Every Georgia LLC must designate a registered agent, a person or business with a physical Georgia street address who receives legal documents and official state mail on behalf of your LLC. This is not optional. Failing to maintain a valid registered agent in Georgia can result in your LLC losing good standing, missing critical notices, and ultimately being administratively dissolved by the Georgia Secretary of State. This guide covers exactly who qualifies, what the rules require, and how to choose the right option for your LLC.
Quick Answer
A Georgia registered agent must be an individual who is a Georgia resident, or a business entity authorized to do business in Georgia, with a physical street address in Georgia (no PO boxes). They must be available at that address during normal business hours (9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday) to receive legal documents. Every Georgia LLC is required to maintain a registered agent at all times.
IN THIS GUIDE
- What is a registered agent and what do they do?
- Georgia registered agent requirements
- Your 3 options for a Georgia registered agent
- How to change your registered agent in Georgia
- What happens if your registered agent is invalid?
- Cost of a registered agent in Georgia
- Frequently asked questions
What Is a Registered Agent and What Do They Do?
A registered agent (also called a statutory agent or agent for service of process) is the official point of contact between your LLC and the state of Georgia. They receive two main categories of documents on your LLC's behalf:
- Service of process: Legal notices, lawsuits, and court summons served on your LLC
- Official state mail: Notices from the Georgia Secretary of State including annual registration reminders, compliance notices, and tax documents from the Georgia Department of Revenue
When your LLC is sued, the lawsuit is formally served by delivering the complaint to your registered agent's address. If no valid registered agent is on file, service of process may be made directly to the Georgia Secretary of State, which can result in your LLC missing critical court deadlines without knowing a lawsuit was filed.
Why This Matters for Brendat
Brendat is Georgia-based, which means our registered agent address is a real Georgia office address, not a forwarding service or virtual mailbox. When you use Brendat as your Georgia registered agent, your LLC's official address on the public record is a verified Georgia business location. We handle all incoming legal and state mail and notify you immediately of anything time-sensitive.
Georgia Registered Agent Requirements
Under the Georgia LLC Act (O.C.G.A. Title 14), every Georgia LLC must maintain a registered agent who meets all of the following requirements:
- Physical Georgia street address: The registered agent must have a physical street address in Georgia. PO boxes are not permitted. A virtual office or mailbox address is also not acceptable as the sole address.
- Georgia resident or authorized business: The agent must be either an individual who is a Georgia resident, or a business entity that is authorized to do business in Georgia.
- Available during business hours: The registered agent must be available at the registered address during normal business hours (generally 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday) to accept legal documents.
- Consent to serve: The registered agent must consent to serving in that role. Filing a formation document listing someone as registered agent without their knowledge and consent is not permitted.
- Maintained continuously: Georgia law requires your LLC to maintain a registered agent at all times. There is no period during which your LLC can legally operate without one.
Important: Address on Public Record
Your registered agent's name and street address are public information, listed on Georgia's business search portal. If you serve as your own registered agent using your home address, that home address becomes publicly accessible. Many LLC owners use a professional registered agent service specifically to keep their personal address off the public record.
Your 3 Options for a Georgia Registered Agent
Option 01
Serve as Your Own Registered Agent
You can designate yourself as your LLC's registered agent in Georgia, provided you have a physical Georgia street address and are available during business hours. This is free but comes with important trade-offs.
Pros
- No additional cost
- Direct control over all documents received
- Simple for home-based businesses
Cons
- Home address becomes public record
- Must be physically present during business hours
- Cannot travel or work remotely freely
- Risk of missing documents if unavailable
- Lawsuit documents served at your home or workplace
Option 02
Use a Trusted Individual (Friend, Family Member, or Business Associate)
You can designate another person as your registered agent, as long as they are a Georgia resident with a physical Georgia address, available during business hours, and have agreed to serve. This is also free but adds reliance on another individual's availability and reliability.
Pros
- No additional cost
- Keeps your address off public record
- Someone else handles incoming documents
Cons
- Depends on another person's reliability
- Their home address goes on public record
- If they move or become unavailable, you must update immediately
- May not forward documents promptly
Option 03
Use a Professional Registered Agent Service (Recommended)
A professional registered agent service is a business authorized to serve as registered agent in Georgia. Brendat provides registered agent service in Georgia as part of the Beginner ($149), Standard ($349), and Premium ($899) plans. Professional service keeps your address private, ensures documents are never missed, and handles same-day forwarding of any legal or compliance notices.
Pros
- Your personal address stays off public record
- Always available during business hours
- Documents forwarded immediately
- Works if you travel or work remotely
- Consistent even if you move
Cons
- Annual cost (after first year if bundled)
- Additional service to manage
Brendat's Recommendation
For most LLC owners, a professional registered agent service is worth the cost. The privacy benefit alone (keeping your home address off Georgia's public business records) is reason enough for many owners. For LLCs with non-US resident owners, a professional service is essentially required since they cannot serve as their own Georgia registered agent from outside the state. See our registered agent service page for Brendat's Georgia coverage.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Georgia
Georgia allows you to change your registered agent at any time. There are two scenarios:
The Registered Agent Resigns
A registered agent can resign by filing a statement of resignation with the Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia law then gives your LLC 30 days to designate a new registered agent. If your LLC fails to appoint a new agent within 30 days, the LLC loses good standing and is at risk of administrative dissolution. When you use Brendat as your registered agent, we notify you immediately if there is any change affecting your registered agent status.
You Want to Change to a Different Agent
To change your registered agent in Georgia, you file a Notice of Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office with the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division. The filing can be done online through the Georgia Corporations Division portal. Here is how the process works:
1. Log in to the Georgia Corporations Division Portal
Go to ecorp.sos.ga.gov and log in to your LLC's account. You will need your LLC's control number, which appears on your original Articles of Organization or your annual registration notice.
2. Select "Change Registered Agent or Office"
From your LLC's dashboard, select the option to amend your registered agent or registered office information.
3. Enter the New Registered Agent Information
Provide the new registered agent's name and physical Georgia street address. If using a professional service, they will provide you with the exact name and address to enter.
4. Pay the Filing Fee and Submit
Georgia charges a fee to change your registered agent. As of 2026, the filing fee for a Notice of Change of Registered Agent is $20 online. The change takes effect once processed by the Secretary of State's office, typically within a few business days.
5. Confirm the Change on Georgia's Business Search
After processing, verify the update by searching your LLC on Georgia's business search portal. The new registered agent name and address should be reflected in your LLC's public record.
What Happens If Your Registered Agent Is Invalid?
Maintaining a valid, current registered agent in Georgia is one of the most important ongoing compliance requirements for your LLC. Here is what can go wrong if your registered agent information becomes invalid:
- Missed legal notices: If a lawsuit is filed against your LLC and service is delivered to an outdated address, you may miss the court deadline to respond, resulting in a default judgment against your business.
- Missed state compliance mail: Annual registration reminders and other compliance notices from the Georgia Secretary of State go to your registered agent's address. A missed annual registration leads to late fees and potential administrative dissolution.
- Loss of good standing: Georgia can place your LLC in bad standing if it fails to maintain a valid registered agent, which can prevent you from obtaining certificates of good standing needed for contracts, financing, and other business needs.
- Administrative dissolution: In serious cases, Georgia can dissolve your LLC entirely for failing to maintain a registered agent. Reinstating a dissolved LLC involves additional fees and paperwork.
See our guide on what happens when LLC filings go stale for the full picture on compliance risks.
Cost of a Georgia Registered Agent
|
Option Cost Comparison |
|
|---|---|
|
Serve as your own registered agent (self) |
$0/yr |
|
Trusted individual (friend or associate) |
$0/yr |
|
Brendat registered agent (included in Beginner, Standard, Premium plans year 1) |
Included |
|
Brendat registered agent renewal (after year 1) |
See /registered-agent |
|
Georgia registered agent change filing fee |
$20 |
For non-US resident LLC owners who cannot serve as their own Georgia registered agent, a professional service is the only practical option. For domestic owners who value privacy and want to keep their personal address off the public record, the annual cost of a professional service is typically justified by the privacy benefit alone. See our registered agent page for current Brendat pricing.
Get a Georgia Registered Agent with Brendat
Brendat is Georgia-based. Your LLC's registered agent address is a real Georgia business address, not a forwarding service. Included in Beginner, Standard, and Premium plans.
Registered agent included in Beginner $159, Standard $349, Premium $899: all plus state fee. Brendat is not a law firm.
Georgia Registered Agent: Special Cases
Non-US Residents
If you are a non-US resident forming a Georgia LLC, you cannot serve as your own registered agent because you do not have a physical Georgia street address. You must appoint either a trusted individual who is a Georgia resident, or a professional registered agent service authorized to do business in Georgia. Brendat provides Georgia registered agent service for international LLC owners as part of all paid formation plans. For more on forming a Georgia LLC as a non-US resident, see our Georgia LLC benefits guide.
LLCs Moving Their Business Out of Georgia
If your business relocates but your LLC remains registered in Georgia, you must continue to maintain a valid Georgia registered agent. Your LLC is still legally a Georgia entity until you formally dissolve it or convert it to another state. A professional registered agent service in Georgia continues to fulfill this requirement even when you are no longer physically based in the state.
Foreign LLCs Registering in Georgia
If your LLC was formed in another state but is now operating in Georgia, you must register as a foreign LLC with the Georgia Secretary of State. Foreign LLC registration in Georgia also requires designating a Georgia registered agent who meets all the same requirements as for domestic Georgia LLCs. See our Georgia LLC page for foreign registration information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Georgia LLC need a registered agent?
Yes. Every Georgia LLC must maintain a registered agent at all times under Georgia law. There is no exception. The registered agent must have a physical Georgia street address and must be available during normal business hours to receive legal documents and state mail on behalf of your LLC.
Can I be my own registered agent in Georgia?
Yes, if you are a Georgia resident with a physical Georgia street address and are available at that address during standard business hours (generally 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday). The trade-off is that your home or business address becomes publicly listed on Georgia's business record, and you must be present to receive legal documents, which limits flexibility to work remotely or travel during business hours.
Can I use a PO box as my registered agent address in Georgia?
No. Georgia law requires a physical street address for a registered agent. A PO box is not acceptable. A UPS mailbox or virtual mailbox address is also not sufficient as the sole registered agent address, as Georgia requires a physical location where someone can be present during business hours to receive service of process.
How much does a registered agent cost in Georgia?
Serving as your own registered agent or using a trusted individual costs nothing. A professional registered agent service typically costs between $50 and $300 per year, depending on the provider. Brendat includes registered agent service in the Beginner ($149), Standard ($349), and Premium ($899) formation plans for year one. See the registered agent page for renewal pricing.
How do I change my registered agent in Georgia?
File a Notice of Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office with the Georgia Secretary of State online at ecorp.sos.ga.gov. The filing fee is $20 as of 2026. The change takes effect once processed, typically within a few business days. Your new registered agent's name and address will then appear on your LLC's public record in Georgia's business search.
What happens if my registered agent resigns?
A registered agent who resigns must file a statement of resignation with the Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia law gives your LLC 30 days to designate a new registered agent. If you fail to appoint a new agent within 30 days, your LLC falls out of good standing and risks administrative dissolution. Brendat notifies LLC owners immediately in any situation affecting their registered agent status.
Can a non-US resident be their own registered agent in Georgia?
No. A Georgia registered agent must be a Georgia resident with a physical Georgia street address, or a business entity authorized to do business in Georgia. Non-US residents without a Georgia address must use a professional registered agent service. Brendat provides Georgia registered agent service for international LLC owners as part of all paid plans.
About the Author
Brendat Editorial publishes practical guidance for founders navigating business formation, compliance, and growth in the U.S.