How to Start a Business in Savannah, Georgia

Why Savannah for Your Business

Savannah is a two-economy city: the historic tourism engine that draws 14+ million visitors every year, and the Port of Savannah — the 4th busiest container port in the United States and the fastest-growing major port in the country. Understanding which economy you’re entering shapes everything from your location decision to your licensing timeline.

The Port economy: The Georgia Ports Authority operates the Port of Savannah, which processes over $35 billion in trade value annually. The port complex drives an enormous demand for logistics, warehousing, freight brokerage, third-party logistics providers, trucking, customs brokers, and light manufacturing. If your business is supply chain-adjacent, Savannah is one of the best locations in the Southeast.

The tourism economy: Savannah’s 22 squares, cobblestone streets, antebellum architecture, and nationally recognized culinary scene draw 14+ million visitors per year. The historic district is a dense concentration of restaurants, boutiques, galleries, bed and breakfasts, tour operators, and event venues. Tourism-dependent businesses here have a built-in customer base — but also face strict historic preservation regulations that affect signage, building modifications, and hours of operation.

SCAD pipeline: The Savannah College of Art and Design enrolls over 15,000 students. SCAD’s presence feeds a creative economy unlike anything in most Georgia cities: design firms, architecture studios, art galleries, boutique retail, photography studios, and digital media companies all draw from that talent pool.

Military presence: Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield are nearby in Hinesville, driving defense contracting and service economy demand in the broader Coastal Empire region.

Economic development support: The Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) at savannahseda.com offers incentive programs, site selection assistance, and workforce development resources.

Tax environment: No city or county income tax anywhere in Georgia. The state income tax is a flat 5.19% for 2025. The sales tax rate in Savannah is 7% (4% state + 3% Chatham County local) — lower than Atlanta’s 8.9%.

City population is approximately 150,000. The Savannah metro (Chatham County and surrounding counties) is approximately 400,000.

Choose Your Business Structure

Your legal structure determines your liability exposure, tax treatment, and administrative requirements. Here are the main options:

LLC (Limited Liability Company) File online at ecorp.sos.ga.gov (Georgia Secretary of State) for $100, or by mail for $110. Processing takes 5–12 business days standard. Expedited options: $100 for 2-day processing, $250 for same-day. Annual Registration: $60/year ($50 fee + $10 mandatory service fee, effective September 6, 2025). Due between January 1 and April 1 each year. $25 late penalty after April 1. Administrative dissolution after 60 days past the deadline (around June 1).

Sole Proprietorship No state filing required unless you want to operate under a trade name (DBA). Trade names are filed with the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk.

Corporation File with the Georgia Secretary of State for $100 online, $110 by mail. Same $60/year Annual Registration requirement as an LLC.

S-Corp Election A federal election made on IRS Form 2553 — separate from Georgia state formation. You first form an LLC or corporation, then elect S-Corp treatment with the IRS.

Name Reservation Georgia allows — but does not require — name reservation before filing. Fee is $25 if you want to hold a name while preparing documents.

Register with the State

Georgia Secretary of State File Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation) at ecorp.sos.ga.gov. Check name availability in the same portal. Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division: 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE, Suite 313, West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334, (478) 207-2440.

Federal EIN Get your Employer Identification Number from the IRS for free at irs.gov/ein. Takes minutes online. Required for business banking, hiring employees, and state tax registration.

Georgia Department of Revenue Register for state taxes through the Georgia Tax Center (GTC) at gtc.dor.ga.gov. Register for sales tax collection, employer withholding tax, and corporate income tax if applicable. Georgia’s corporate income tax rate is 5.75%.

Sales Tax in Savannah The combined sales tax rate is 7%: 4% state + 3% Chatham County local. If you sell taxable goods or certain services, you must collect and remit through the Georgia Tax Center. There is no local income tax in Savannah or anywhere in Georgia.

Step 1: Business Location Approval (MANDATORY First Step)

Here is where Savannah differs significantly from most Georgia cities: before you can apply for a Business Tax Certificate, you must first obtain Business Location Approval from the City of Savannah Development Services department.

Why this step exists: Development Services reviews whether your proposed business use is permitted in the property’s zoning district and whether the building meets building and fire code requirements. They are not going to issue you a business certificate if your building isn’t legally fit for your business type.

What to do:

• Contact Development Services to obtain the Business Location Approval Application
• Submit the completed application with information about your proposed business activity
• Development Services reviews zoning compliance, building code, and fire code
• View the Business Approval Process Brochure and flow chart on savannahga.gov for the full sequence

Historic district properties: If your business is in or near the Savannah Historic District, there is an additional review layer under historic preservation standards. This can add time — plan accordingly.

Home occupations: Home-based businesses also need Business Location Approval. Residential zoning rules apply, which typically limit signage, client visits, and non-resident employees.

Do not proceed to apply for a Business Tax Certificate until you have received Location Approval. Applications submitted without it will be rejected or significantly delayed.

Step 2: Get Your Savannah Business Tax Certificate

Savannah calls its business license a “Business Tax Certificate.” This is functionally the same as an Occupation Tax Certificate in Atlanta and other Georgia cities — same legal requirement, different name. When someone asks if you have a “business license” in Savannah, a Business Tax Certificate is what they mean.

The licensing authority: Business and Alcohol Regulations Unit, Revenue Department 132 E. Broughton Street P.O. Box 1228 Savannah, GA 31402-1228 Phone: (912) 651-6445

Application process:

• Download the Business Tax Application from savannahga.gov
• Complete all sections per the instructions on the city website
• Submit with all required supporting documents (see below)

Tax calculation: Savannah’s tax is based on gross receipts multiplied by a profitability ratio for your business class. The profitability ratio is derived from national averages using IRS and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) data. This means low-margin industries pay proportionally less than high-margin industries. The tax is not a flat percentage of gross receipts.

Professionals option: State-licensed practitioners (attorneys, CPAs, physicians, architects, etc.) can elect to pay a flat $400 per licensed professional instead of the gross receipts calculation. This option is available under O.C.G.A. § 48-13-9(c).

Required documents:

• SAVE Affidavit (notarized): Verifies lawful US presence. Required under O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1. Must be current year — prior year not accepted.
• E-Verify Affidavit (notarized): 11+ employees, provide E-Verify user number. Fewer than 11 employees, file exemption affidavit. Required under O.C.G.A. § 36-60-6.
• Business Location Approval from Development Services
• Georgia Secretary of State registration (LLC certificate or corporate charter)
• Georgia Department of Revenue sales tax registration (if selling taxable goods)
• Federal EIN
• State professional license (if applicable)

Certificate details:

• Business Tax due January 31 each year
• Certificate expires December 31 each year
• Must be displayed conspicuously at the business location
• New businesses can operate on the current year’s certificate until the renewal deadline
• Renewal forms are mailed automatically to existing businesses
• Renewals by March 1 to avoid penalties

Industry-Specific Requirements

Restaurants and food service: A Georgia Department of Public Health permit is required through the Coastal Health District (Chatham County). Contact the Coastal Health District at (912) 644-5200. This permit is separate from and in addition to the Business Tax Certificate.

Alcohol: Alcohol licenses require BOTH a City of Savannah license AND a Georgia DOR state alcohol license. The state license is obtained through the Georgia Tax Center (gtc.dor.ga.gov) at dor.georgia.gov/alcohol-tobacco — this became mandatory in January 2022. The city license is applied through the local process after the state application is submitted. A separate supplement packet is required — download from savannahga.gov. A separate fee schedule applies to alcohol licenses.

Short-term vacation rentals (Airbnb/VRBO): City of Savannah STVR (Short-Term Vacation Rental) permit required in addition to the Business Tax Certificate. You must also collect and remit lodging taxes. STVR rules have been tightening — search “short-term vacation rental” on savannahga.gov for current requirements, permitted zones, and prohibited areas. Verify all requirements before purchasing or leasing a property for this purpose.

Contractors: Georgia state contractor license required if performing regulated construction work.

Solicitors and peddlers: Separate permit from the City of Savannah required for door-to-door sales or street vending.

Open a Business Bank Account

Open a dedicated business bank account as soon as your entity is formed. Keep business and personal finances completely separate — this protects the liability protection your LLC or corporation is designed to provide.

Documents to bring:

• EIN confirmation letter from the IRS
• Georgia Secretary of State formation documents
• Business Tax Certificate (or applied-for copy)
• Government-issued photo ID

Savannah-area banking options:

• The Savannah Bank
• South State Bank
• Ameris Bank (strong presence throughout Coastal Georgia)
• SunTrust/Truist

Business Resources in Savannah

Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) (savannahseda.com): Offers incentives for businesses relocating or expanding in the Savannah area, site selection assistance, and workforce development programs. SEDA is the primary point of contact for larger business investment decisions in Savannah.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Georgia Southern University — Armstrong Campus: Free one-on-one consulting, business plan assistance, financial analysis, and workshops for Savannah-area entrepreneurs. No cost to entrepreneurs.

SCORE Savannah: Free mentoring from retired executives and business owners. Available in-person and virtually.

Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce (savannahchamber.com): Networking, advocacy, and connections to the broader business community.

Creative Coast Alliance: Supports tech and creative entrepreneurs in the Savannah region — useful for businesses coming out of the SCAD ecosystem.

City of Savannah 311: Dial 311 inside city limits for general business questions and to be directed to the right city department.

Georgia Tax Center (gtc.dor.ga.gov): All state tax registrations, filings, and payments.

Realistic Timeline

For a typical Savannah business (LLC, one location, food service, no alcohol):

• Day 1–2: File LLC with Georgia Secretary of State online; get EIN
• Days 2–14: Wait for Secretary of State processing (5–12 business days standard)
• Concurrent: Contact Development Services, submit Business Location Approval Application
• Location Approval: Allow 5–15 business days depending on property and zoning complexity (historic district adds time)
• During wait: Register for state taxes at Georgia Tax Center, obtain notarized SAVE and E-Verify affidavits, get Coastal Health District food service permit
• After Location Approval received: Submit Business Tax Application to Revenue Department (132 E. Broughton Street or by mail to P.O. Box 1228)
• Certificate issued: Within 10 business days of completed application and payment

Total realistic timeline: 4–7 weeks for a food service business in the historic district. Simpler businesses (consulting, retail without food) can move faster once Location Approval is in hand.

The Business Location Approval step is the process difference that catches most people in Savannah. Don’t skip it, and don’t go to the Revenue Department without it. The rest of the process follows a predictable sequence once that approval is in hand.