Register an LLC with Georgia Secretary of State

A limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure that offers limited personal liability on the part of the owner.

An LLC also offers the possibility of certain tax benefits. A specialized attorney may be able to help you determine if an LLC is appropriate for your business.

How Do I … Register an LLC with Georgia Secretary of State?

Get Prepared

• Do your research to be sure an LLC is the right structure for your business entity.
• Determine if you are a foreign or domestic business entity. A domestic entity is one that is being created for the first time in Georgia. A foreign entity is one that already exists outside of the State of Georgia — whether that is another country or simply another U.S. state. Foreign entities must follow a different procedure to do business in Georgia
• Select a registered agent for your company. The registered agent is the person or entity designated to receive any service of process, documents, or other official communication on behalf of the business. A registered agent must be located in Georgia.
• Have any optional provisions prepared in advance. Optional provisions refer to information about the entity that are not required by law, such as 501(c)(3) language.

Gather What You'll Need

• Name of the LLC or a valid name reservation number
• Name and address of the person filing for the LLC
• A valid email address
• Mailing address of the principal office
• Name and address of the registered agent
• Name and address of each organizer
• Any optional provisions you need to add to your articles of organization
• A form of payment. Depending on how you apply, your form of payment will be one of the following: credit card, check, cashier’s check, or money order.

Create & File Registration

You can register an LLC online, by mail, or in person. Applications can be expedited for additional fees. Each registration method has different processing times and expedite options.

• Register online

1. Visit the Secretary of State’s online services page.
2. Create a user account.
3. Select “create or register a business”. Create a new, domestic business and choose domestic limited liability company.
4. Fill out the required information about your business entity (listed above).
5. Pay the $100 filing fee by approved credit card: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.

Processing Time: 7 business days; Processing in 2 business days costs an additional $100. Processing in the same business day (if submitted before noon on a weekday) costs an additional $250.

1. Either draft your own Articles of Organization, or download and fill out the Articles of Organization for LLC (CD 030) form from the Georgia Secretary of State website.
2. Download and fill out the Transmittal Form — Limited Liability Companies (231) from the Georgia Secretary of State website.
3. Mail the completed Articles of Organization, transmittal, form, and $110 filing fee by check or money order to:
   Office of Secretary of State
   Corporations Division
   2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
   Suite 313 West Tower
   Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Processing Time: 15 business days; Processing in 2 business days costs an additional $100. Processing in the same business day (if submitted before noon on a weekday) costs an additional $250. Processing in one hour costs an additional $1,000.

1. Either draft your own Articles of Organization, or download and fill out the Articles of Organization for LLC (CD 030) form from the Georgia Secretary of State website.
2. Download and fill out the Transmittal Form — Limited Liability Companies (231) from the Georgia Secretary of State website.
3. Submit the completed Articles of Organization, transmittal, form, and $110 filing fee to the Secretary of State's Corporations Division.
   Office of Secretary of State
   Corporations Division
   2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
   Suite 313 West Tower
   Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Processing Time: Varies; Processing in 2 business days costs an additional $100. Processing in the same business day (if submitted before noon on a weekday) costs an additional $250. Processing in one hour costs an additional $1,000.

Next Steps

• Provided all of your information is valid and your name has not been taken, you will receive your articles of organization within the specified processing time.
• Each year, you must file an annual registration for your LLC between January 1 and April 1. If you do not, your LLC will be administratively dissolved for failure to file your annual registration.
• It is important to note that registering with the Georgia Secretary of State is not the only step you will need to take before you can start doing business in the State of Georgia.

• Get Prepared
• Gather What You'll Need
• Create & File Registration
• Next Steps