Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: October 2026

These are the questions people ask us most about business licenses and fees in Atlanta, answered the short way first. This site is not a government agency; we estimate from published schedules and point you to the official office for the final word. For the calculator itself, start on the home page.

How much is a business license in Atlanta?
There is no separate license fee. The Occupational Tax Certificate is the license, and its cost is the tax: $191 registration plus $50 plus your class rate on receipts over $10,000 plus $25 per employee after the first.

Did Atlanta raise its business taxes?
Yes, for the 2026 tax year. The admin fee rose from $75 to $191 and the Class 5 rate from $1.40 to $1.88 per $1,000. Guides showing $75 are stale.

What is my tax class?
The Office of Revenue assigns it from your NAICS code at registration. Only the Class 5 rate is published on the city's public page.

Is there a small-business exemption?
No formal one, but the structure is gentle at the bottom: the first $10,000 of receipts is taxed flat at $50 and the first employee is exempt from the employee fee.

I am an attorney. Is there a better option?
Likely yes. Licensed professionals can elect $400 per practitioner instead of the gross-receipts tax, which is usually far cheaper for high-revenue practices.

Is this an official government website?

No. This is an independent resource operated by Perfect Option MBC, LLC. We are not a government agency and we are not affiliated with any city or state. Every estimate points back to the official published schedule so you can confirm the number at the source.

Is the calculator free?

Yes. The calculator and this guide are free to use, with no account and no sign-up. The numbers you enter are calculated in your browser and are not stored or sent to us.

How current are the fees?

We work from the fee schedules and tax rules the city publishes, and we update our math when the city updates its schedule. Fees do change, sometimes mid-year, so treat every result as a well-sourced estimate and confirm the final figure with the city before you budget around it.