Georgia is famous for southern hospitality, peaches, abundant sunshine, stunning beaches, and outdoor living.
But the Goober state is also a great place to start a business, ranking 10th in CNBCs (America’s top states for Business) and 21st in US News (Best States Overall).
And the Area Development magazine ranked GA as the No. 1 state for business for the 9th consecutive year.
Pretty impressive.
So, if you’re looking for a state with low living costs, a robust economy, and abundant business opportunities, keep Georgia in mind!
We know starting a business can be a daunting task, so we created this step by step guide especially for you.
Have you ever wondered how successful start-up owners choose their business ideas?
Well, here’s the thing, some are easy, like having a skill you can sell online, providing a service your locality demands, or following your passion and turning a hobby into an income.
But what if you’re stuck on coming up with a business idea?
It happens to most of us; fortunately, there are helpful strategies.
Hemmingway had an interesting approach to ideas (nope, not alcohol).
Sometimes, when typing away in his Finca Vigía farmhouse overlooking the Havana hills, Hemingway’s inspirational well ran dry (the booze did not). At these times, he’d remind himself:
“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence, you know.”
And another bestselling idea was born.
But how does that help you fine-tune a business idea?
Here’s how.
Hemingway used real-life experiences to resonate with his readers; that’s why we love his books. Similarly, sometimes the best business ideas are born from real-life needs, like Airbnb and Uber.
It’s an approach that helps with writing but also works in business.
Here are some GA business needs to get your creative juices flowing.
The Goober state, with its abundant forestlands, diverse landscape, and affluent cities, lends itself to certain industries, like lumber, agriculture, and tourism.
But it’s also ripe for small business start-ups. Here are some examples that suit local interests and specialties:
The takeaway is that Georgia supports product and service provider business ideas; however, before you start your business, you must validate it.
You validate your idea to confirm that enough people want it at the right price, and to ensure you can afford the start-up costs and compete with your competitors.
How to do it:
Put as much time and effort into validating your business idea because, as they say in Havana, “Dicen que lo que mal empieza, mal acaba.” They say that what starts badly, ends badly!
A business plan helps validate your idea, determine your financial needs, create an effective marketing strategy, and convince lenders to invest.
All substantial reasons to write one, right?
But besides that, it also empowers you to make informed decisions, leaving fewer things to chance.
Here are the three ways your business plan achieves that:
MR blends economic trends and consumer behavior to validate your business idea and find your unique value point (the thing that makes your business special).
Market research also helps you understand your target audience’s needs, confirm your product or service meets them, and identify your competitors. Those are essential for every business.
A financial plan calculates your start-up and running costs, and most importantly, it predicts when your business will become profitable. And you’ll need those to get a loan.
A solid financial plan has five budgets that explain all of the above:
Together, this helps ensure you can afford to enter your chosen marketplace, sustain your business, and get funding if needed.
An exciting strategy you’ll use to create, implement, and track your various marketing strategies over a set time.
Your marketing plan can include several marketing strategies, on and offline, and all work toward achieving your business goals.
The Area Development magazine named Georgia as the No. 1 state for business for 9 consecutive years, so starting a business in GA is a great idea.
But to establish a successful business, you must choose the right location.
For instance, will your new business rely on passing trade and high footfall, such as retail and restaurants? Or will it need access to highways and public transport?
Can you afford the costs relative to a city center or a popular shopping district, or might you need to locate in a more affordable area?
Important questions, right? That’s why you write a business plan!
And you must also ensure your preferred location complies with Georgia zoning laws.
Zoning laws regulate what businesses operate in specific locations. Each GA county and city has its zoning regulations and provides the necessary licenses or permits.
Some include:
You can refer to the SOS’s First Stop Business Guide for information on state-issued regulatory licenses. Also, learn how to get local licenses and permits by visiting your city or county’s official website, which you can find on the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
Online businesses are great; they give you a global audience, geographical freedom, and a platform for creativity.
I’m writing this from a cute cafe on an Italian island!
But to start an online business in Georgia, you’ll need more than a laptop and wifi, for instance:
Choosing a name for your Georgia business is as important as choosing your kid’s name.
Why?
It must communicate your brand’s purpose and captivate your audience’s imagination. And it plays a significant role in your branding, marketing, and customer retention.
(Okay, kids’ names are more important, but you get the point).
But unlike your child’s name, Georgia has naming rules you must follow:
A DBA “doing business as,” otherwise known as a trading name, is an alias you can use instead of your registered business or personal name. To use a DBA in Georgia, file your registration with your county’s Clerk of the Superior Court.
The next essential step to starting a business in Georgia is choosing your business structure.
A business structure is how you form your formal or informal company. And your choice determines which rules apply when registering your business, how you’ll run it, pay tax, and your level of liability protection.
The business structures available in Georgia include sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations.
A sole proprietorship is a simple business structure without incorporation or separation from its owner. All business profits belong to the owner, as does any liability in cases of legal action or debts.
A GP is an informal and unincorporated business structure involving multiple owners. Like sole proprietorships, it lacks the liability protection of a formal business structure.
A limited liability partnership (LLP) is a formal business structure that provides partners with certain legal protection against liabilities.
Licensed professionals, such as accountants, attorneys, and architects, use the LLP in states where they can’t form a limited liability company (LLC).
An (LLC) offers the advantages of a corporation’s liability protection with the flexibility of a partnership or sole proprietorship. Many small businesses opt for the LLC structure because of its simple maintenance requirements and favorable tax treatment.
Learn more about what is an LLC here.
An s corporation is an independent legal entity owned by its shareholders who enjoy limited liability protection. However, corporations follow more formal regulations than LLCs but are very attractive to investors because they can buy stocks in the company.
The key benefit to a sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited liability partnership, LLC, and an S corporation is the pass-through tax structure. This tax structure negates corporation tax, instead passing all profits and losses to the owners, members, or shareholders who report them on their tax returns.
When you’ve chosen your business structure, file your registration with the Georgia Secretary of State.
Using business banking and credit card accounts can help every business simplify their bookkeeping and, for legal entities, maintain their liability protection by not piercing the corporate veil.
There are other benefits as well:
Accounting helps track your business performance and simplifies your quarterly estimated and annual tax filings.
Accounting software assists you in running your bookkeeping duties, such as online payroll taxes, downloading bank and credit card transactions, sending invoices, and tracking employees’ working hours.
The saying “Never a lender or a borrower be” is good advice, but unsurprisingly, most entrepreneurs need cash to start a business in Georgia, and you might too.
If so, you have several options:
Small business grants are non-repayable cash investments, whereas incentives are usually tax deductions or credits.
Most grants are only available at the local level (not federal), and you apply with the appropriate state, county, or city department.
Some GA resources:
You don’t have to be perfect in business, just insured!
Jokes aside, insurance is essential for most businesses, and Georgian law requires some to have specific policies.
Common business insurance policies include:
The Goober State requires businesses to have two types of insurance.
Contact the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety Department for further business insurance resources.
To operate your new business; you must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations, often involving getting one or more business permits and licenses.
For example:
Depending on your niche, you might also need industry-specific licenses or permits to trade in your location. Contact your local county clerk’s office, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, or use the Georgia Municipal Association’s search tool to see which you need.
When you start a business in Georgia, you must register and pay the correct taxes, including city, state, and federal.
Here is a quick breakdown of taxes in Georgia:
You can visit the Georgia Department of Revenue’s website for more information on GA taxes.
Georgia has specific regulations business owners must follow, such as:
Finding the right people to join your team can be a tough challenge. After all, you want individuals who believe in your mission, suit your brand culture, and have the skills you need to succeed.
But it’s a challenge most business owners must overcome, whether you hire full-time or outsource.
Your employees are an asset you must invest in, nurture, and encourage to be the best they can be.
Why?
Because when you create a culture that inspires growth and gives your team the tools and skills they need to support you, your business stands a better chance of achieving its goals.
It’s not only full-time employees who support your business; for instance, a seasoned accountant or business mentor could provide gems of wisdom that help you on your journey.
Before hiring, you must also get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and learn about GA payroll taxes.
For instance, Georgia employers must follow state and federal regulations when managing their payroll, and that requires certain steps, such as:
Many new businesses avoid payroll regulations by hiring contractors, but there are rules to follow.
For example, you can only hire contractors for specific jobs, not full-time, and they must be independent of your business.
Before you hire, though:
Marketing helps create public brand awareness, engage your target audience, build trust, and turn them into customers.
So it’s important!
Here are seven marketing strategies to grow your business.
You can create a brand community by asking people to join your newsletter for exclusive updates and offers that go directly to their inboxes.
But you must use interesting calls to action on your website and social media platforms to engage your target audience and convince them to opt in by highlighting the benefits they’ll receive, such as insider discounts and early access to new products/services.
Capture people’s attention by offering special promotions that are hard to resist. Like exclusive discounts, limited-time offers, or bundled deals to create a sense of urgency and value.
Maximize this strategy by highlighting the unique benefits your customers will receive and engage using your email opt-in CTA, social media platforms, and traditional local advertising techniques.
A great way to attract your first customers is to collaborate with nearby businesses or brands to expand your reach and connect with a wider audience.
Look for partners that complement your business or target a similar audience, then join marketing efforts to cross-promote one another’s products or services.
Word-of-mouth marketing is when one person tells another about their great experience with your brand; it’s the best way to grow your business.
To create it, deliver exceptional products, services, and customer experiences that leave a lasting impression. And encourage your happy customers to share their positive experiences with friends, family, on social networks, and wherever you show your reviews.
Positive reviews are the ultimate way to enhance your reputation and convince people to use your brand.
Always ask happy customers to leave reviews on your website, social media platforms, Google My Business listing, and relative industry-specific review sites.
It’s important to check your reviews and respond to them, especially if negative, as it shows you care about your customers.
By providing high-quality content, you establish yourself as a trusted resource and build credibility within your industry. It’s also how you’ll attract and engage your audience, reinforce your brand’s authority, and build customer loyalty.
Develop content that showcases your industry knowledge and expertise using blog posts, articles, videos, or infographics that offer valuable insights, tips, or solutions to common problems your target audience has.
A launch event is an occasion that debuts a new product (or business) on the market. It aims to build a buzz around your start-up and create brand awareness with your target audience.
How to plan your launch event:
In Georgia, state fees can vary depending on the type of entity you form. According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s website, expect to pay $110-$285 to start a business in Georgia.
All GA businesses must register with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, and some niches need local and federal operating licenses.
Filing an LLC in Georgia costs $100 and takes around 2-3 weeks, but you can expedite the process for $50.
Yes. Anyone over 18 (without a criminal conviction) with a physical address inside GA can register as an agent in Georgia.
That, my friend, is how to start a business in Georgia.
Take it slow and embrace your journey, as the joy is in the process.
And use the tips and links in this post to relevant GA agencies to help you reach your destination.
As Ray Charles sang, “In peaceful dreams, I see the road leads back to you” (you being Georgia).
All you’ve got to do now is find your road and get walking.
This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and none of the information on this website constitutes or is intended to convey legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness.
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