Start a New Business in Georgia

The State of Georgia provides all the resources you need to start your business. Their guide to starting a business includes getting professional advice, making a business plan, selecting a business structure, reserving your business name, registering with the Georgia Secretary of State, getting a Federal Employer Identification Number - EIN, opening a business checking account, registering with the Department of Revenue, registering with the Department of Labor, getting funding, insuring your business, and applying for permits and licensing.

Phone: 800-436-7442

State of Georgia website

The SBA’s Georgia district office provides services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.

The main office in Atlanta serves all 159 counties across the state.

233 Peachtree Street North East
Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: 404-331-0100

Georgia Small Business Administration SBA website

The Georgia Department of Economic Development provides entrepreneurs and small businesses (under 300 employees or less than $30 million in gross revenue) with helpful resources for business owners of all types. They help you start, grow, finance, and innovate as well as learn more about managing your business and connecting with other small business owners.

It also connects women business owners with certification programs and other external resources to help you grow and thrive.

Georgia Department of Economic Development
Technology Square
75 5th Street North West
Suite 1200
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Phone: 404-962-4000

Georgia Department of Economic Development website

Southern Crescent Women in Business is a conglomerate of women-owned businesses and women in business that have come together to change the economic landscape in the South Metro Area. Southern Crescent WIB was founded by local businesswoman Ariel Shaw.

Southern Crescent Women in Business fosters business relationships to help sustain and grow individual businesses and local economies. Their vision is to develop key partnerships, deepen business relationships, and provide resources to assist in the growth of women-owned businesses and women in business.

Individual Women in Business chapters include Henry, Fayette, Clayton, and Dekalb counties.

125 Westridge Industrial Boulevard
Suite 303
McDonough, Georgia 30253
Phone: 470-878-6115

South Crescent Women in Business website

The Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC) is a nonprofit dedicated to women-owned businesses (WBEs). They are home to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certification and provide education, resources, funding and innovative networking opportunities with large corporations looking to meet supplier-diversity goals to help you accelerate your business.

The organization supports start-ups through multi-million dollar entrepreneurs planning their succession - and businesses at every growth stage including:

Startup Journey - Under $1M
Emerging - $1M-$5M
Mid-Tier - $5M-$50M
Succession - $50M
and Exit Strategy

Headquarters location:
PO Box 92442
Atlanta, Georgia 30314
Phone: 404-846-3314

Greater Women’s Business Council GWBC website

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides tools, training and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. Designated as one of Georgia’s top providers of small business assistance, the SBDC has 18 offices ranging from Rome to Valdosta to serve the needs of Georgia’s business community. Since 1977, the network of partners has helped construct a statewide ecosystem to foster the spirit, support, and success of hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs and innovators.

In addition to the primary state office in Athens, there are 18 additional office locations across Georgia. You can view these offices by county.

Main office:
The University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center
382 East Broad Street
Athens, Georgia 30602
Phone: 706-542-2762

Small Business Development Center SBDC at the University of Georgia website

The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech is Georgia’s technology incubator. Founded in 1980, ATDC has developed a global reputation for fostering technological entrepreneurship from idea to commercial success. Forbes named ATDC to its list of “Incubators Changing the World” in 2010 and 2013, alongside Y Combinator and the Palo Alto Research Center in California.

Tech Square
75 5th Street NW
Suite 2000
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Phone: 404-894-3575

Advanced Technology Development Center at Georgia Tech website

Loans, investment capital, disaster assistance, surety bonds, and grants to start and grow a business as well as to recover from a disaster.

U.S. Small Business Administration SBA website

As Georgia’s largest small business-focused community development loan fund, ACE catalyzes entrepreneurial growth through financing and education, with a focus on women, people of color, and low to moderate-income business owners.

ACE is a nonprofit and community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides capital, coaching, and connections to help borrowers create and grow sustainable businesses that generate jobs. They have provided more than $171 million in loans and business advisory services to support 2,300+ small business owners and helped create or save 18,000+ jobs for Georgians.

Women’s Business Center - Metro Atlanta
10 College Street N.W.
Room 4
Norcross, Georgia 30071
Phone: 678-335-5600

ACE Women’s Business Center website

Coastal Georgia Center - Savannah State University
305 Fahm Street
Savannah, Georgia 31401
Phone: 912-521-8114

The Emory University Goizueta Business School teaches students to be leaders by leading business. To that end, they foster key partnerships, collaborations, and relationships with top global businesses so that students get real experience, and partners get cutting-edge expertise. Through transformative research, rich collaborations, and incredible experiences, Goizueta fosters an environment where business minds push beyond boundaries, conceive ideas and actions that will reshape our understanding of business, and lead to better business for all.

Created in 1919 as one of the country's first business schools, Goizueta Business School is ranked in the nation's top tier of business schools. It has been ranked #13 Best Undergraduate Business Program by US News & World Report, #9 Best in the US for Executive Education by Financial Times and #17 Best in the US Full-Time MBA by US News & World Report and Businessweek.

1300 Clifton Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
Phone: 404-727-6270

Emory University Goizueta Business School website

Scheller College of Business is where business meets tech. It has educated future leaders of business, government, and nonprofit organizations since its founding in 1912.

Scheller has one of the top undergraduate business programs (Bloomberg, Businessweek, and U.S. News & World Report), #1 full-time MBA program among public universities (Bloomberg, Businessweek), and is #1 nationwide for annualized return on investment (PayScale.com).

The college's business professors are consistently recognized by students as the top teaching faculty on campus for their engaging teaching styles and accessibility, and curriculum emphasizes using technology to solve the complex business problems confronting companies today.

800 West Peachtree Street North West
Atlanta, Georgia 30332
Phone: 404-894-2600

Georgia Institute of Technology Scheller college of Business website

Founded in 1912, the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business is the state’s flagship business school within the country’s first state-chartered university. As a Top 20 public business school, the college works hard to create a culture of success resulting in more successful careers for our students, more successful businesses across Georgia and the United States, and greater economic development in our communities.

The college offers a top-ranked undergraduate program, a range of specialized master’s degrees, multiple MBA program formats, and eight areas of PhD study.

The Terry College of Business and Tull School of Accounting are accredited by AACSB International. Terry holds the distinction of being continuously accredited since 1926.

Terry College of Business
600 South Lumpkin Street
Athens, Georgia 30602
Phone: 706-542-8100

University of Georgia Terry College of Business website

Terry College of Business
Executive Education Center
One Live Oak Center
Second Floor, Lobby Level
3475 Lenox Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: 404-842-4825

The J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology offers a student-centered business education with a full array of AACSB and ABET accredited undergraduate and graduate academic programs designed for high-demand careers. Their nationally-recognized graduate programs for working professionals are affordable, accessible and AACSB-accredited. Online programs include the Master of Management Information Systems, the Georgia WebMBA at Georgia College and the Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management. A full-time, residential Master of Accountancy is a seamless option for undergraduate accounting majors who wish to obtain the hours needed to sit for the CPA exam.

231 West Hancock Street
Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
Phone: 800-342-0471

Georgia College and State University J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology website

Georgia Trend is the magazine of Georgia business, politics, and economic development since 1985. It is the only statewide business publication on the market.

Georgia Trend is published monthly and delivered to more than 50,000 subscribers.

Topics include business features, state-wide stories, politics, economics, opinions and views, people, education, environment, healthcare, and sports and leisure.

5880 Live Oak Parkway
Suite 280
Norcross, Georgia 30093
Phone: 770-931-9410

Georgia Trend Magazine website

GaBiz Magazine is designed for Georgia C-Suite executives, business owners, entrepreneurs and those within Georgia’s economic development community. GaBiz was created to accentuate why Georgia remains a smart and strategic place to launch a business, grow a business, or relocate a business. The magazine provides business leaders with relevant Georgia business news and resources, success stories of both small and large companies, while introducing those executives who play a key role in growing Georgia’s business ecosystem.

5901-A Peachtree Dunwoody Road North East
Suite 350
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Phone: 404-527-5501

GaBiz Magazine website

The Atlanta Business Chronicle delivers the latest breaking business news, updated throughout the day, this week's top stories from the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and other popular features from the weekly edition.

Topics include the latest business news, commercial real estate, banking and financial services, career and workplace, DEI, education, energy, government and regulations, manufacturing, professional services, retailing, sports business, technology, healthcare, residential real estate, and employment essentials.

621 North Avenue
Suite B-100
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Phone: 404-249-1000

Atlanta Business Chronicle website