Georgia · 3 jurisdictions covered
Business licences and permits in Georgia
Georgia’s business licence is a local occupation tax certificate a city or county is authorised but not required to levy, so some jurisdictions charge nothing at all. Restaurant permits are priced entirely by county boards of health.
What applies everywhere in Georgia
14 requirements are set by Georgia itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.
| Requirement | Issued by | Fee | Applies | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Registration | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | $60 a year — $50 plus a $10 service charge; $40 for a nonprofit | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporation | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | $110 one-time — $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | $110 one-time — $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Automotive Repair Shop Licence (not required by Georgia) | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Certified Food Safety Manager | Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Child Care Learning Centre Licence | Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning | $50–$250 a year, banded by licensed capacity | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Electrical Contractor Licence | Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board | $110 application, by examination | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Food Service Permit | Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section | $240–$1,050 a year, set by the county board of health — no state fee, floor or ceiling | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business Licence (city or county occupation tax certificate) | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Residential or General Contractor Licence | Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors | $210 application — $200 plus a $10 processing fee; $100 to renew | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Roofing, Painting, Flooring and Landscaping (no state licence) | Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration | Georgia Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services Division | No fee | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Salon or Shop Licence | Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers | $75 new licence and renewal alike, plus a $5 online or $10 paper processing fee | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Veterinary Facility Registration (not required by Georgia) | Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
Which Georgia city are you opening in?
- Augusta-Richmond County, GAAugusta and Richmond County consolidated into one government in 1996, but a business still deals separately with the city's licensing division and the Richmond County Health Department for food permitting.9 published records
- Columbus, GAColumbus and Muscogee County consolidated into one government. Georgia state law itself bars the city from licensing contractors already state-licensed, and food permitting runs through the West Central Health District's Columbus office rather than the city directly.8 published records
- Atlanta, GAAtlanta spans both Fulton and DeKalb counties, each running its own separate food establishment permitting program with its own fee table. The City's building and permitting fee pages were reorganized and current dollar figures could not be confirmed.3 published records
Is there a single Georgia business licence?
No. Georgia has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.
The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.
Who issues permits in Georgia?
- Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations DivisionEntity registration · Annual registration · Name reservation5 permits
- Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health SectionFood service rules · Supervision of county boards of health as permit issuers · Certified food safety manager requirements2 permits
- Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General ContractorsResidential contractor licensing · General contractor licensing2 permits
- Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and LearningChild care learning centre licensing · Family child care home licensing1 permit
- Georgia Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services DivisionSales and use tax registration · Withholding registration1 permit
- Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and BarbersSalon and shop licensing · Cosmetology and barber licensing1 permit
- Georgia State Board of Veterinary MedicineVeterinarian licensing · Veterinary facility inspection1 permit
- Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing BoardElectrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low voltage and utility contractor licensing1 permit
By industry
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.