PermitDueHow to Get a Business License in Georgia
March 16, 2026 · Daniel Amar·Last updated: March 16, 2026
Georgia keeps licensing at the local level
Georgia does not have a state business license. What it has instead is a system where every county — and many cities — charges an "occupation tax" or "business license fee" that functions as your local business license. The state handles entity registration and tax ID numbers, but the actual permission to operate comes from your county and city.
If you are in Atlanta, you get an extra layer of city-specific permits on top of the county. The rest of the state is generally more straightforward.
Step 1: Register your business entity
File with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division.
- LLC: File Articles of Organization. Costs $100. File online through the Georgia Corporations Division website.
- Corporation: File Articles of Incorporation. Also $100.
- Sole proprietorship: No state filing required, but if you use a trade name, you register it with the county clerk of superior court.
Online filings process in about 7 to 10 business days. There is no expedited option through the state — you wait.
Step 2: Get your trade name registration (if applicable)
If you are a sole proprietor or partnership doing business under a name other than your legal name, file a trade name registration with the clerk of superior court in your county. The fee is typically $25 to $50.
LLCs and corporations operating under their exact registered name do not need a trade name filing.
Step 3: Get your EIN
Free, instant, at irs.gov.
Step 4: Register with the Georgia Department of Revenue
Register with the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) through the Georgia Tax Center (gtc.dor.ga.gov).
- Sales and use tax number: Georgia's state sales tax is 4%, with local county taxes adding 2% to 4% more. If you sell taxable goods or services, you need this. Registration is free.
- Employer withholding: Register if you have employees for state income tax withholding.
Step 5: Get your county occupation tax certificate (business license)
This is your actual business license. In Georgia, most counties call it an "occupation tax certificate." You get it from your county government, and you need it before you open.
- Fulton County (Atlanta): Apply through the Fulton County Business License Office. Fees are based on your business type and gross receipts — typically $75 to $500+.
- DeKalb County: Business license through the county's Planning and Sustainability Department.
- Cobb County: Business license through the county's Business License Division.
- Gwinnett County: Business license through the county's Planning and Development Department.
The fee structure varies by county but is generally based on a combination of business type, number of employees, and gross receipts.
Step 6: Get your city business license (if applicable)
If you operate within city limits, you need a city business license on top of the county one.
Atlanta
Atlanta has its own business license process through the City of Atlanta Department of Finance, Office of Revenue.
- Occupation tax certificate — based on gross receipts and number of employees
- Zoning compliance letter — the city must confirm your location is zoned for your business type
- Fire inspection — required before the license is issued
- Additional permits for alcohol (pouring licenses), food service, or entertainment
Atlanta's process can take 2 to 6 weeks because of the zoning and fire inspection requirements. Do not assume you can get it same-day.
Other Georgia cities
Most other Georgia cities have a simpler process. Visit your city clerk's office, fill out the application, and pay the fee. Many can be done in a single visit or online.
Step 7: Industry-specific permits
- Restaurants: Food service establishment permit from your county board of health. The Georgia Department of Public Health oversees standards, but your local county health department does the inspections and issues the permits.
- Bars: Alcohol license from your city or county. Georgia does not have a state-level liquor license — it is handled entirely at the local level. In Fulton County (Atlanta), a pouring license for a bar costs about $5,000/year; for a restaurant, about $3,500/year.
- Contractors: Georgia requires state licensing for certain trades. Check with the Georgia Board of Residential and General Contractors for general and residential contractor licenses.
- Salons: Licensed through the Georgia Board of Cosmetology and Barbers.
What it costs: Georgia business setup fees
| Item | Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| LLC filing (Secretary of State) | $100 | One-time |
| LLC annual registration | $50 | Annual |
| Trade name registration | $25 - $50 | One-time |
| EIN (IRS) | Free | One-time |
| Sales tax registration (DOR) | Free | One-time |
| County occupation tax certificate | $75 - $500+ | Annual |
| City business license | $50 - $500+ | Annual |
| Alcohol pouring license (Atlanta) | $3,500 - $5,000 | Annual |
| Health department permit | $150 - $600 | Annual |
| Contractor license (state) | $100 - $200 | Every 2 years |
Timeline: how long does it take?
| Step | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| LLC filing (online) | 7 - 10 business days |
| EIN | Immediate (online) |
| DOR tax registration | 1 - 3 weeks |
| County occupation tax certificate | 1 - 3 weeks |
| Atlanta city business license | 2 - 6 weeks |
| Other city licenses | Same day to 2 weeks |
| Health permit | 2 - 4 weeks |
| Alcohol license (local) | 30 - 90 days |
Georgia-specific gotchas
- Annual registration with the Secretary of State. Georgia LLCs must file an annual registration with the Secretary of State between January 1 and April 1 each year. The fee is $50. Miss it and you face a $25 late fee, plus potential administrative dissolution.
- Alcohol licensing is entirely local. Unlike most states, Georgia does not have a state-level liquor licensing agency. Your city or county handles it. This means requirements, fees, and processing times vary widely depending on where you are.
- Atlanta's zoning compliance is a bottleneck. The City of Atlanta requires a zoning compliance letter before issuing a business license. If your location is not already zoned for your business type, you are looking at a variance process that can take months. Check zoning before you sign a lease.
- County and city licenses are separate. If you are within city limits, you need both the county occupation tax certificate and the city business license. It is two separate applications, two separate fees, and two separate renewal dates.
- Georgia is employer-friendly on workers' comp. Workers' compensation is required for businesses with 3 or more employees. Fewer than 3, and it is optional (but still recommended). Coverage is through private insurers, not a state fund.
Get your Georgia permits sorted
Georgia's licensing is relatively affordable and local-level focused. The state filing is cheap ($100 LLC), and the ongoing annual registration ($50) is one of the lowest in the country. The complexity lives at the county and city level, especially if you are in Atlanta.
Use the free permit checker to see every permit your Georgia business needs based on your type and location. It pulls up the county, city, and state requirements in one list.
If you are opening a bar in Georgia, the local alcohol licensing process is the biggest variable — start researching it early. And make sure you keep everything current once you have it.