Georgia Pet Grooming License Requirements (2026)

Pet Grooming License & Business Requirements in Georgia (2026): The Complete Guide

Important: Fees, tax rates, and regulations change frequently. This guide reflects requirements as of October 2026. Always verify current requirements with the specific agencies listed before making business decisions. Direct links to official sources are provided throughout.

Starting a pet grooming business in Georgia looks simple from the outside. There is no grooming exam, no grooming board, and no individual groomer license.

You’ll often hear:

“Georgia doesn’t require a pet groomer license.”

That statement is half true, and the missing half is the part that gets groomers in trouble. Georgia doesn’t license you as a person. But it does license grooming shops. Under the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s animal protection rules, a grooming shop is a type of kennel, and operating a kennel without a state license is a misdemeanor.

So the real compliance work in Georgia lives in four places: the Department of Agriculture kennel license, state business registration and taxes, the local business license (occupation tax certificate) that every city and county issues, and zoning.

This guide covers storefront salons, home-based groomers, and mobile grooming operations, with specific attention to the state kennel license most new groomers have never heard of, and to how Atlanta, Savannah and Augusta handle local licensing.

If you’re comparing states, see our guides for Florida, Texas and Illinois.

Quick Reference: What You Must Do

Required for ALL Grooming Businesses (Regardless of Model)

• Georgia Department of Agriculture kennel license for a grooming shop (confirm with the Department if you are mobile-only; see Part 1)
• Business registration with the Georgia Secretary of State (LLCs and corporations) or a county trade name filing (sole proprietors using a business name)
• Federal EIN (IRS)
• Georgia Department of Revenue registration (sales and use tax if you sell products; withholding if you have employees)
• City or county business license / occupation tax certificate
• Business insurance (general liability, care, custody and control coverage)
• Workers’ compensation insurance once you regularly employ three or more people
• Business banking account

Model-Specific Requirements

Bottom line: The state kennel license is the requirement that separates Georgia from most of its neighbours. Get it, plus your local occupation tax certificate, before your first paying appointment.

Part 1: Do You Need a Pet Groomer License in Georgia?

The short answer

Not as an individual, but your grooming shop needs a state license.

Georgia does not issue a professional license to individual groomers. There is:

• no state grooming board
• no state exam
• no mandatory professional certification
• no continuing education requirement

But the Georgia Animal Protection Act (O.C.G.A. § 4-11-1 and following) and the Department of Agriculture’s rules under it do cover grooming businesses.

The key finding: grooming shops are kennels under Georgia rules

The Act defines a kennel as an establishment, other than an animal shelter, where dogs or cats are maintained “for boarding, holding, training, or similar purposes for a fee or compensation” (O.C.G.A. § 4-11-2).

The Department’s rule then spells it out. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-13-13-.01 says “similar purposes include, but are not limited to, activities of a breeding establishment, cattery, or grooming shop,” and defines a grooming shop as an establishment “where a person maintains a dog or cat for bathing, dipping, clipping, trimming, brushing, or similar care of the appearance for a fee or compensation.”

The Department’s own Kennel Licenses page confirms that grooming shops are among the “similar purposes” that need a kennel license.

Under O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3, it is unlawful to operate a kennel without a license, and doing so is a misdemeanor. The license must be prominently displayed at the kennel (O.C.G.A. § 4-11-4), and the Department can inspect licensed facilities (O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9).

What about mobile groomers?

The rule’s definition talks about an “establishment.” Whether a grooming van counts, and how a mobile operation is inspected and licensed, isn’t spelled out in the rule text we reviewed. Call the Companion Animal Program before you launch a mobile business and get the answer in writing.

Voluntary certifications

Certifications are not legally required, but they help with clients and sometimes with insurance:

• National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA): certification exams
• International Professional Groomers (IPG): certification programs
• International Society of Canine Cosmetologists (ISCC): certification

Part 2: Choose Your Business Model First (Everything Depends on This)

Before registering anything, decide how you will operate, because the requirements change with the model.

1. Storefront grooming salon

• Commercial lease or owned retail space
• Clients drop off and pick up pets
• Highest startup cost, clearest zoning path
• Needs a GDA kennel license and a local occupation tax certificate

2. Home-based grooming

• Operates from a residence (garage, spare room, converted outbuilding)
• Lower overhead
• Still needs a GDA kennel license, because it is still a grooming shop
• Home occupation rules vary by city and county, and some may not allow animal businesses at all

3. Mobile grooming

• Van or trailer-based grooming unit
• Travels to client locations
• Local licensing questions in every city you serve
• Confirm with GDA how the kennel license applies

Once you pick a model, zoning, permits, inspections and taxes all follow from it. For a broader look at the trade-offs, see our guide on how to start a dog grooming business.

Part 3: Georgia Business Registration

Official resource: Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division

LLCs and corporations

LLCs and corporations are formed with the Secretary of State. Per the Corporations Division filing fee schedule effective September 6, 2025 (verify before filing):

• LLC Articles of Organization: $100 filing fee + $10 service charge = $110
• Annual registration (LLCs and corporations): $50 + $10 service charge = $60, filed between January 1 and April 1 each year, starting the year after you form
• Late annual registration penalty: $25
• Reinstatement after administrative dissolution: $260

An LLC that misses its annual registration can be administratively dissolved, so put April 1 on your calendar.

Sole proprietors and trade names

If you operate under any name other than your own legal name (for example, “Peachtree Paws Grooming”), Georgia’s trade name law, O.C.G.A. § 10-1-490, requires you to register the name with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where you mainly do business. Counties also require a notice to be published in the county’s legal newspaper.

Fees and publication steps vary by county. For example, the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court publishes its own trade name fee sheet. Check with your county clerk for the current fee and publication process.

Federal EIN

You need an EIN if you form an LLC or corporation or hire employees. Many sole proprietors get one anyway to avoid putting their Social Security number on forms. It’s free from the IRS.

Part 4: Taxes Groomers Pay in Georgia

Official resource: Georgia Department of Revenue | Taxpayer Services: 1-877-423-6711

Register through: Georgia Tax Center (GTC)

1. Georgia has a flat income tax

Georgia’s individual income tax is a flat rate. According to the Department of Revenue’s 2026 Employer’s Tax Guide, HB 463 cut the rate from 5.19% to 4.99%, retroactive to January 1, 2026. The Department’s Important Tax Updates page lists the new standard deduction: $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly.

For sole proprietors, single-member LLCs and S corporations, grooming profit passes through to your personal return. Plan for quarterly estimated payments to both Georgia and the IRS.

2. Sales tax on grooming services: generally NO

Georgia does not list pet grooming as a taxable service.

Georgia’s sales and use tax applies to tangible personal property, utilities, and a short list of specifically enumerated services. As the Department of Revenue put it in Letter Ruling LR SUT-2017-04: “Sales of services are not subject to the tax unless the service is specifically designated as taxable” (citing O.C.G.A. §§ 48-8-2 and 48-8-30). Grooming isn’t on that list.

Two important catches:

• Product sales are taxable. Shampoo, brushes, collars, bandanas, treats and other retail items you sell are tangible goods. You must register as a dealer and collect tax on them.
• You pay tax on your own supplies. The same letter ruling explains that service providers are the end consumers of the materials they use, so you pay sales tax when you buy shampoo, conditioner and other supplies you use up during grooms.

Rates: The state rate is 4%, and local taxes are added on top. Per the Department’s rate chart effective October 1, 2026:

• Atlanta (Fulton County portion): 8.9%
• Fulton County outside Atlanta and certain cities: 7.75%
• Savannah / Chatham County: 7%
• Augusta / Richmond County: 9%

Rates change quarterly. Always check the current chart.

Important: Keep service revenue and product sales clearly separated on your invoices and in your books.

3. Employer payroll taxes (if you have employees)

If you hire staff:

• Georgia income tax withholding: register through the Georgia Tax Center (Employer’s Tax Guide)
• State unemployment insurance: register with the Georgia Department of Labor
• Federal payroll taxes: Social Security, Medicare, federal withholding and FUTA
• Workers’ compensation: see Part 11

Unemployment tax rates and the taxable wage base are set by the Georgia Department of Labor. Check with them for your new-employer rate.

Part 5: City and County Business Licensing (Occupation Tax)

Georgia cities and counties don’t usually call it a “business license.” They levy an occupation tax and issue a business tax certificate or occupational tax certificate. Every jurisdiction sets its own rules, and most base the tax on gross receipts, employee count, or both.

Common requirements across Georgia jurisdictions include:

• a notarized SAVE affidavit (verifying lawful presence)
• a notarized E-Verify / private employer affidavit
• zoning or business location approval
• proof of state registration (Secretary of State and, if you sell products, your sales tax number)

Which office you deal with depends on whether your address is inside city limits or in unincorporated county territory.

Atlanta

Official resource: City of Atlanta Office of Revenue: Apply for a New Business Occupational Tax Certificate

• Every business located within Atlanta city limits needs a Business Occupational Tax Certificate.
• Applications and renewals go through the city’s online occupational tax and permitting portal (ATLBIZ).
• Typical documents include a notarized E-Verify affidavit, a notarized SAVE affidavit, photo ID, and any required regulatory permits. Private employers with 11 or more employees must be enrolled in E-Verify.
• The certificate isn’t issued until zoning approval and any required permits are complete.
• Certificates run January 1 to December 31. The city’s renewal deadline is February 15, and the city has warned of a $500 failure-to-file fee for late renewals (renewal page).

Fees include an administrative fee and a tax based on gross receipts and employees. Confirm current amounts with the Office of Revenue before you budget.

Savannah

Official resource: City of Savannah Revenue Department: Business Tax

Savannah uses a two-step process:

1. Business Location Approval (BLA). Before applying for a business tax certificate, you must get a Business Location Approval (formerly called zoning approval). It confirms the use is allowed at that address and that the space meets fire and life safety code.
2. Business Tax Certificate. Submit the business tax application to the Revenue Department. The application requirements include proof of ownership identity, a lease or deed for the location, your Secretary of State registration, your sales tax number if you sell goods, your EIN, and an estimate of gross receipts.

The business tax is due on or before January 31 and expires December 31. A certificate of occupancy is required before a business may operate at any location in the city. Allow several weeks for location approval.

Augusta (Augusta-Richmond County)

Official resource: Augusta Business Tax Certificate | License and Inspection: (706) 312-5050

Augusta and Richmond County are a consolidated government, so one office handles the whole county.

• After you register and pay the occupation tax, the License and Inspection Department issues a Business Tax Certificate (Occupation Tax).
• A new business must get its certificate within 30 days of starting business. Regulatory fees, where they apply, are due before you open.
• The tax is based on estimated gross revenue.
• Certificates expire December 31. Renew January 1 to 31 to avoid penalties.
• You can apply in person, by email to licensing@augustaga.gov, or online. The application asks for a notarized SAVE affidavit and a notarized private employer affidavit.

Everywhere else in Georgia

Outside these three cities the pattern is the same: confirm whether you’re inside city limits or in unincorporated county territory, get zoning approval, apply for the occupation tax certificate, and renew every year. Call the business license office before signing a lease.

Part 6: Georgia Department of Agriculture Kennel License (The Grooming-Specific Requirement)

Official resource: Georgia Department of Agriculture: Kennel Licenses | Companion Animal Program: (404) 656-4914 (Mon–Fri, 8:00 am–4:30 pm) | CAECompliance@agr.georgia.gov

This is the step most new Georgia groomers miss.

How to apply

Per the Department’s Kennel Licenses page:

1. Check local ordinances first. A state license doesn’t override local zoning or animal limits.
2. Apply online through the Department’s licensing system.
3. Pass a pre-inspection. An inspector visits your facility. If problems are found, you work with the inspector to fix them. You can’t proceed until you pass.
4. Submit Secure & Verifiable (S&V) documents, including proof of citizenship or legal residency.
5. Pay online once approved. The certificate is mailed within about 1 to 7 business days.

The application asks for your physical and mailing addresses, phone and email, your facility’s capacity, the names of officers or partners, and any prior license violations or animal cruelty charges.

Fees

Kennel license fees are based on holding capacity (Rule 40-13-13-.02):

Renewal and late fees

• The license lasts one year from the date it is issued.
• Renewing late (more than ten days after expiry) doubles the fee, and the Department says it cannot waive the late fee.
• You may not keep operating on an expired license.

One license per activity

The rule requires “a separate license for each activity” and says “there will be no combination licenses.” If you groom and board, or groom and sell pets, ask the Companion Animal Program which licenses you need.

Operating standards that come with the license

Rule 40-13-13-.04 sets premises and care standards for licensed facilities. Highlights relevant to groomers:

• Records: complete and accurate records covering the animals in your custody, including owner names, addresses and phone numbers, kept for 12 months and available to the Department on request
• Sanitation: enclosures cleaned to keep a healthy environment; disinfection with approved chemicals or hot water of at least 145°F
• Portable crates: may be used for temporary holding (24 hours or less) during grooming, but may not be stacked or used as permanent housing
• Isolation: animals with apparent contagious disease must be kept separate; animals with aggressive dispositions housed alone
• Safety: working fire extinguishers required; smoke detectors recommended
• Emergency plan: a written plan for evacuating and rehoming animals, available for inspection

Good intake paperwork makes the records requirement easy. Our dog grooming consent and release form guide covers what to collect at check-in.

Part 7: Animal Welfare Law

Legal framework: Georgia Animal Protection Act (O.C.G.A. § 4-11-1 et seq.) and Georgia’s criminal animal cruelty statute (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4)

As a licensed kennel, a grooming shop is subject to Department inspection, and the Department can impound animals as part of an investigation under these laws. Beyond the licensing rules, every groomer must:

• never leave animals unattended in unsafe conditions (dryers, tables, loops)
• control temperature and prevent heat stress, especially with cage dryers
• use secure containment
• respond immediately to injuries or illness
• verify vaccinations, especially rabies

Cruelty concerns can be reported to the Department through its Reporting Animal Cruelty page.

Best practice: Write down your handling, drying and incident-response procedures. They help you pass inspection and protect you if something goes wrong.

Part 8: Zoning (The Requirement That Overrides Everything)

Zoning approval comes before your local occupation tax certificate in every Georgia city we reviewed. Atlanta won’t issue a certificate without zoning approval, and Savannah requires a Business Location Approval first.

Storefront zoning

Confirm that:

• pet grooming is an allowed use in your zoning district
• parking requirements can be met
• signage is permitted
• noise and odor can be controlled
• wastewater disposal is approved

Home-based zoning

Georgia doesn’t have a single statewide home occupation rule. Each city and county writes its own, and they commonly limit:

• the share of the home used for business
• client visits and parking
• non-resident employees
• signage and exterior evidence of the business
• animal-related businesses, which some local codes restrict or ban

Action step: Ask your city or county planning department, in writing, whether a home grooming business is allowed at your address, how many client animals can be on site at once, and whether a permit is required. Do this before you buy equipment.

Mobile grooming zoning

Mobile groomers face fewer zoning restrictions, but:

• many residential zones restrict parking or storing commercial vehicles
• some neighbourhoods and HOAs ban commercial vans in driveways
• each city you serve may want its own occupation tax registration

Part 9: Facility, Sanitation, and Wastewater Requirements

Facility standards

The GDA rule (Part 6) is the main facility standard for licensed grooming shops. Local building and fire codes also apply:

• commercial spaces need a certificate of occupancy (Savannah requires one before a business may operate)
• build-outs and plumbing changes (tubs, floor drains) usually need permits
• customer-facing areas must meet accessibility rules
• moisture-resistant, cleanable surfaces and good drainage are required under the GDA rule

Wastewater

If connected to municipal sewer: Hair traps and lint screens on tubs are strongly recommended to prevent clogs. Ask your local water and sewer utility whether it has any pretreatment requirements for commercial users.

If on septic (common for rural home-based groomers):

• grooming volumes can overwhelm a residential system
• shampoos, disinfectants and flea treatments can damage it
• contact your county environmental health office before you start

Mobile groomers:

• capture wastewater in onboard holding tanks
• dispose of it only at approved dump stations or sanitary sewer connections
• never discharge into storm drains, streets, yards or waterways

Action step: Ask your local utility where mobile wastewater may be disposed of, and keep a log.

Part 10: Animal Handling and Operating Standards

Georgia’s rules don’t set grooming techniques. In practice, the licensing and cruelty laws mean you should keep vaccination records (especially rabies), owner and emergency contacts, pre-groom condition notes and incident reports, and keep 12 months of records ready for inspection.

Part 11: Insurance and Workers’ Compensation

Insurance (not optional in practice)

Most Georgia groomers carry:

• General liability insurance: covers client injuries and property damage
• Care, custody, and control (CCC) coverage: covers injury to animals in your care; standard general liability often excludes this
• Commercial property insurance: covers equipment and inventory
• Commercial auto insurance (mobile groomers): personal auto policies typically exclude business use
• Business Owner’s Policy (BOP): bundles liability and property

Your homeowner’s policy almost certainly won’t cover a home grooming business. Get a quote from an agent who writes pet-business policies.

Workers’ compensation

Official resource: Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation

Georgia requires workers’ compensation once you regularly employ three or more people in your Georgia business.

• Part-time employees count if they work for you regularly.
• Corporate officers and LLC members count as employees. Up to five may waive coverage on themselves, but that doesn’t reduce the employee count.
• Sole proprietors and partners are not employees unless they elect coverage.

The Board warns that non-compliance can lead to civil penalties and other sanctions. If you have one or two employees, coverage is voluntary but still worth pricing.

Part 12: Home-Based vs Mobile vs Storefront: Key Differences

• Home-based: lowest overhead, but still needs the GDA kennel license and pre-inspection. It is the most zoning-sensitive model, septic and neighbour complaints are common, and your homeowner’s policy does not cover business use.
• Mobile: moderate startup cost and the fewest zoning restrictions. Confirm with GDA how licensing applies, check occupation tax rules in each city you serve, and carry commercial auto insurance.
• Storefront: highest startup cost, but the clearest zoning path. You need the GDA kennel license plus a local certificate of occupancy, and you get walk-in visibility.

Part 13: Example: Opening a Storefront Salon in Atlanta

Atlanta has the most layers of any Georgia city:

1. Form your LLC with the Secretary of State ($110)
2. Get a federal EIN
3. Register with the Georgia Tax Center for sales tax (if selling products) and withholding (if hiring)
4. Confirm zoning for your address with the city
5. Complete any build-out permits and get your certificate of occupancy
6. Apply for the GDA kennel license, pass the pre-inspection, submit S&V documents and pay ($100 for up to 20 pets)
7. Apply for the Atlanta Business Occupational Tax Certificate through ATLBIZ with your notarized SAVE and E-Verify affidavits
8. Buy insurance (general liability + CCC)
9. Buy workers’ comp once you regularly employ three or more people
10. Calendar your renewals: GDA license (12 months from issue), Atlanta certificate (renew by February 15), Secretary of State annual registration (January 1 to April 1)

Known state costs for a small storefront:

• LLC formation: $110
• Annual registration: $60 per year
• GDA kennel license: $100 per year (capacity up to 20 pets)
• Atlanta occupation tax: based on gross receipts and employees (confirm with the Office of Revenue)
• Insurance, build-out and rent: vary widely

Use our pet grooming business plan guide to budget the rest.

Part 14: Practical Compliance Checklist

Universal (all Georgia groomers)

• Secretary of State LLC/corporation filing, or county trade name registration
• Federal EIN
• Georgia Tax Center registration (sales tax for product sales; withholding if hiring)
• GDA kennel license (or written confirmation from GDA if you believe it doesn’t apply)
• Local occupation tax certificate
• Business bank account
• General liability + CCC insurance
• Workers’ comp once you regularly employ three or more people
• Quarterly estimated tax payments set up

Storefront

• Zoning / location approval
• Building permits for build-out
• Certificate of occupancy
• GDA pre-inspection passed
• GDA license displayed on site
• Fire extinguishers in place; emergency evacuation plan written

Home-based

• Written confirmation that home grooming is allowed at your address
• Home occupation permit (if your jurisdiction requires one)
• GDA pre-inspection passed
• Septic review (if not on sewer)
• Separate business insurance

Mobile

• GDA guidance on licensing a mobile unit, in writing
• Commercial auto insurance
• Wastewater holding tank and disposal plan
• Occupation tax registration at your home base and anywhere else required
• Parking compliance at your home base

Part 15: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Believing “no license required”

Georgia has no groomer license, but grooming shops are kennels under the Department of Agriculture rules. Operating without a kennel license is a misdemeanor.

Solution: Apply for the GDA kennel license before you open, and budget time for the pre-inspection.

Mistake 2: Letting the GDA license lapse

The license runs 12 months from issue, not on a calendar year. Late renewal doubles the fee, and you can’t operate while expired.

Solution: Set a reminder 60 days before your expiry date.

Mistake 3: Charging sales tax on grooming, or not charging it on products

Grooming services aren’t on Georgia’s taxable list, but retail products are taxable.

Solution: Register as a dealer if you sell anything, keep product and service lines separate on invoices, and pay tax on the supplies you use.

Mistake 4: Applying for the local certificate before zoning

Atlanta and Savannah both require zoning or location approval first.

Solution: Get zoning approval before you sign a lease or apply for the certificate.

Mistake 5: Missing local SAVE and E-Verify paperwork

Many Georgia jurisdictions require notarized affidavits, and Atlanta doesn’t accept prior-year E-Verify affidavits.

Solution: Get both affidavits notarized when you apply, and again at renewal.

Part 16: Licensing Timeline (How Long Does This Take?)

Important: These are general estimates. Contact each agency for current processing times.

Storefront: 3–6 months

• Business registration: 1–2 weeks
• Zoning / location approval: 2–8 weeks (Savannah says to allow six to eight weeks)
• Build-out and permits: 4–12 weeks
• GDA application, pre-inspection, S&V documents: several weeks
• Local occupation tax certificate: 1–4 weeks after zoning
• Insurance: 1–2 weeks

Home-based: 1–3 months

• Business registration: 1–2 weeks
• Home occupation approval: 2–4 weeks
• GDA application and pre-inspection: several weeks
• Septic review (if applicable): 2–4 weeks

Mobile: 3–5 months

• Business registration: 1–2 weeks
• Vehicle purchase and build-out: 4–12 weeks
• GDA guidance and any licensing: several weeks
• Local registrations: 1–4 weeks each

The GDA pre-inspection, zoning approval and certificate of occupancy are the usual critical-path items.

Part 17: How to Verify Your Specific Requirements

State-level verification

• Kennel license: Georgia Department of Agriculture Kennel Licenses | (404) 656-4914
• Business registration and fees: Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division
• Sales tax and withholding: Georgia Department of Revenue | 1-877-423-6711
• Workers’ comp: State Board of Workers’ Compensation

County-level verification

• Trade name: your county Clerk of Superior Court
• Zoning (unincorporated areas): your county planning department
• Septic: your county environmental health office

City-level verification

• Occupation tax certificate: your city’s revenue or business license office
• Zoning and certificate of occupancy: your city planning and building departments
• Mobile groomers: each city you regularly serve

Professional help

Consider an attorney for business structure, a CPA for sales tax setup and quarterly estimates, and an insurance agent for CCC coverage and workers’ comp.

Part 18: Resources and Contacts

State-level

Georgia Department of Agriculture: Companion Animal Program

• Website: agr.georgia.gov/kennel-licenses
• Phone: (404) 656-4914 (Mon–Fri, 8:00 am–4:30 pm)
• Email: CAECompliance@agr.georgia.gov
• Existing licenses: 855-424-5423 | GDALicensing@agr.georgia.gov
• Rules: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-13-13
• Statute: Georgia Animal Protection Act (PDF)

Georgia Secretary of State: Corporations Division

• Website: sos.ga.gov
• Filing fee schedule

Georgia Department of Revenue

• Website: dor.georgia.gov
• Taxpayer Services: 1-877-423-6711
• Tax registration
• Sales tax rate charts
• Employer’s Tax Guide

Georgia Department of Labor

• Website: dol.georgia.gov

Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation

• Website: sbwc.georgia.gov

City contacts

City of Atlanta: Office of Revenue

• New business occupational tax certificate
• Renewals

City of Savannah: Revenue Department

• Business Tax
• Business Location Approvals
• Mailing address: P.O. Box 1228, Savannah, GA 31402-1228

Augusta-Richmond County: License and Inspection

• Business Tax Certificate
• Phone: (706) 312-5050
• Email: licensing@augustaga.gov

Federal

IRS: Employer Identification Number

• Apply for an EIN online (free)

Final Reality Check

Georgia doesn’t license groomers. It licenses grooming shops.

Georgia also requires:

• Secretary of State registration (or a county trade name filing)
• a flat state income tax (4.99% for 2026)
• sales tax on retail products (but not on grooming services)
• a local occupation tax certificate, with SAVE and E-Verify affidavits
• zoning approval before that certificate
• workers’ comp once you regularly employ three or more people

If you work through it in order (registration → tax setup → zoning → build-out → GDA kennel license → local certificate → insurance), you avoid expensive do-overs.

Take the Next Step

Once you’ve navigated Georgia’s licensing requirements and are ready to operate, professional grooming salon software built for Georgia groomers helps you manage the operational side—scheduling, client records, digital agreements, and compliance tracking—so you can focus on grooming instead of paperwork.

Start your free trial today and see how Packyard handles vaccination tracking, digital waivers, appointment management, and client communication in one platform.

Critical Reminder: Verify Everything Locally

This guide provides a general framework only. Requirements, fees, rates and procedures change frequently and vary by jurisdiction.

Before making any business decisions:

1. Contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture Companion Animal Program about your kennel license, especially if you are mobile or also board, train or sell pets
2. Contact the Georgia Secretary of State for current filing fees
3. Contact the Georgia Department of Revenue for current tax rates
4. Contact your city or county for occupation tax and zoning requirements
5. Contact your county Clerk of Superior Court for trade name filing
6. Buy workers’ compensation coverage before you regularly employ three people
7. Verify everything at the official sources linked in Part 18

Do not rely solely on this guide. Use it as a starting point, then confirm every detail with the relevant authorities.

This article is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm requirements with your city, county, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Secretary of State and the Georgia Department of Revenue before opening. Regulations, fees and requirements change frequently—verify current information with official sources.

• how tos
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Himani Agarwal Founder, Packyard

Ran two pet shops with grooming salons, got fed up with software built for hair salons, and built Packyard with a team of groomers. Still on the floor most Saturdays. Writes about the parts of grooming nobody taught you.

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