Starting a Business in Atlanta: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Atlanta: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Permits and registrations specific to Atlanta, GA
- City or county occupation tax certificate — Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia · City or county business license office: Atlanta / DeKalb County (city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Atlanta · Atlanta (DeKalb County) building department (city)
- Obtain and renew Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate · City of Atlanta Office of Revenue (city)
- File DeKalb County business personal property return · DeKalb County Property Appraisal (county)
- Obtain or renew the DeKalb County business license · DeKalb County Business License Division (county)
- Form the business: Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
- Register for state taxes: Georgia Department of Revenue
- Register as an employer: Georgia Department of Labor
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Atlanta
Based on your selections, this plan has 12 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.
Do these first
- Maintain a registered agent in Georgia
- File formation documents with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- Register for and file Georgia entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- City or county occupation tax certificate — Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Atlanta — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain and renew Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain or renew the DeKalb County business license — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Known charges: $50.00 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
11 of 12 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 1 step with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.
Common questions about Atlanta
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Atlanta:
- Contractor licensing: Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
- Real estate licensing: Georgia Real Estate Commission
- Alcohol licensing: Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol and Tobacco Division
- Child care licensing: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
- Health facility licensing: Georgia Department of Community Health
- City or county occupation tax certificate — Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia (City or county business license office: Atlanta / DeKalb County, city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Atlanta (Atlanta (DeKalb County) building department, city)
- Obtain and renew Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate (City of Atlanta Office of Revenue, city)
- File DeKalb County business personal property return (DeKalb County Property Appraisal, county)
- Obtain or renew the DeKalb County business license (DeKalb County Business License Division, county)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: City or county occupation tax certificate — Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Atlanta; Obtain and renew Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate; Obtain or renew the DeKalb County business license. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: sos.ga.gov, dor.georgia.gov, dol.georgia.gov
Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:
- Maintain a registered agent in Georgia
- File formation documents with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Sources: sos.ga.gov, dor.georgia.gov
Known government fees for your plan: $0.00 one-time and $50.00 per year.
Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.
Sources: sos.ga.gov, dor.georgia.gov
In your plan for Atlanta, requirements come from four levels. Georgia sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (2): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C
- State (4): Maintain a registered agent in Georgia; File Annual Registration (Georgia); Register for and file Georgia entity-level taxes; File the annual unclaimed property holder report (Georgia)
- County (2): File DeKalb County business personal property return; Obtain or renew the DeKalb County business license
- City (3): City or county occupation tax certificate — Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Atlanta; Obtain and renew Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate
Sources: sos.ga.gov, dor.georgia.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with Georgia Department of Labor.
- Workers' compensation: Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation. Required when: 3 employees
- Register to withhold Georgia income tax from wages.
Sources: dol.georgia.gov, dol.georgia.gov, dor.georgia.gov