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Invest in Georgia
A short guide for companies expanding into Georgia: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Georgia at a glance
Population
11.3 million
The population was 11,302,748 as of July 1, 2025.
Source: Census Bureau, state population estimates, July 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$936.1 billion
GDP was US$936,086.7 million in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$82,819
GDP per person was US$82,819.4 in 2025, in current dollars, computed from BEA's GDP and the Census Bureau's population estimate.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
2.9%
Real GDP growth was 2.9 percent in 2025, BEA's published percent change.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance
2. Before you set up
The body that handles foreign investment, Georgia’s limits on foreign ownership, the zones and other rules for investors, as the guide found them.
SelectUSA names the Georgia Department of Economic Development as the state economic development organization for Georgia.
Source: SelectUSA, state economic development organizations list (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Code Section 2-1-7 (2024 Senate Bill 420, Act 496), in force from July 1, 2024, bars certain nonresident aliens from holding farmland or land near military sites.
Source: Georgia Senate research office, legislation passed in 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board's 2024 annual report lists 3 foreign-trade zones in Georgia.
Source: Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 2024 annual report, Appendix D (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
As amended in 2025, the statute covers agricultural land and land within 10 miles of a military base, military installation or military airport.
Source: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2025 session (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Show 7 more
Intentional violations are a felony, with a fine of up to US$15,000 and up to two years in prison.
Source: Georgia Senate research office, legislation passed in 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
The law covers a person who is not a citizen or legal resident, acts for a government designated a foreign adversary under 15 C.F.R. Section 7.4, and was abroad before acquiring.
Source: Georgia House budget office, 2024 key legislation report (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
A nonresident alien holding a prohibited interest on June 30, 2024 must dispose of it by June 30, 2027 unless the person ends that status.
Source: Georgia Senate research office, legislation passed in 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Act 261 (2025 House Bill 358), effective July 1, 2025, amended Code Section 2-1-7 to define a military installation.
Source: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2025 session (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The Legislative Counsel's summary of 2026 acts lists no act that amended Code Section 2-1-7.
Source: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2026 session (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
Act 86 (2025), effective July 1, 2025, bars state agencies from buying concerned goods from a foreign company of concern.
Source: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2025 session (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Act 10 (2025), effective January 1, 2026, makes litigation financiers register with Banking and Finance and bars financing tied to a foreign adversary.
Source: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2025 session (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Georgia
- Register a company formed outside Georgia with the Secretary of State, which accepts and reviews entity filings.Georgia Secretary of StateOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Georgia General Assembly, HB 974 fiscal 2027 budget, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 2, 2026
- Register the business for state taxes with the Department of Revenue.Georgia Department of RevenueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Georgia General Assembly, HB 974 fiscal 2027 budget, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 2, 2026
- If the business will have employees, register as an employer for unemployment insurance with the Department of Labor.Georgia Department of LaborOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Georgia General Assembly, HB 974 fiscal 2027 budget, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 2, 2026
- Check the Secretary of State's professional licensing boards and the banking and insurance regulators for any license your business needs.Georgia Secretary of StateOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Georgia General Assembly, HB 974 fiscal 2027 budget, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 2, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- Before you buy or lease land, check Code Section 2-1-7 on nonresident aliens and farmland or land near a military base, military installation or military airport.Georgia General AssemblyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2025 session (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- Ask the Department of Economic Development about incentives, and the Technical College System about Quick Start training, before you commit to a site.Georgia Department of Economic DevelopmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Georgia General Assembly, HB 974 fiscal 2027 budget, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 2, 2026
Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Secretary of State. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
State business filings office
Secretary of State
Georgia Secretary of State
Accepts and reviews entity filings, certifies filed records and runs the professional licensing boards.
State technical college system
Technical College System
Technical College System of Georgia
Delivers Quick Start, customized workforce training for businesses that start up, expand or invest in new technology.
Show 1 more organization
State workforce and unemployment agency
Georgia Labor
Georgia Department of Labor
Runs the unemployment insurance and labor market information programs an employer meets.
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
Georgia Revenue
Georgia Department of Revenue
Administers and enforces the state's tax laws and audits tax accounts.
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Statewide business association
Georgia Chamber
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Advocates for Georgia businesses and hosts state economic development events with the Georgia Economic Developers Association.
Visit Georgia Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: Georgia Chamber of Commerce release, March 19, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 19, 2026
- Get advice
District export council
Georgia DEC
Georgia District Export Council
Volunteer trade professionals mentor Georgia companies on exporting and run export training, seminars and an online export course.
Visit Georgia DEC (opens in a new tab)Source: Georgia District Export Council, about the council (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Port traffic credit repeal
Act 465 (2026), effective May 11, 2026, repeals the base year port traffic increase credit and other credits for tax years from 2026.
What to do: Check with your tax preparer whether you claimed a repealed credit before you prepare your 2026 return.
Source: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2026 session (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Reserved sectors
Since July 1, 2024, certain nonresident aliens may not acquire agricultural land or land within 10 miles of a military base, military installation or military airport.
What to do: Check whether your parcel is farmland or near a military base or airport before you sign.
Sources: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2025 session (opens in a new tab); Georgia Senate research office, legislation passed in 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State income tax rate
Act 7 (2025) set the resident rate at 5.19 percent, and Act 465 (2026) steps it down toward 3.99 percent, with delays possible.
What to do: Confirm with the Department of Revenue which rate applies to your entity before you model returns.
Sources: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2025 session (opens in a new tab); Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2026 session (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State purchasing rules
Act 86 (2025), effective July 1, 2025, bars state agencies from buying listed goods from a foreign company or country of concern, with civil penalties.
What to do: Check your ownership against the act's definitions before you bid on a state contract.
Source: Georgia Legislative Counsel, acts enacted in 2025 session (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
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- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Georgia is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 3, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.