Starting your own business can take up a lot of time and energy, but it can also be one of the most rewarding things in your life.
Once you’ve secured financing and settled on an inaugural team (unless it’s just you) you’re ready to begin. Here’s how to start a business in Atlanta.
How Much Does It Cost To Start A Business In Georgia?
To start a business in Georgia, you can expect to pay anywhere from $75 to $300, depending on your specific municipality. The Secretary of State’s Office will continue to charge a yearly fee for registration of $50 to $100, which you can pay for annually or for multiple years in advance.
If your business includes other certifications like a liquor license, you will have to pay even more.
If you’re a woman-owned business, look to see if you qualify for any grants to help get your business off the ground. But let’s go over the general process of starting a business in Atlanta, Georgia:
1. Decide On A Business Structure
You’ll need to select a business structure to operate under for tax reasons and operational functions. The four main business structures are the sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and S corporation.
- Sole proprietorship: This is for individual entrepreneurship that is owned and run by one person. There is also no legal distinction between the owner and the company.
- Partnership: Like its name implies, a partnership is a mutual agreement between two parties to run and operate a business together.
- Corporation: This type of business structure is owned by shareholder(s). The liability for a corporation rests with the business, not its shareholders.
- S Corporation: These business arrangements typically are advantageous for tax purposes as they permit corporations to funnel income, losses, deductions, and credits through to their shareholders.
Most solo entrepreneurs choose an LLC (limited liability corporation) for simplicity’s sake, but you may choose a sole proprietorship or other business structure for other reasons.
No matter what business structure you file under, you’ll be locked into it until you take steps to modify it.
2. Apply For A Business License
The first step to actually creating a business is to get a business license. You can do that with your city or county. But it’s not so easy. Depending on where you live in Georgia, you’ll first need to secure a state tax identification number, a trade name registration and zoning approval for your business location. You might also need to apply for corporate registrations, professional licenses, or other special permits.
3. Register Your Business Name In Georgia
One of the first things you want to do, if you haven’t already, is register a business name in Georgia. To do that, you need to go to either of these two online resources:
- Georgia Office of the Secretary of State
- Georgia Office of the Secretary of State, Name Reservation Online Portal
4. Buy A Domain Name For Your Business Website
Once you’ve registered your business and found there to be no conflicts with the name you’ve chosen, in today’s digital age, it’s time to buy a domain for your website.
Their are tons of sites to buy domains for your business websites. Some of the best include:
You also want to get a tax ID number. You can do that online at the Internal Revenue Service website. Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online here.
5. Create Your Social Media Accounts
All sophisticated businesses have social media accounts today. Yours is no different. You don’t have to set up accounts on all social media platforms, but a few or a few of them — Instagram, Facebook and Twitter — may be essential to communicate with your audience.
You also don’t want to sleep on TikTok, which has exploded in popularity among younger demographics.
Once your business is created, you’ll be able to launch it in Atlanta and build some buzz around it.
Once you’ve done your social media accounts, it’s time to start drawing customers to you.
Final Word
If you’re thinking about starting a business in Atlanta, it’s likely that you already know what type of business you want to open. After your business plans have been created, it’s time to start a business in Atlanta.
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