If you’re thinking of starting a business in Georgia, you’ll need a registered agent that will handle all important correspondence on your behalf and forward any legal documents you receive. To help you make the process of choosing a registered agent much easier, we have compiled a list of the best Georgia registered agent services. Our recommendations vary in terms of budget, features, and nationwide presence, so there is something for everyone.
At the end of our article, we have also included a section where we go over all the crucial steps needed to register a business in Georgia, as well as an FAQ section. If you don’t have the time to spend reading an entire article, check out our short summary of our top three recommendations below.
- Free For The First Year
- $119 / Annually After That
- Never Any Hidden Fees or Contracts
- Loved by 800,000+ Entrepreneurs
- Available in All 50 States
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 On Trustpilot
- $199 / Year
- Only Takes 5 to 10 Minutes To Set-up
- 100% Accuracy Guarantee
- Expert Customer Support
- Free First Year If You Use Their $39 formation package
- $125 Per Year After
- Available in all 50 states
- Free mail forwarding
- Locally-Scanned Documents
Best Georgia Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $125 a year | Roswell |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| True Georgia Registered Agent | $24 a year | Herodian Way |
| Georgia Registered Agent Service | $25 a year | Atlanta |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Peachtree Corners |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Roswell |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Atlanta |
| Registered Agents Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
Let’s start by defining the role of a registered agent.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent can be an individual or a company designated during your business’s formation process. Their role is to accept all official correspondence on behalf of your business and forward that correspondence to you, as well as keep you compliant with the state laws and ensure that you don’t miss an important deadline.
In other words, they serve as your business’s main point of contact with the world.
Does Georgia Require a Registered Agent?
Yes, in the state of Florida, you must designate a registered agent for your business before you officially open it. You don’t have to hire a registered agent service, but there are many benefits to hiring one instead of appointing yourself as your own registered agent.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent?
Wondering what benefits you can enjoy if you appoint a registered agent service? Here is what you can expect:
- A good registered agent will always ensure that you’re compliant with the state laws and that you’re never fined as a result of failing to do so;
- Your business can operate outside of traditional working hours;
- You’ll have more privacy and you won’t have to share your personal address with the public – instead, you can use your registered agent’s address on all your documents;
- You can expand your business in other states without hiring a different service;
- You can travel without having to worry about keeping your office open;
- Your business image will remain pristine.
Now, onto the recommendations.
1. Northwest
Our top registered agent recommendation for Georgia is Northwest. Known for their varied list of services and their personalized customer support Corporate Guides, Northwest provides everything you need for an impeccable registered agent service:
- Mail forwarding
- Compliance alerts
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Annual report reminders
- Scanned documents
- Document storage
In addition, they’re dedicated to protecting the privacy and data of their clients with their Privacy by Default practice, which is an incredibly important factor for a registered agent service. The exposure of your personal data will remain limited and you can rest assured knowing your data will never be sold.
Whenever you need a business-related question answered, Northwest’s Corporate Guides are here to help and point you in the right direction.
Their registered agent package costs $125 a year and they cover all 50 states. If you ever want to expand your business, you can do so without worrying about changing registered agents. Their Georgia office is located in Roswell.
If you’re in need of other business services apart from a registered agent, here is what they have to offer:
- Annual report reminders
- LLC formation
- Virtual office
- Foreign qualification
- Annual report filings
- Phone service
2. ZenBusiness
Another outstanding option for a registered agent service is ZenBusiness. Rated as #1 on Forbes and Nerdwallet, this registered agent service gives you access to:
- Mail notifications
- Mail forwarding
- A personalized dashboard
- Fast turnaround
- Monitoring of state notices
Their registered agent services cost $199 a year. If at any point you decide you want to upgrade the package, you can get access to additional perks, such as submitting documents on your behalf.
Having helped over 300,000 businesses, there are thousands of glowing reviews online that verify their incredible service.
ZenBusiness are dedicated to giving back to the community with their 5K Grant Program that gives start-ups $5,000 to start their business.
Customers love how easy their interface is to use, as well as their amazing customer support that’s available after hours.
They also offer a whole host of other services such as:
- EIN Number
- Accounting and bookkeeping
- Worry-free compliance
- Banking
- Formation services
- Operating agreement
3. IncFile
If you’re looking for a reliable registered agent service that gives you a year of complimentary registered agent services with their formation package, look no further than IncFile. For only $119 a year, you will receive:
- Automatic forwarding of every legal correspondence
- Personalized notifications
- A digital dashboard where you can access all information regarding your business
- Compliance reminders
Join over 800,000 businesses that have benefited from their helpful tools and amazing customer support.
In addition to their formation service, you can also hire IncFile for:
- EIN Number
- Company dissolution
- Trademarking
- Amendment
- Foreign qualification
- Certificate of good standing
4. True Georgia Registered Agent
If you’re looking for a Georgia registered agent service that will cost you less than $50 a year, we highly recommend True Georgia Registered Agent. For only $24 a year, you will get access to:
- Same-day scans
- Mail forwarding
- No price increases or additional fees
You can also take advantage of their multi-year deal, which allows you to pay as low as $20 a year!
Their Georgia address is located in Herodian Way. They also offer virtual office services.
5. Georgia Registered Agent Service
Another great option for an affordable registered agent service is Georgia Registered Agent. With their registered agent package, you will get access to:
- Compliance tracking
- Same-day scans
- Annual registration reminders
- Access to an online account
- Mail forwarding
Their registered agent service will cost you only $25 a year. Georgia Registered Agent Service also offer the following services:
- Incorporation
- LLC service
- Out of state LLC registration
- Out of state corporation registration
Their Georgia office is located in Atlanta.
6. CSC Global
A great option for a Georgia registered agent service that’s available nationwide is CSC Global. While their service is slightly more expensive than some of our other recommendations, it gives you perks such as:
- Same-day scanning of your documents
- Access to their SOC 2 facilities
- Unlimited access to CSC Navigator
- Annual compliance reminders
They provide the highest level of data security, so you’ll never have to worry about any of your data being sold or your personal information being compromised.
Apart from registered agent services, they also offer:
- Annual reports
- Business license services
- Corporate filing services
- UCC search
Their Georgia office is located in Peachtree Corners.
7. Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance charge only $99 a year and they’re one of the most recognized registered agent services in the United States. Their package includes various tools and benefits, such as:
- Same-day documents
- Pre-filled state forms
- Annual report notifications
In addition, you’ll get a 10% discount if you purchase their services for multiple years.
On top of its affordability, clients also appreciate how easy their website is to navigate. Apart from offering a registered agent service, you can also hire them for:
- Business licenses
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Annual reports
Their Georgia office is located Roswell, Fulton County.
8. InCorp
InCorp is another popular yet relatively affordable option for a Georgia registered agent service. Their registered agent service allows access to the following features:
- Annual report filings
- Entity Management System access
- Legal notifications
Thanks to their EntityWatch technology, you will get up-to-date information regarding the status of your filings, officers, and directors. In addition, this technology helps prevent identity theft.
Their registered agent service costs $129 per year. If you purchase their multi-year service, you will pay as low as $87 a year.
InCorp’s Georgia office is located in Atlanta. Their services also include:
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- Copyright
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- EIN Number
- DBA Filing
- UCC search
- Articles of amendment
- Apostille service
9. Registered Agents Inc.
Registered Agents Inc. is a nationwide registered agent service that provides the following tools:
- Secure online account
- Digital notifications
- Mail forwarding
While their service is slightly more expensive ($200), they are a great option if you’re planning on expanding your business nationwide.
Other services include:
- Incorporation services
- BOC-3 process agent service
- Business compliance
10. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is one of the most well-known registered agent services across the United States, one that’s helped over 2 million businesses. Their service includes perks like:
- Credit monitoring
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Mail alerts
Their registered agent service costs $299 a year. They provide many additional services, such as:
- Business registration
- Power of attorney
- Foreign qualification
- Taxation
- Business registration
How Do I Register a Business in Georgia?
If you’re looking to start a business in Georgia, here are the crucial steps you need to take.
Choose a Name for Your Georgia Business
One of the first steps to forming any kind of business is choosing its name. Once you have a name in mind, if you’re forming an LLC or a corporation, a crucial step you need to take is checking whether the name is already taken by another business. You can do so by doing a business search on the Georgia Corporations Division website.
There are certain naming requirements you’ll need to follow if you’re forming an LLC or a corporation. For instance, with LLCs, your name must include one of the following: “LLC”, “Limited Liability Company” or any other derivations.
If you’re forming a partnership or a sole proprietorship and you don’t want to conduct your business using your legal name, you’ll have to register a trade name.
To ensure that no other business takes your name while you’re going through the other steps of business registration, you can reserve your name for 30 days on the Georgia Secretary of State website by filing a Name Reservation Request.
Decide on a Business Structure
Now that you have a name for your business, it’s time to decide what business structure you’d like your business to have. The most common business structures in Georgia are:
- Sole proprietorships
- Partnerships
- LLCs
- Corporations
Choosing the right business structure for your specific business is crucial, since it dictates how much liability you’ll have, the taxation of your business, and the financial aspects.
Sole proprietors aren’t officially required to register in Georgia, but they might choose to do so for tax purposes. If you’re thinking of forming a partnership, you should check with the Georgia Secretary of State for the official requirements.
File Articles of Organization
Articles of organization is a document containing important information regarding your business, such as the location, the name of the members, and the name of the business. Filing articles of organization with the Georgia Secretary of State is a requirement for every LLC registered in Georgia.
File Articles of Incorporation
Articles of incorporation has a similar function to articles of organization, the only difference is that it’s a requirement for all corporations registered in Georgia. You need to file the articles of incorporation with the Georgia Secretary of State.
Get an EIN
Another important step to registering a business in Georgia is getting an EIN. An Employee Identification Number is an official requirement if your business has employees or if your business is taxed as a separate entity from you. The process of obtaining an EIN is done through the IRS. The form takes minutes to complete and you’ll get an EIN once your application has been approved.
Obtain Business Licenses and Permits
Last but not least, you need to make sure that you have all the required licenses and permits for your business.
Georgia doesn’t require businesses to have a general business license. Any other business licenses in Georgia can be obtained from the country or the city/ location of your business. You might have to contact your local Chamber of Commerce office to learn the specific requirements for your industry. To make this process easier and quicker, you can search the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Directory which will point you to your local chamber of commerce where you can get all the required information.
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Georgia?
The cost of registering a business in Georgia is $50 for corporations and $30 for nonprofit corporations. LLCs have a $110 filing fee.
Where Can I Do a Georgia Business Entity Search?
You can do a Georgia business entity search on the Georgia Corporations Division website.
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost in Georgia?
The cost of a registered agent in Georgia can be as low as $24, but it can also cost more than $300 on a yearly basis, depending on the service you hire.
A Word of Farwell
We hope you found our article on the best Georgia registered agent services helpful!
Our top three recommendations for Georgia registered agent services are Northwest, ZenBusiness, and IncFile. These are some of the most recognized names across the United States – they offer a myriad of features for a relatively affordable price, outstanding customer support, and privacy protection. If you don’t have the budget to spend over $100 on a registered agent service per year, you can check out some of our more affordable recommendations – Georgia Registered Agent Service and True Georgia Registered Agent. These will cost you around $25 a year and they provide all the important tools for a registered agent service, such as mail forwarding and a Georgia address.