How Do I Register My Business With The State Of Georgia

Step 1: Choose a Business Structure

Recommended: Nosotros typically recommend forming an LLC for most entrepreneurs because this structure comes with personal nugget protection, has no double taxation, and is pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to maintain.

If you lot would like to utilize a service, read our guide on the best LLC formation services.

Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships

By default, sole proprietorships operate as the same name as the owner while full general partnerships must include the surnames of all the partners.

To use a different name to comport business organization, the business owner(s) must file for a Georgia trade name — also unremarkably referred to as a doing concern as (DBA) name.

Footstep 2: Check Proper name Availability

When registering a business organisation name, it'southward important to make sure information technology's unique and no one else in your state formed a visitor with it or has control of it online as a domain name.

Domain Proper noun Search

We strongly recommend that yous also bank check to see if your business name is available as a web domain (URL). Even if you lot don't plan to create a business website today, you may desire to buy the spider web address to prevent others from acquiring that domain proper noun. If the spider web domain is available then information technology'southward likely the name will also exist available in a concern search.

Detect a Domain At present

Georgia Business Name Search

Next, search the Georgia Corporations Division concern search tool. This is an important step in the process because your filing will exist denied if you attempt to file for a name already in employ.

Search requirements can vary depending on your business organization needs. For case, a unique and bachelor proper noun is required to:

File for formal business structures like LLCs and corporations.
File a DBA name for whatever business structure.

A state-level proper name search isn't required for informal business structures like sole proprietorships or general partnerships in Georgia. Simply, if you decide to register a merchandise name or DBA proper noun, y'all'll demand to search the database to see if your desired proper name is unique and available.

Step 3: Class Your Business organisation With the State of Georgia

Once yous have selected your business structure and name, yous will need to file your germination documents with the state, which will annals your business with the state of Georgia.

To register your Georgia LLC, you'll demand to file the Manufactures of Organization with the Georgia Corporations Division. You lot tin can use online or by mail. Read our Grade an LLC in Georgia guide for details.

Or use a professional service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom to form your LLC for you.

To register your Georgia corporation, you'll demand to file the Manufactures of Incorporation with the Georgia Corporations Division. Read our Form a Georgia Corporation guide to learn more.

Additional Considerations

Protect Your Business concern Name With a Trademark (Optional)

One time you ostend the availability of your business name and secure it, y'all tin cull to employ for a trademark for your business organisation. This typically costs around $225 to $400 plus any attorney fees as well as a renewal fee every 10 years.

While this price can be high for a beginning-upward or fledgling business, it will requite your company brand nationwide protection backed by federal law. That means if others try to exercise business with the same — or a similar — proper noun as yours, you'll accept legal precedent on your side. For virtually small-scale businesses, this really isn't necessary unless they are thinking of going national.

How to Modify the Proper name of a Georgia Business

Changing the name of a business in Georgia tin can be washed in ii means: past filing for a trade proper name or past submitting an amendment to the legal proper name of an existing business organisation.

The first method, filing for a trade name (besides known equally a DBA name), is the easiest way to operate your business using a different name without needing to change its legal proper noun.

A DBA name is the just fashion for sole proprietorships and full general partnerships to accept a different concern name. It's too the easiest method for LLCs and corporations to follow considering it allows them to avert filing an subpoena or complicating their business operations while enabling them to operate with brand names that don't include the necessary LLC or Inc. suffix required in a legal name.

If you want to change the legal proper noun of your LLC or corporation, however, filing an amendment to the legal name of an existing business is your best pick. Here are links to forms for both options:

Articles of Amendment for LLCs
Articles of Amendment for corporations

You may submit both online or past mail. The form requires a $20 fee to file online or $30 to file by mail.

Ofttimes Asked Questions

How long does it take to go a business license in Georgia?

In-person applicants tin can typically obtain their business license in just a few hours. , Applications submitted by mail, on the other hand, tin can take three to five weeks for processing.

Does Georgia crave a business license?

The state of Georgia doesn't crave a general business concern license in order to operate a business as long equally your concern has the proper tax registrations. Businesses located in the city of Atlanta must, however, obtain a business license.

To verify the permits and licensing y'all'll need to operate a business in your county, contact your local sleeping accommodation of commerce.

What is a Certificate of Skillful Continuing?

Known in Georgia equally a Certificate of Existence, a Document of Good Standing verifies that your concern was legally formed and has been properly maintained. Obtaining this certification may exist necessary in gild to apply for specific licenses and permits.