WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:06.160 The 5 best registered agents in Georgia in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest 00:00:06.204 --> 00:00:11.680 Registered Agent, GA Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and 00:00:11.760 --> 00:00:14.080 Georgia Registered Agent.co. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:18.680 You're listening to The Business Formation Podcast, and today it's the Peach State. 00:00:18.770 --> 00:00:21.360 Why is Georgia different from other states for this? 00:00:21.360 --> 00:00:25.920 Because in Georgia, the agent is tied to your yearly filing. 00:00:26.020 --> 00:00:30.160 You change your agent through the same annual registration your company files 00:00:30.210 --> 00:00:35.840 between January 1 and April 1, and the state fee for that change is $30. 00:00:38.180 --> 00:00:39.920 Who can serve as my agent there? 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:46.080 An individual who lives in Georgia, or a corporation or another LLC, or a foreign 00:00:46.137 --> 00:00:47.920 entity with a certificate of authority. 00:00:48.067 --> 00:00:50.720 There's no age rule in the statute. 00:00:50.860 --> 00:00:56.080 One firm line from the Secretary of State, though: an entity cannot be its own 00:00:56.131 --> 00:00:57.041 registered agent. 00:00:57.041 --> 00:00:58.001 And the address? 00:00:58.001 --> 00:01:02.841 A physical street address in Georgia where the agent can be found in person. 00:01:02.961 --> 00:01:05.521 No post office box, no mail drop. 00:01:05.521 --> 00:01:07.761 Does my name end up on the public record? 00:01:07.761 --> 00:01:13.681 Only the agent does. The state says Georgia law requires listing just the registered 00:01:13.748 --> 00:01:17.761 agent for an LLC, so members and managers aren't listed. 00:01:17.761 --> 00:01:21.041 Hi, I'm Maya, by the way, and that's Dan. 00:01:21.041 --> 00:01:23.921 Good to be here. So let's rank them. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:26.400 Who's first? 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:29.760 Mainstay Filing, at $149 a year. 00:01:29.820 --> 00:01:32.960 The renewal price is $149 too. 00:01:32.960 --> 00:01:34.160 What do I get? 00:01:34.160 --> 00:01:39.040 Its Georgia address is what goes on the record, so your home address doesn't. 00:01:39.111 --> 00:01:43.600 Anything served on your company gets scanned and uploaded the same business day at 00:01:43.707 --> 00:01:48.720 no charge. And the first three government mailings each year are scanned for free. 00:01:48.720 --> 00:01:50.800 And moving from my current agent? 00:01:50.800 --> 00:01:54.400 Mainstay files the amended annual registration for you. 00:01:54.460 --> 00:01:58.560 The state fee is $30 and Mainstay passes it through at cost. 00:01:59.087 --> 00:02:00.080 Where does it fall short? 00:02:00.080 --> 00:02:06.480 If your only goal is the smallest flat yearly fee, you can find $99 further down 00:02:06.528 --> 00:02:13.120 this list. Mainstay is $50 more each year, which is $150 over three. 00:02:13.200 --> 00:02:18.560 You're paying for a fixed price that doesn't move, and a filing done for you. 00:02:19.302 --> 00:02:20.342 And second? 00:02:20.342 --> 00:02:26.742 Northwest Registered Agent: $125 a year, and its page says it hasn't raised the 00:02:26.795 --> 00:02:32.022 price in 20 years. Up to 10 pieces of regular business mail per year are scanned 00:02:32.102 --> 00:02:32.662 free. 00:02:32.662 --> 00:02:34.422 What do I need to watch for? 00:02:34.422 --> 00:02:39.382 When you sign up, you're automatically enrolled in its annual report service, $100 00:02:39.430 --> 00:02:45.462 plus state fees per filing. Its own page says you can add or cancel it at any time, 00:02:45.569 --> 00:02:48.582 so that's one to cancel on day one if you don't want it. 00:02:48.582 --> 00:02:50.982 Does Georgia make that service pointless? 00:02:50.982 --> 00:02:56.502 Not pointless, just separate. Georgia's yearly filing is the annual registration, 00:02:56.542 --> 00:03:01.462 and the state fee is $60. The $100 would be on top of that. 00:03:02.175 --> 00:03:04.174 Number three. 00:03:04.174 --> 00:03:10.415 GA Registered Agent.org, at $99 a year, and the same $99 when it renews. 00:03:10.602 --> 00:03:15.375 It offers the registered office address, same-day scanning of legal documents and 00:03:15.444 --> 00:03:16.975 alerts for state deadlines. 00:03:16.975 --> 00:03:19.135 Switching? 00:03:19.135 --> 00:03:24.335 Its page lists $0 on its side and then the $30 Georgia filing fee. 00:03:24.495 --> 00:03:28.654 The catch is that annual report filing is a separate service. 00:03:29.455 --> 00:03:33.775 So the yearly registration, which is the thing Georgia cares about most, isn't in 00:03:33.795 --> 00:03:34.895 the price. 00:03:34.895 --> 00:03:39.375 Right. Keep that in mind when you compare it to a plan that handles things for you. 00:03:40.175 --> 00:03:41.055 Number four. 00:03:41.055 --> 00:03:44.735 Bizee, which used to be called Incfile. 00:03:44.855 --> 00:03:49.615 The agent is free for the first year when you buy any of its formation packages, 00:03:49.679 --> 00:03:53.855 then $149 a year. The renewal is automatic. 00:03:54.554 --> 00:03:56.975 So no free year if I'm already formed? 00:03:56.975 --> 00:04:01.135 That's how the page reads: the free year requires a formation order. 00:04:01.359 --> 00:04:08.095 Over three years it works out to free, $149, $149, 00:04:08.202 --> 00:04:12.495 so $298, but only if you formed through them. 00:04:13.248 --> 00:04:14.687 Last one. 00:04:14.687 --> 00:04:19.328 Georgia Registered Agent.co. $99 a year, flat. 00:04:19.468 --> 00:04:23.968 You get a registered address on file, same-day scanning of legal documents and 00:04:24.032 --> 00:04:25.968 reminders before state deadlines. 00:04:25.968 --> 00:04:28.928 Same catch as the other $99 company? 00:04:28.928 --> 00:04:33.008 Same one. Annual report filing is sold separately. 00:04:33.148 --> 00:04:37.888 And between these two, the price is identical, so the choice is mostly about which 00:04:37.944 --> 00:04:38.928 dashboard you like. 00:04:39.679 --> 00:04:42.959 Let's pin down the money. What does Georgia charge every year? 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:46.239 Annual registration runs January 1 to April 1. 00:04:46.359 --> 00:04:51.919 The fee is $60, made up of a $50 statutory fee and a $10 service charge. 00:04:52.031 --> 00:04:54.479 Late is another $25. 00:04:54.479 --> 00:04:55.678 And formation? 00:04:55.678 --> 00:05:01.520 Articles of Organization are $110, which is $100 plus the $10 service charge. 00:05:01.520 --> 00:05:07.118 Let me add this up. First year, formation plus registration. 00:05:07.118 --> 00:05:13.119 $110 and $60 is $170 to the state, before any agent. 00:05:13.219 --> 00:05:19.279 Add Mainstay at $149 and you're at $319 in year one. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:21.039 Is that the right way to think about it? 00:05:21.039 --> 00:05:26.399 It's one way. Just be careful to separate state fees from agent fees, because 00:05:26.415 --> 00:05:29.839 they're different bills and the agent price is the part you can shop. 00:05:30.669 --> 00:05:32.941 What if I just use a friend who lives in Georgia? 00:05:32.941 --> 00:05:37.101 That works under the statute: an individual resident can be the agent, and there's 00:05:37.154 --> 00:05:39.021 no minimum age written into it. 00:05:39.181 --> 00:05:44.861 But remember what the job is. The state describes the agent as the one designated to 00:05:44.921 --> 00:05:50.221 receive service of process, documents and official communication for the business, 00:05:50.241 --> 00:05:52.781 and it has to be someone located in Georgia. 00:05:52.781 --> 00:05:56.301 So they'd need to be reachable at that street address all year. 00:05:56.301 --> 00:06:01.901 Yes. The address of the agent's business office has to match your registered office, 00:06:02.008 --> 00:06:06.301 so if your friend moves, your company's record is wrong until you amend it. 00:06:06.301 --> 00:06:08.460 What does an amendment cost again? 00:06:08.460 --> 00:06:11.581 $30 for the amended annual registration. 00:06:11.601 --> 00:06:16.861 The statute itself sets a fee of $5 per LLC for a statement of change, with a 00:06:16.911 --> 00:06:21.581 minimum of $20, and the $10 service charge brings it to that $30. 00:06:21.581 --> 00:06:24.141 I see why people hand this to a company. 00:06:24.141 --> 00:06:30.701 A lot do, mainly so one address handles papers all year, not just in a lucky week. 00:06:31.406 --> 00:06:34.846 Let's say I switch in June, after the registration window closed. 00:06:35.033 --> 00:06:36.606 Do I wait until next year? 00:06:36.606 --> 00:06:42.286 No. The Secretary of State FAQ says you can change the agent with an amended annual 00:06:42.348 --> 00:06:49.326 registration, Form CD 920. It's $30, which is $20 plus a $10 service 00:06:49.383 --> 00:06:53.526 charge, and you can do it online through eCorp or on paper. 00:06:53.526 --> 00:06:55.326 What if my agent quits? 00:06:55.326 --> 00:07:00.286 The agent files a statement of resignation, and there's no fee for that. 00:07:00.473 --> 00:07:05.486 It has to give you written notice, and the appointment ends on the 31st day after 00:07:05.566 --> 00:07:08.286 filing, unless you name a new one sooner. 00:07:08.286 --> 00:07:09.726 And if there's nobody? 00:07:09.726 --> 00:07:13.326 The Secretary of State becomes your agent for service. 00:07:13.433 --> 00:07:18.286 If you're without an agent for 60 days or more, the state can begin administrative 00:07:18.346 --> 00:07:23.966 dissolution. You get 60 days to fix it, and reinstatement is possible within five 00:07:24.046 --> 00:07:24.686 years. 00:07:25.453 --> 00:07:27.773 Okay, I'm in Atlanta and I just want to decide. 00:07:27.869 --> 00:07:29.053 What are the tests? 00:07:29.053 --> 00:07:32.653 First, the price next year, not this year. 00:07:32.973 --> 00:07:36.813 Bizee's goes from free to $149. 00:07:36.984 --> 00:07:43.053 Second, what gets added without you asking, like Northwest's report service. 00:07:43.266 --> 00:07:48.253 Third, who files the amended registration when you change agents. 00:07:48.440 --> 00:07:52.413 In Georgia, that last one is the actual work. 00:07:52.413 --> 00:07:53.773 And the one that passes? 00:07:53.773 --> 00:07:57.213 Mainstay Filing. It's our pick for Georgia. 00:07:57.944 --> 00:07:59.304 Give me the five once more. 00:07:59.304 --> 00:08:06.024 One, Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, the same at renewal, with the change 00:08:06.077 --> 00:08:12.984 filed for you. Two, Northwest, $125, and cancel the 00:08:13.041 --> 00:08:15.544 annual report enrollment if you don't want it. 00:08:15.784 --> 00:08:21.384 Three, GA Registered Agent.org, $99 00:08:21.464 --> 00:08:28.024 flat. Four, Bizee, free for year one with a formation order, then 00:08:28.104 --> 00:08:34.664 $149. Five, Georgia Registered Agent.co, 00:08:34.790 --> 00:08:36.664 $99 flat. 00:08:36.664 --> 00:08:38.984 Every link is in the show notes. 00:08:39.041 --> 00:08:42.024 Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.