How to Start a Courier/Delivery Service in Georgia

Georgia’s courier market has never been more active. Atlanta alone handles more air cargo than almost any metro in the country, and the state’s mix of dense urban cores, sprawling suburbs, and growing mid-size cities creates constant demand for fast, reliable local delivery. If you’ve been thinking about starting a courier service, the timing is good. The barrier to entry is genuinely low — but the compliance requirements, especially around insurance, will sink you if you ignore them.

This guide covers the actual regulatory path from “I have a van and an idea” to a legitimate operating courier business in Georgia.

Why Georgia Is a Prime Market for Courier Services

Start with the geography. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world by passenger count and a major air cargo hub. UPS, FedEx, and Amazon all have significant distribution infrastructure in the Atlanta metro. That concentration of logistics activity creates demand at every level of the supply chain — including the last mile, which is exactly where independent couriers operate.

Same-day delivery demand is accelerating across Georgia’s metro areas. Atlanta is the obvious anchor, but Savannah’s port-driven growth, Augusta’s medical and military presence, and Columbus’s regional economy all generate real courier demand. This isn’t an Atlanta-only opportunity.

The medical courier niche deserves special attention. Georgia has over 150 hospitals, thousands of physician offices, labs, and specialty clinics. Someone has to move specimens, pharmaceuticals, medical records, and supplies between facilities — often on tight turnaround times. Medical courier contracts pay well, require reliable service over volume, and tend to produce recurring business once you’re embedded with a client. It’s a higher-margin niche than general package delivery and worth targeting from day one if you’re in a metro area.

The startup costs are legitimately manageable. If you already own a reliable vehicle, you can launch for $5,000-$15,000 — mostly insurance and licensing. That’s a low bar compared to most businesses. But that insurance line item is where most new couriers underestimate, so keep reading.

Step 1: Choose Your Business Structure

File an LLC. Don’t skip this.

Every delivery you make puts your vehicle on the road with someone else’s property. Accidents happen — even to careful drivers. If you operate as a sole proprietor and your driver causes a serious accident, your personal assets (bank accounts, home, savings) are exposed. An LLC creates a liability shield between the business and your personal finances. For a courier business, this isn’t theoretical protection. It’s the point.

Georgia makes LLC formation straightforward. File your Articles of Organization online at ecorp.sos.ga.gov for $100. Processing takes 5-12 business days standard; pay $100 extra for 2-day expedited, or $250 for same-day if you need to move fast.

After formation, you’ll pay a $60 Annual Registration fee each year (that’s a $50 base fee plus a mandatory $10 service fee, effective September 6, 2025). This is due between January 1 and April 1. Miss it, and there’s a $25 late penalty. Put it on your calendar now.

Step 2: Get Your Local Business License

Georgia has no statewide business license. Licensing is handled entirely at the local level — city or county — through what’s called an Occupation Tax Certificate.

The cost varies by jurisdiction, typically landing somewhere between $50 and $200 per year depending on where you’re based and your projected revenue. Some counties calculate it on a flat rate; others use a gross receipts formula. Check with your specific city or county government for their schedule.

Two requirements are mandatory for every Georgia business license application, regardless of where you apply:

E-Verify Affidavit: If you have 11 or more employees, you must be registered with E-Verify and provide your user number. If you have fewer than 11 employees, you file an exemption affidavit. This is required under O.C.G.A. § 36-60-6 and there’s no getting around it.

SAVE Affidavit: The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements affidavit requires the applicant to verify lawful presence in the US under O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1. It requires notarization and a Secure and Verifiable Document — a driver’s license or passport works.

Have both of these ready before you walk in or submit your application online. Missing either document will stall your application.

If your courier operation spans multiple cities — you pick up in Atlanta but maintain a hub in Marietta, for example — you may need Occupation Tax Certificates from each jurisdiction where you have a physical presence. Passing through a city to make a delivery doesn’t trigger this requirement. Maintaining an actual business location does.

Step 3: Vehicle and DOT Requirements

This is where courier startups most often get confused. The rules depend almost entirely on what you’re driving.

Under 10,001 lbs Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): If you’re running a standard passenger car, minivan, or light cargo van for intrastate-only deliveries — meaning you stay within Georgia — you don’t need a USDOT number. Most solo couriers and small operations start here. A Ford Transit Connect, Ram ProMaster City, or similar light commercial van falls under this threshold.

10,001 lbs GVWR and above: Here’s where Georgia’s rules differ from what a lot of people expect. Georgia is one of 38 states that requires a USDOT number for intrastate commercial vehicles at or above 10,001 lbs GVWR — even if you never cross state lines. If you’re running a full-size cargo van like a Ford Transit, Sprinter, or similar vehicle, check the manufacturer’s GVWR on the door placard. Many of these tip over 10,001 lbs when loaded. If yours does, you need a USDOT number.

Apply at fmcsa.dot.gov — it’s free and done online.

Over 26,001 lbs GVWR: A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required. This applies to box trucks and larger. If you’re starting small, you’re probably not here yet, but know the line exists.

USDOT markings: If you’re required to display a USDOT number, the marking must appear on both sides of the vehicle. The format is “USDOT” followed by “GA” and your legal business name, and it must be legible from 50 feet. Magnetic door signs that meet the spec work fine. This is a real enforcement point — Georgia State Patrol runs roadside commercial vehicle inspections.

Medical specimens and hazmat: If you’re transporting hazardous materials — which can include certain medical specimens, chemicals, or regulated biological substances — additional federal permits are required regardless of your vehicle’s weight. Don’t assume that because you’re driving a small van you’re exempt from hazmat regulations. If you’re entering the medical courier space, clarify exactly what you’re transporting and whether it triggers any federal classification.

Step 4: Insurance — The Make-or-Break Requirement

Get this wrong and everything else you’ve done is worthless.

Georgia’s minimum liability requirement for commercial auto is 25/50/25 — $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 for property damage. Those minimums are inadequate for a courier operation. A single serious accident can easily exceed them, and your business (and personal assets if your LLC protection is challenged) absorbs the gap. Most experienced courier operators carry $100,000 or more in liability coverage. That’s the floor to take seriously, not the ceiling.

Your personal auto insurance covers nothing here. This is not a technicality. If you’re using your personal vehicle for commercial delivery and you file a claim, your insurer will deny it the moment they learn the vehicle was in commercial use. This catches new couriers off guard constantly. The moment you start delivering for hire, you need commercial auto insurance. Period.

Georgia uses the Georgia Electronic Insurance Compliance System (GEICS) to monitor commercial vehicle insurance in real time. Insurance companies report policy status directly to the system. A lapse of even 10 days can trigger automatic penalties — and your vehicle registration can be suspended. GEICS isn’t just paperwork. It’s active monitoring. If your policy lapses, Georgia knows quickly, and the consequences follow.

Beyond commercial auto, build out your coverage with:

Cargo insurance: Not legally required, but practically essential. This covers loss or damage to customer packages in your possession. If you drop a $3,000 medical device or a client’s critical documents get destroyed, cargo insurance is what makes you whole — and what keeps the client relationship intact. Most commercial auto policies exclude cargo coverage.

General liability insurance: Covers non-vehicle incidents. Damage at a pickup or delivery location, a slip-and-fall at a client’s facility, property damage you cause while on-site. Commercial auto won’t cover this.

Workers’ compensation: Georgia law requires workers’ comp once you have 3 or more employees, including part-time workers. The Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation (sbwc.georgia.gov) oversees compliance. Rates are set by NCCI and run approximately 10% below the national median in Georgia — not the cheapest, but better than many states.

Budget $3,000-$8,000 per year for commercial auto insurance depending on your vehicle type, coverage levels, and the driving records of anyone on your policy. Medical courier operations may pay more given the time-sensitive nature of runs and the value of cargo. Shop multiple carriers — rates vary significantly.

Step 5: Register for State Taxes

Get your EIN first. It’s free, instant, and done entirely online at irs.gov/ein. You need it for everything else.

Then register at the Georgia Tax Center (gtc.dor.ga.gov) for your state tax accounts.

Georgia’s sales tax on delivery services is not always straightforward. Whether your delivery fee is subject to sales tax depends on what’s being delivered, how the service is structured, and whether the delivery charge is separately stated. In many cases, a pure delivery service fee is not taxable — but if you’re delivering taxable goods and bundling the delivery into the price, it can be. Check with a Georgia CPA or the Georgia Department of Revenue (dor.georgia.gov) to confirm your specific situation. Don’t assume you’re exempt.

If you’re hiring drivers as employees, register for employer withholding tax through GTC.

If you’re using independent contractor drivers — common in the courier industry — you’ll issue 1099s instead. But worker classification is not something to handle casually. Georgia and federal regulators both scrutinize courier and delivery businesses for misclassification. If your “contractors” work exclusively for you, follow your schedule, and use your equipment, they may legally be employees regardless of what your contract says. Misclassification penalties include back taxes, interest, and fines. Get clarity on this before your first hire.

Georgia’s individual income tax rate is 5.19% for 2025, dropping to 5.09% in 2026 under HB 111. Corporate income tax is 5.75%. No city or county in Georgia charges a local income tax.

Costs at a Glance

Here’s what you’re actually spending to get operational:

Item	Cost
LLC filing (Georgia)	$100 one-time
Annual Registration	$60/year
Local Occupation Tax Certificate	$50–$200/year
Commercial auto insurance	$3,000–$8,000/year
Cargo insurance	$500–$1,500/year
General liability	$500–$1,200/year
Used cargo van (if needed)	$10,000–$25,000
USDOT number (if required)	Free
Workers’ comp (3+ employees)	Varies by payroll

First-year total if you already have a vehicle: roughly $3,500–$9,000 in fees and insurance, depending on coverage levels and jurisdiction.

First-year total with a vehicle purchase: $15,000–$35,000.

The vehicle is the biggest variable. A used Ford Transit or Sprinter in good mechanical shape is a better early investment than a new vehicle with payments. Keep your fixed costs low until you have steady contracts.

The Compliance Piece Most Couriers Miss

The regulatory requirements here aren’t complicated, but they require attention in the right order. Form the LLC first — before you take your first paying delivery. Get commercial auto insurance before you put the van on the road for business. Check your vehicle’s GVWR before you assume you don’t need a USDOT number.

The GEICS monitoring system means you can’t let insurance lapse even briefly once you’re operating registered commercial vehicles. Treat your policy renewal date like a deadline with consequences, because it is.

Medical courier is worth a serious look if you’re near any of Georgia’s metro areas. Hospitals and labs pay more, require less volume, and create stickier client relationships than competing on price with gig platforms. The compliance requirements are the same — it’s just a smarter place to compete.

Your first call after reading this: check your vehicle’s GVWR, get commercial auto insurance quotes from at least three carriers, and file your LLC at ecorp.sos.ga.gov. Everything else follows from those three steps.