How to Get a Business License in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta-Richmond County Business Tax Certificate
Augusta’s business license is officially called a “Business Tax Certificate.” It is required for every business operating in Augusta-Richmond County before opening — no exceptions based on size, revenue, or business type.
Key facts:
- Issued by the Augusta-Richmond County License and Inspection Department
- Expires December 31 each year
- Must be displayed conspicuously at the business premises
- Not transferable — ownership change requires a new application
- Online renewals available through CityView Public Portal at augustaga.gov
Consolidated government advantage: Augusta-Richmond County is a single jurisdiction. There is no separate city license and county license — one Business Tax Certificate covers your entire operation in the consolidated county. This is simpler than most Georgia markets where city and county are separate governments.
Exception — Hephzibah and Blythe: If your business address is in the City of Hephzibah or the Town of Blythe, those municipalities are not part of the Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government. Businesses in those areas must license through those municipalities, not Augusta.
License and Inspection Department Phone: (706) 312-5050 Online: CityView Public Portal at augustaga.gov
Step 1: Gather Documents
Before completing the application, assemble all required documents:
SAVE Affidavit (notarized — current year only) Required under O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1 (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements). Verifies the applicant’s lawful presence in the United States. Must be notarized and must be from the current calendar year — a prior-year affidavit is not accepted. Must be accompanied by a Secure and Verifiable Document (Georgia driver’s license, US passport, military ID, or another document from the approved list).
E-Verify Affidavit (notarized — current year only) Required under O.C.G.A. § 36-60-6.
- 11 or more employees: You must be enrolled in E-Verify (the federal electronic employment eligibility verification system). Provide your E-Verify user number on the notarized affidavit.
- Fewer than 11 employees: File a notarized exemption affidavit stating you are not subject to the E-Verify requirement. Prior-year affidavits are not accepted.
Georgia Secretary of State registration: Your LLC certificate, Articles of Organization, corporate charter, or other state formation document. Obtain from ecorp.sos.ga.gov.
Federal EIN and Georgia DOR tax registration: Your Employer Identification Number (free at irs.gov/ein) and proof of registration for applicable state taxes (Georgia Tax Center at gtc.dor.ga.gov).
State professional license: If your profession is regulated by a Georgia licensing board (attorneys, physicians, CPAs, engineers, architects, real estate brokers, cosmetologists, and many others), provide a copy of your current license. Check the full list at sos.ga.gov under Professional Licensing Boards.
Workers’ compensation insurance: If applicable to your business (required for most employers in Georgia), have documentation available.
Step 2: Apply
Download the application: The Business License Application for the current calendar year is available at augustaga.gov. Download, complete fully, and do not leave required fields blank.
Complete fully — FEIN or SSN required: The application requires either a Federal EIN (FEIN) or Social Security Number. A license will not be issued without one of these — there are no exceptions.
Information required on the application:
- Business name (legal name and DBA if applicable)
- Business address (inside Augusta-Richmond County; not Hephzibah or Blythe)
- Ownership type (LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership)
- NAICS code for your primary business activity
- Estimated gross receipts for the current year
- Number of employees
- Whether you are electing the $400 per practitioner professional option or the gross receipts calculation
Professionals option: If you are a state-licensed professional (attorney, CPA, physician, engineer, architect, etc.), indicate on the application whether you want to use the $400 per practitioner flat fee option or the standard gross receipts calculation. See the Tax Calculation section below for guidance on which is more advantageous.
Submission options:
- In person to the License and Inspection Department
- By mail to License and Inspection Department
- Online renewals: through CityView Public Portal at augustaga.gov (available for existing businesses renewing)
How the Tax Works — Profitability Ratio System
Augusta’s occupation tax uses a profitability-ratio system. This is a more nuanced approach than Atlanta’s flat-rate system and is worth understanding because it can significantly affect your tax liability depending on your industry.
The three-step calculation:
Step 1 — Determine your profitability ratio: Every business is assigned a profitability ratio based on its business class. Business classes are assigned by NAICS code. The profitability ratios are derived from national averages using IRS Statistics of Income data and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) data. These ratios represent the average net income as a percentage of gross receipts for businesses in each industry.
Step 2 — Apply the ratio to your gross receipts: Multiply your Georgia gross receipts by your profitability ratio. This gives you your “adjusted” gross receipts — the amount that reflects your industry’s typical profit on those revenues.
Step 3 — Calculate tax from the bracket schedule: Apply the Augusta tax bracket schedule to your adjusted gross receipts figure. The bracket schedule is published on augustaga.gov under the Tax Amounts table by business class.
Why this is different from Atlanta: Atlanta charges a rate directly on gross receipts. Augusta adjusts gross receipts downward by the profitability ratio before applying the tax. For a business with low profit margins — a grocery store at 2% net profit, a gas station at 1.5%, or a staffing agency at 3% — the profitability ratio dramatically reduces the taxable base. For a high-margin consulting firm at 35% or a law firm at 40%, the ratio is correspondingly higher.
Example: A wholesale distributor with $1,000,000 in gross receipts and a 4% profitability ratio is taxed on $40,000 of adjusted receipts, not $1,000,000. A management consulting firm with $500,000 in gross receipts and a 35% profitability ratio is taxed on $175,000 in adjusted receipts.
Administrative fee: Approximately $113 in addition to the occupation tax. Verify the current amount with the License and Inspection Department at (706) 312-5050 before submitting — the fee is subject to change.
Professionals flat-fee option: State-licensed practitioners can pay $400 per licensed professional instead of the gross receipts calculation. Under O.C.G.A. § 48-13-9(c), this option is available for attorneys, CPAs, physicians, dentists, engineers, architects, and other licensed professionals. For a two-attorney law firm with modest gross receipts and a high profitability ratio, the $800 flat fee may be significantly lower than the calculated tax.
Industry-Specific Requirements
Contractors: Georgia state contractor license required for general contracting, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other regulated trades. Additionally, a transportation decal is required if using vehicles for the business.
Food service: East Central Health District permit required for any food preparation or service business. This permit is separate from and in addition to the Business Tax Certificate.
Alcohol: Both a City of Augusta alcohol license AND a Georgia DOR state alcohol license are required. Apply for the state license through Georgia Tax Center at dor.georgia.gov/alcohol-tobacco. Both are required before serving alcohol.
Vending machines: A separate vending machine decal is required from License and Inspection.
Transportation services: A separate transportation fee form must be filed for transportation-based businesses.
Food trucks: A vending decal is required from License and Inspection.
Pawnshops: A $150 regulatory fee applies in addition to the standard Business Tax Certificate fees.
Deadlines and Penalties
| Deadline | Requirement |
|---|---|
| January 1 | Occupation tax and administrative fee payable for the new year |
| December 31 | Certificate expires |
Penalties:
- Failure to report address change: $500 penalty. Report any change of location to License and Inspection immediately.
- Operating without a valid certificate: Subject to penalties under the Augusta Municipal Code.
- Closing a business: You must notify License and Inspection in writing when a business closes. Tax liability continues until the city formally records the closure.
Renewals: Filed annually with License and Inspection. Online renewal is available through CityView Public Portal at augustaga.gov. This is the most efficient renewal method — you can complete the entire process without visiting a government office.
Contact
License and Inspection Department Phone: (706) 312-5050 Online: CityView Public Portal at augustaga.gov
Augusta Planning and Zoning Contact for zoning approval and home occupation questions
East Central Health District Contact for food service permits
Augusta Economic Development Authority augustaeda.org | Incentives, site selection, Cyber District resources
SBDC at Augusta University Free small business consulting
Georgia Secretary of State ecorp.sos.ga.gov | (478) 207-2440 | 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE, Suite 313, West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334
Georgia Tax Center / Georgia Department of Revenue gtc.dor.ga.gov | dor.georgia.gov
Checklist: Augusta-Richmond County Business Tax Certificate
- Confirmed business address is inside Augusta-Richmond County (not Hephzibah or Blythe)
- Registered business with Georgia Secretary of State (ecorp.sos.ga.gov)
- Obtained Federal EIN (irs.gov/ein)
- Registered for state taxes at Georgia Tax Center (gtc.dor.ga.gov)
- Obtained current-year SAVE Affidavit (notarized)
- Obtained current-year E-Verify Affidavit (notarized)
- Obtained state professional license (if applicable)
- Obtained workers’ compensation insurance documentation (if applicable)
- Downloaded Business License Application from augustaga.gov
- Completed application fully (FEIN or SSN required)
- Obtained East Central Health District permit (food service only)
- Applied for state and city alcohol licenses (if applicable)
- Submitted application and payment to License and Inspection
Augusta’s consolidated government means you deal with one licensing authority for the entire county. Use CityView for online management, keep your affidavits current each year, and report any address changes immediately to avoid the $500 penalty.