Georgia

Starting a Business Guide

Registering with state agencies is just one part of establishing your business. You may have to interact with local governments and private vendors to set up your business. To help you navigate the process, key steps are outlined below. Each new business owner’s process will vary depending on your situation.

File a DBA with your county’s Clerk of the Superior Court to do business under another name.

A DBA (“doing business as”), also known as a trade name, allows a business to operate under a name other than its registered name. Used mostly for branding purposes, a DBA is not a business structure and will not provide liability protection. A DBA must be registered with the county in which the business is located. Find My Clerk

Register a Business with Georgia Department of Labor

Businesses that meet certain qualifications must pay unemployment insurance taxes.

Many businesses in Georgia are liable for payment of unemployment insurance taxes to the Georgia Department of Labor, even if they don’t yet have employees. The Department of Labor has online tools to help you determine if you are liable and set up an account if you are.

You can access the Online Employer Tax Registration on the Department of Labor’s website. After you fill out your business information, you will receive a determination stating if you’re responsible for paying unemployment insurance taxes. If you are, you will receive instructions for setting up an account.

Register a Business with Georgia Department of Revenue

Depending on the type of business, you may need to register with the Department of Revenue (DOR) to collect and periodically pay various types of business taxes. The DOR has online tools to help you open an account and file your taxes.

You can access the Georgia Tax Center to register your business or manage business tax accounts. When you register, you’ll create just one Georgia Tax Center login. However your business may have to pay more than one type of tax, and will therefore have to open more than one type of tax account. You will be able to manage them through your single Georgia Tax Center login.

Note that unemployment insurance taxes are not paid through the DOR. For this, you will have to register with the Department of Labor.

Register a Corporation

A corporation is composed of three different groups: shareholders (or members, in a nonprofit corporation), directors, and officers. Debts taken on by the corporation generally cannot be collected from the shareholders, directors, or officers.. For-profit corporations pay tax on earned income and shareholders pay tax on dividends received. Certain smaller corporations may also elect with the Internal Revenue Service to be an S-Corporation, which is taxed more like a partnership. This page gives you Step by Step Instructions and Links…

Apply for a License to Sell Alcohol – State of Georgia License 

To prepare, you may need:

1. Background investigation, tax clearance, and fingerprint process may be required for some licenses.
2. Contact your local licensing authority to receive the additional requirements for obtaining a local alcohol retail license.
3. Scan and save all required documentation as individual PDF files to upload to GTC before you begin your registration. They may be needed as you complete the application.

Superior Court Clerks Directory

Contracts Council Legal Help
Our platform has lawyers that specialize in business law: corporate law, contracts, business formation, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and other types of legal issues that come up when running a business. ContractCounsel’s approach makes legal services affordable by removing unnecessary law firm overhead.

Retail Sale of Mixed Drinks To-Go FAQs

Senate Bill 236 (2021) allows food service establishments that are licensed to sell distilled spirits for consumption on the premises to sell mixed drinks to-go in approved containers. Mixed drinks sold for off-premises consumption shall be accompanied with the purchase of a food entrée and in conformance with state and local open container laws. View detailed information and examples of approved containers.

Download this pdf file.Examples of Approved Containers

Get Our Free Smallwares Guide.

Our Smallwares Guide covers [generally] the products needed to open a 100 seat restaurant. If your restaurant has 150 seats, multiply the quantity by 1.5. If you restaurant has 75 seats, multiply the quantity by .75. This is primarilly important when it comes to flatware, glassware, and chinaware…

Get our Guide

Georgia Restaurant Association

Expand your network, stay informed, educate yourself and your staff, influence legislation, increase your bottom line. The GRA shares your passion to serve others — we exist for your success! The GRA serves as the unified voice for Georgia’s 18,933 eating and drinking place locations with total sales in excess of $24.9 billion. Georgia’s restaurants provide their communities with more than 500,000 jobs statewide.

The Georgia Restaurant Association strongly encourages restaurant owners and operators to stay informed about and prepare for hurricane season

Please be aware that in the instance of water or power loss, restaurants with pre-approved Emergency Operations plans must notify the health department if opting to continue operations. Restaurants who do NOT have a pre-approved Emergency Operations Plan and lose water, electricity, or gas MUST contact the health department to discuss requirements for continued operation.

For more information regarding emergency operation plans and operating during a water interruption please see the following documents from the Georgia Department of Public Health:

Guidance Document for Assessing Emergency Operation Plans for Food Service Establishments

Guidance Document Water Interruption Brochure

Underfunding is a critical issue that can severely impact the success of a new restaurant.

 In an industry where margins are often razor-thin, insufficient capital can create a cascade of challenges that ultimately threaten the survival of the business.

One of the primary effects of underfunding is the inability to cover essential startup costs adequately.

A new restaurant typically requires significant upfront investment in areas such as leasing, interior design, kitchen equipment, and inventory. Without adequate funds, owners may be forced to cut corners, leading to a subpar dining experience. For instance, they might settle for cheaper, less reliable equipment, which can break down frequently, disrupting operations and leading to unexpected repair costs. Additionally, underfunding might limit the restaurant’s ability to hire skilled staff, resulting in poor service that drives customers away.

Finding the right vendors for your restaurant is essential for maintaining quality, consistency, and operational efficiency. Reliable vendors provide high-quality ingredients that are crucial for crafting dishes that delight your customers and keep them coming back. They help you avoid supply chain disruptions that can harm your business and reputation.

Strong vendor relationships often lead to better service and flexible terms, giving you more control over inventory and operations. Investing in top-notch vendors is not just about sourcing products—it’s about forming partnerships that support your restaurant’s success and growth. By carefully selecting your vendors, you enhance your dining experience, streamline operations, and set the stage for long-term profitability.

Click on the Graphic Below to Order our Smallwares Guide

Streamlined payment processing for restaurants.
Mike Kintz
678-896-1849
mike@wingmanpayments.com

Indoor/Outdoor Grease Trap Service Drain Cleaning/Line Jetting

I’ll be happy to schedule a call back* with you (free of charge). Just let me know a few details about your operation and a good time to call. –Carl

*I don’t put my number out here because I get too many calls from people that are “Thinking” about getting into the restaurant business. Send me your number and I will call you…

Order a Pre-Opening Guide & Checklist