Georgia’s low corporate tax rate, streamlined regulations, and status as a transportation hub of the U.S. set it apart from other states when it comes to starting a business. But there’s one thing it has in common with other states: Georgia requires registered business entities to maintain a registered agent.
While a business owner is allowed to act as their own registered agent in Georgia, many businesses prefer the convenience of using a registered agent service. With a registered agent service, you don't have to worry about being available during business hours to receive important legal documents, and many professional registered agents offer additional time-saving services.
What is a Georgia registered agent?
In Georgia, a registered agent is an individual or entity that receives service of process and other legal and compliance documents on behalf of a business. A registered agent provides a physical location where a business can always be reached and functions as a point of contact for businesses operating in Georgia. They serve several critical functions:
- Receives service of process for lawsuits, subpoenas, and other legal documents
- Accepts official correspondence from the Georgia Secretary of State
- Provides a reliable contact point for government agencies and legal entities
- Maintains compliance with Georgia's registered agent requirements
Having a registered agent is required for all registered Georgia businesses to help ensure any legal issues are promptly addressed.
Who needs a registered agent in Georgia?
Georgia law requires the following business entities to maintain a registered agent:
- Domestic corporations (both profit and nonprofit)
- Foreign corporations doing business in Georgia
- Domestic limited liability companies (LLCs)
- Foreign LLCs conducting business in Georgia
- Limited partnerships (LPs)
- Limited liability limited partnerships (LLLPs)
- Limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
- Professional corporations
This requirement to maintain a registered agent begins when you file your formation paperwork with the Georgia Secretary of State and continues throughout the life of your business entity.
Who can serve as a registered agent in Georgia?
Either an individual or an organization can be a registered agent in Georgia. However, if you choose to appoint an organization as your agent, the rules differ depending on your type of business entity.
For both domestic and foreign LLCs, your registered agent must be:
- An individual resident of Georgia
- A domestic corporation or LLC
- A foreign corporation or LLC authorized to do business in Georgia
For domestic for-profit and nonprofit corporations your agent must be:
- An individual or partnership entity (LP, LLP, or general partnership) who resides in Georgia
- A domestic profit or nonprofit corporation or LLC
- A foreign profit or nonprofit corporation or LLC authorized to conduct business in Georgia
For foreign for-profit or nonprofit corporations, the agent must be:
- An individual resident of Georgia whose business office is the same as the registered office
- A domestic profit or nonprofit corporation or LLC
- A foreign profit or nonprofit corporation or LLC authorized to do business in Georgia
For both domestic and foreign LPs, LLPs, and LLLPs:
- An individual resident of Georgia
- A domestic corporation, professional corporation, or LLC
- A foreign corporation or LLC authorized to conduct business in Georgia
Important restrictions
It’s important to note that a business can't serve as its own registered agent. However, business owners, shareholders, employees, or officers are allowed to act as a registered agent for their company.
Foreign entities must be authorized to do business in Georgia in order to act as a registered agent for another business.
Legal requirements for a Georgia registered agent
Georgia has specific statutory requirements for registered agents that you’ll need to follow to maintain compliance.
- The agent must be available during normal business hours (typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday).
- Registered agents must provide a Georgia street address where they can receive notices on behalf of the entity during their business hours. A P.O. box is not sufficient.
- The registered agent address must be the same as the registered office address on file with the Georgia Secretary of State.
Can I be my own registered agent in Georgia?
Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent in Georgia, as long as you have a physical address in the state and are available during normal business hours. However, this decision comes with important considerations.
Pros and cons of being your own agent
Listing yourself as the registered agent for your Georgia business makes sense in some cases. For instance, being your own agent offers:
- Cost savings. You’ll have no monthly or annual fees to a registered agent service.
- Direct control. You get immediate access to all legal documents and correspondence, and don’t have to rely on an employee or service to get the items to you in a timely manner.
- Simplicity. There’s no need to coordinate with a third-party service.
However, there are disadvantages to being your own registered agent that may outweigh the advantages in certain aspects:
- Availability. You must be available during normal business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday–Friday) at your registered address.
- Privacy. Your registered agent address becomes public record, potentially exposing your home or business address.
- Professional image. Using your home address may appear less professional to clients, vendors, and partners.
- Compliance. Missing service of process can result in default judgments or other legal consequences.
Who should consider a professional agent?
You should strongly consider hiring a professional registered agent if you:
- Don't live in Georgia but want to operate a business in the state.
- Travel frequently for business or personal reasons.
- Work irregular hours or aren't consistently available during standard business hours.
- Value privacy and don't want your personal address in public records.
- Operate multiple entities and need centralized document management.
How to appoint a registered agent in Georgia
When forming a new business in Georgia, you'll designate your registered agent during the initial filing process. You’ll use articles of incorporation for corporations and articles of organization for LLCs. Foreign entities will fill out a certificate of authority form.
- Visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s online portal.
- Click “Online Services,” and you’ll be prompted to create an account.
- Select “Create or Register a Business” and choose your business entity type.
- Complete the appropriate formation document, including the name, address, and consent of the registered agent.
- Pay the filing fee ($100 for either a corporation or LLC, $235 for a foreign entity).
- Submit the form through the portal. Processing takes 7 business days.
You can also file your formation documents through the mail. If you file by mail, you’ll need to include an additional document called a transmittal form. The processing time is 15 days for mail filings, and the filing fee is $110. Mail your forms to:
Georgia Secretary of State
Corporations Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
Suite 313 West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
How to change your registered agent in Georgia
You may need to submit a change to your Georgia registered agent for various reasons. For instance, your agent’s address or name may change, or perhaps you decide to transition from self-service to professional service. To do this, you need to update your business records with the Georgia Secretary of State.
Required information and authorization
To change your registered agent in Georgia, you'll need:
- Your business entity's exact legal name as filed with the state
- Current registered agent information (name and address)
- New registered agent information (name, address, and signed consent to serve)
- Authorization from the business entity (typically from an officer, manager, or authorized representative)
Methods to change your Georgia registered agent
There are two ways to update your registered agent information in Georgia: as part of your annual registration process, or as an amendment to your annual registration.
Each year, annual registration for Georgia businesses is due between January 1 and April 1. If your registered agent change coincides with your annual registration, you can choose to simply update your agent on your annual forms.
However, if you need to change your agent, you shouldn’t wait for annual registration to do so, as failure to maintain an agent can have consequences. To change your agent at any time of the year, you will need to file an amendment.
- Go to the Secretary of State’s business services site.
- Log in to the existing account you created when you formed your business.
- Select “Amended Annual Registration" from the available services.
- Complete the required information, including new agent details.
- Pay the $30 filing fee.
- Submit the form and receive confirmation.
After changing your agent
After filing your registered agent change:
- Update your business records to reflect the new registered agent.
- Notify your new registered agent of any pending legal matters or expected correspondence.
- Update any contracts or agreements that reference your registered agent information.
- Inform relevant parties such as banks, insurance companies, and business partners of the change.
The Georgia Secretary of State will update the public records, and the change becomes effective immediately upon filing.
How much does a registered agent cost in Georgia?
If you serve as your own registered agent, you do not have any specific costs for a registered agent—simply pay the regular state filing fee. However, Here’s the full breakdown of fees for registered agent-related filings:
- Initial appointment: Included in formation ($100 for corporations and LLCs, $235 for a foreign entity)
- Update agent at annual registration: Included in your annual registration ($60 for most business entities)
- Anytime registered agent change: $30
Registered agent service fees
The cost of maintaining a registered agent in Georgia varies depending on whether you serve as your own agent or hire a professional service. Registered agent services typically cost $100–$300 per year, and come with additional benefits that many business owners find worth the price.
Benefits of a registered agent service
Many businesses choose to hire an attorney or a registered agent service like LegalZoom to free up time and protect their privacy. Hiring a professional registered agent eliminates the need for you to be available during normal business hours, and may come with other benefits like additional service offerings.
LegalZoom’s Alpharetta-based Georgia registered agent office offers a few extra benefits over a basic registered agent service.
Compliance alerts and document scanning
Staying on top of deadlines and paperwork is easier when you have the right tools. Registered agent services often include:
- Immediate notifications when important documents arrive
- Digital document scanning for easy online access
- Secure online portals for managing all your business documents
LegalZoom offers all of that, plus unlimited cloud storage for your scanned documents. We also offer compliance deadline reminders to help you stay on top of keeping your business in good standing.
Privacy and address protection
Protecting your personal information while keeping a professional image matters for any business. A service can provide:
- Address privacy protection by keeping your home address out of public records
- Secure document handling with confidentiality protections
Some registered agents also offer junk mail filtering and mail forwarding for an extra fee.
Why choose LegalZoom as your Georgia registered agent
LegalZoom offers comprehensive registered agent services specifically designed to help Georgia businesses maintain compliance while focusing on growth.
- Quick online setup that can be completed in minutes
- Seamless integration with business formation services
- Ongoing customer support for questions about Georgia compliance
- Automatic renewals to ensure continuous coverage
Plus, when you choose LegalZoom as your registered agent, we take care of the paperwork and filing fee—at no extra cost to you.
Georgia registered agent FAQs
Does Georgia require a registered agent for an LLC?
Yes, Georgia LLCs (both domestic and foreign) must maintain a registered agent under the law. This requirement is specified in O.C.G.A. § 14-11-410 and begins when you file your articles of organization with the Georgia Secretary of State.
Can I use a P.O. box as my registered agent address in Georgia?
No, Georgia law specifically prohibits using a P.O. box as a registered agent address. You must provide a physical street address in Georgia where the registered agent can be available during normal business hours to receive service of process and other legal documents.
What happens if I don't maintain a registered agent in Georgia?
Failing to maintain a registered agent in Georgia can have serious consequences for your business. You risk administrative dissolution of your entity, loss of good standing with the Georgia Secretary of State, and even the inability to defend yourself in court if you can’t be properly served. On top of that, you may face penalties, extra fees, and complications that make it harder to conduct business in Georgia.
What does a registered agent service include in Georgia?
Registered agent services in Georgia differ from provider to provider. A registered agent service is legally required to accept service of process and other official state correspondence, then notify you immediately when documents arrive. Many providers also offer extras such as document scanning with digital access, compliance monitoring with deadline alerts, virtual mailbox services, and dedicated customer support.
Can a Georgia registered agent serve businesses in other states?
A Georgia registered agent can only serve businesses for their Georgia operations. If your business operates in multiple states, you'll need a registered agent in each state where you're required to maintain one. Many professional services offer multi-state coverage for this purpose.
Cara Hartley contributed to this article.
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