Filed with
Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Georgia LLC
Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division business filings →The name must contain "limited liability company", "limited company", "LLC", "L.L.C.", "LC" or "L.C." ("Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "Company" "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Georgia register.
Search the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Georgia LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Georgia, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Georgia operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Georgia business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Georgia requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Georgia sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Georgia LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Georgia LLCs file an Annual Registration every year. It is due between January 1 and April 1 each year.
The first one is due between January 1 and April 1 of the year after the LLC is formed.
An LLC taxed as a partnership or disregarded entity pays no Georgia net worth tax; an LLC that elects to be taxed as a corporation is subject to Georgia net worth tax, reported on Form 600 or 600S
Worth knowing in Georgia
- Georgia lets you prepay the Annual Registration for multiple years at once; the yearly April 1 deadline does not apply for years already covered.
- An LLC that does not file its Annual Registration can be administratively dissolved by the Secretary of State.
- Names may only use English letters, numerals and standard keyboard symbols, up to 80 characters.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division and pay the state fee, act as your Georgia registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Georgia?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Georgia, and file a Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Georgia?
Georgia charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Georgia LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Georgia LLC have to file an annual report?
Georgia LLCs file an Annual Registration every year. It is due between January 1 and April 1 each year. The first one is due between January 1 and April 1 of the year after the LLC is formed.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Georgia, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Georgia?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Georgia and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
