280 | $31,960 | $76,140 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $37,600 | $84,600 | $206,800 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $47,000 | $169,200 | $470,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $4,700 | $16,920 | $47,000 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $18,800 | $65,800 | $188,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $18,800 | $61,100 | $188,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $94,000 | $329,000 | $940,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $141,000 | $376,000 | $940,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $14,100 | $47,000 | $141,000 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $28,200 | $94,000 | $282,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $9,400 | $47,000 | $141,000 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $18,800 | $84,600 | $235,000 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $4,700 | $23,500 | $75,200 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $4,700 | $23,500 | $94,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $9,400 | $37,600 | $112,800 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $28,200 | $94,000 | $282,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $141,000 | $376,000 | $940,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $56,400 | $169,200 | $423,000 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $47,000 | $164,500 | $376,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $14,100 | $47,000 | $141,000 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $1,880 | $5,640 | $16,920 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $47,000 | $141,000 | $376,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $9,870 | $22,560 | $51,700 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $9,400 | $26,320 | $65,800 |
| Real Estate Investing (Rental) | Real Estate | $23,500 | $70,500 | $235,000 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $164,500 | $352,500 | $705,000 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $14,100 | $56,400 | $169,200 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $18,800 | $56,400 | $188,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $9,400 | $65,800 | $235,000 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $18,800 | $51,700 | $141,000 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $188,000 | $564,000 | $1,880,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $18,800 | $55,460 | $188,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,290 | $9,400 | $25,380 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $18,800 | $70,500 | $188,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $47,000 | $141,000 | $376,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $47,000 | $141,000 | $376,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $28,200 | $75,200 | $188,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $1,880 | $22,560 | $94,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $47,000 | $188,000 | $564,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $23,500 | $70,500 | $188,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,290 | $11,280 | $31,020 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $14,100 | $37,600 | $94,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $141,000 | $716,280 | $2,820,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $14,100 | $75,200 | $188,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Georgia
Restaurant
Food & Beverage
$164,500 – $705,000
Cleaning Business
Home Services
$1,410 – $34,780
Real Estate Agency
Professional Services
$9,400 – $65,800
Trucking Company
Transportation & Logistics
$28,200 – $188,000
Gym & Fitness Center
Health & Wellness
$47,000 – $940,000
Landscaping Business
Home Services
$9,400 – $112,800
Licenses & Permits in Georgia
General Business License
Georgia does not have a statewide general business license. Businesses must register their entity with the Georgia Secretary of State and may need to obtain a sales tax number from the Georgia Department of Revenue. Individual counties and cities in Georgia issue occupational tax certificates (business licenses) which are required for businesses operating within their jurisdiction. Atlanta, Savannah, and other municipalities have their own licensing requirements.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Service Permit — Georgia Department of Public Health or County Health DepartmentCost: $50-$500 • Renewal: Annual
- General Contractor License — Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General ContractorsCost: $200-$800 • Renewal: Biennial
- Cosmetology Shop License — Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and BarbersCost: $50-$150 • Renewal: Annual
- Real Estate Broker License — Georgia Real Estate CommissionCost: $170-$400 • Renewal: Every 4 years
- Child Care Learning Center License — Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)Cost: $50-$300 • Renewal: Annual
- Retail Alcohol License — Georgia Department of Revenue — Alcohol and Tobacco DivisionCost: $1,000-$5,000 • Renewal: Annual
- Medical Practice License — Georgia Composite Medical BoardCost: $200-$600 • Renewal: Biennial
- Motor Carrier Registration — Georgia Department of Public SafetyCost: $150-$500 • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Georgia municipalities regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances. Most Georgia cities and counties allow home occupations in residential zones with restrictions on exterior signage, non-resident employees, and customer traffic. Unincorporated county areas, particularly in rural Georgia, often have more permissive rules for home-based businesses. Georgia law supports cottage food operations from home kitchens with direct consumer sales.
Georgia Business Resources
SBA District Office
Georgia SBA District Office — Atlanta
Secretary of State
https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/corporationsZoning Information
Georgia cities and counties manage zoning. Atlanta's Fulton and DeKalb counties have active commercial zoning with neighborhood commercial districts.
Health Department Notes
Food service businesses need a food service permit from the local county health department. Inspections are conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Workers Compensation
Required for businesses with 3 or more employees. Sole proprietors and partners are excluded from mandatory coverage.