🪙 Cost to Start a Business in Georgia

Cost to Start a Business in Georgia

The Cost to Start a Business indicator measures all official mandatory fees for incorporating a company, expressed as a percentage of GNI per capita (gross national income). Georgia scores 98 out of 100, reflecting startup costs of just 2% of GNI per capita – one of the lowest startup cost burdens globally.

Official Registration Fees

The direct fees charged by the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR) for incorporating a Georgian LLC:

• Standard registration (2 business days): GEL 100 (~USD 37)
• Express registration (1 business day): GEL 200 (~USD 74)
• Name reservation (optional): GEL 15
• Tax registration: Automatic and free – issued together with company registration

No Minimum Share Capital Required

Georgia imposes no meaningful minimum share capital for an LLC. The statutory minimum is GEL 1 (approximately USD 0.37). This capital is not deposited with a notary or bank – it is immediately available for business operations. By comparison, a US LLC in most states requires a registered agent fee of USD 100–300/year plus annual filing fees, and an Australian Pty Ltd requires at least one director who is an Australian resident plus registration fees of AUD 538.

No Notary Required

Standard LLC formation in Georgia does not require notarization of founding documents. This removes a major cost driver: in Australia, professional company formation services typically charge AUD 800–2,000 depending on structure complexity. In Georgia, founders can use the free standard charter templates provided by the NAPR portal and submit them directly.

Optional Additional Costs

While the absolute minimum is USD 37, founders may choose to spend more:

• Legal assistance for non-standard structures or foreign founders: USD 200–500
• Full-service packages (registration + bank account + tax setup + Virtual Zone): USD 300–600 offered by local law firms
• Bank account opening: Free at TBC Bank or Bank of Georgia; typically completed within 1–2 business days

Ongoing Annual Costs

• Annual NAPR fee: None – no recurring company maintenance fee
• Annual tax filings: Required; manageable online via the Revenue Service portal
• Accounting: For inactive or simple structures: approx. GEL 200–500/year (~USD 75–185)

Conclusion: With a score of 98/100, Georgia's business formation costs are among the lowest in the world – both in absolute and relative terms. At under USD 40 in official fees and no capital lock-up requirement, the financial barrier to starting a company in Georgia is effectively negligible.

This article was created on April 14, 2026