How many small businesses are in Georgia, and what do they look like?
Georgia has about 1.4 million small businesses, and small businesses employ 1.8 million Georgians, 42.5% of the state's employees, according to the SBA's 2025 profile. About 199,000 of them have employees, and those are the ones that can buy a group plan.
| Size of business | Number in Georgia |
|---|---|
| No employees | 1,175,541 |
| 1 to 19 employees | 177,382 |
| 20 to 499 employees | 22,049 |
| All small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) | 1,374,972 |
Of the Georgia businesses with employees, 177,382 have 1 to 19 and 22,049 have 20 to 499. Businesses under 20 employees are generally outside federal COBRA, so the state continuation rule below matters to them.
About 1.2 million Georgia small businesses have no employees. Their owners buy individual plans, and our self-employed guide covers the deduction and enrollment dates.
How many Georgia small businesses offer health insurance?
Just over one in four Georgia establishments at firms with fewer than 50 employees offered health insurance in 2025 (27.9%), compared with 32.1% nationally. At firms with 50 or more employees, 96.7% did, compared with 94.8% nationally.
- Firms with fewer than 50 employees
- Firms with 50 or more employees
- GeorgiaFirms with fewer than 50 employees: 27.9%Firms with 50 or more employees: 96.7%
- United StatesFirms with fewer than 50 employees: 32.1%Firms with 50 or more employees: 94.8%
Source: KFF State Health Facts, from the AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance Component, 2025
The survey counts establishments, meaning individual business locations. If a group plan is out of reach for now, a QSEHRA lets a small employer reimburse employees tax free up to $6,450 for one person in 2026.
Which industries have the most Georgia small employers?
Professional, scientific and technical services has the most Georgia employers with 1 to 19 employees, at 27,844, followed by retail trade at 21,010 and other services at 20,672.
| Industry | Businesses with 1 to 19 employees |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 27,844 |
| Retail trade | 21,010 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 20,672 |
| Construction | 19,314 |
| Health care and social assistance | 17,837 |
| All industries | 177,382 |
Retail and service businesses often have many part time schedules. The federal rules count hours, not heads, so a team of part time employees can add up to fewer full time equivalents than you expect. Our calculator does the count.
What happens to an employee's coverage when they leave a Georgia small business?
Federal COBRA covers employers with at least 20 employees. Under Georgia law, a group member who was continuously covered for at least six months can continue coverage for the rest of the policy month plus three additional policy months.
- The person pays the premium monthly in advance, at the same rate as active group members.
- The payment must include any part of the premium the former employer paid and no longer contributes.
- If the group plan offers a high deductible health plan that works with an HSA, the person must also be offered that option for continuation coverage.
- At the end of the period the person has the conversion rights the group contract offered on the date coverage ended.
The law applies to group contracts and plans issued in Georgia. Ask your insurer how continuation works on your plan before an employee leaves.
What does small business health insurance cost in Georgia?
KFF does not publish premiums by state, so the closest figure for a Georgia business is the South region, where the 2026 average premium is $9,272 for single coverage and $26,702 for family coverage. Both are a little lower than the averages for all firms nationally, $9,804 and $28,303.
Your price depends on your employees, their ages and where they live, and the plan level you choose. A quote is the only way to know it. Our cost guide explains who pays what and how to lower the bill.
How do I get started in Georgia?
Count your team, decide your contribution, then compare a group plan with a fixed budget option. The rules in our national guide apply in Georgia, and the numbers above show what is local.
- Count your full time and full time equivalent employees. Our free calculator does it for you.
- Decide how much of each employee's premium you want to pay.
- Ask for a side by side quote: a small group plan and, if you prefer a set budget, a CHOICE arrangement or QSEHRA.
- Check the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. It is a federal credit, so it applies in Georgia as it does everywhere.
If you are the only person in the business, or you work with only your spouse, you buy an individual plan instead. Our self-employed guide covers it.
See our Small-Group Health plans
Real health benefits for a small team. We handle shopping, setup and renewals.Small business health insurance calculator: employee count and tax credit
Enter your full-time and part-time employees to see your full-time equivalent count, which rules apply to you and what the small business health care tax credit could be worth.Health insurance in Georgia
Marketplace, Medicaid and Medicare rules for the whole state.
Get group plan prices for your team
A licensed agent compares small group plans and CHOICE arrangements from several carriers and shows you the monthly cost for you and your employees. It costs you nothing.