How to Start an LLC in Georgia

Starting an LLC in Georgia Is Easy With These 5 Steps

STEP 1: Name Your Georgia LLC

Choosing a business name is the first and most important step in starting your Georgia LLC. Be sure to choose a name that complies with Georgia naming requirements and is easily searchable by potential clients.

1. Follow the Georgia LLC naming guidelines:

• Your name must include the phrase “limited liability company,” or one of its abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.).
• Your name should not include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
• Restricted words (e.g. Bank, Attorney, University) may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, to be part of your LLC.
• Your name must be distinguishable from any other Georgia limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, or corporation.
• For a complete list of naming rules in Georgia, you can read the Georgia naming guidelines.

2. Is the name available in Georgia? Make sure the name you want isn't already taken by doing a business search on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website.

3. Is the URL available? We recommend that you check online to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don't plan to make a business website today, you may want to buy the URL in order to prevent others from acquiring it.

Now that you have verified your business name and secured the URL you may select a professional service to complete the LLC formation process for you. We recommend using a professional service:

• Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)

STEP 2: Choose a Registered Agent in Georgia

You are required to nominate a Georgia Registered Agent for your Georgia LLC.

What is a Registered Agent? A registered agent is an individual or business entity responsible for receiving important tax forms, legal documents, notice of lawsuits, and official government correspondence on behalf of your business. Think of your registered agent as your business' point of contact with the state.

Who can be a Registered Agent? A registered agent must be a resident of Georgia or a business entity, such as a registered agent service, authorized to conduct business in the state of Georgia. You may elect an individual within the company including yourself.

Recommended: Northwest provides the first year of registered agent service free with LLC formation ($29 + State Fees)

STEP 3: File Your Georgia LLC Articles of Organization

To register your Georgia LLC, you'll need to file Form CD 030 - Articles of Organization with the Georgia Corporations Division. You can apply online or by mail with the required information.

Now is a good time to determine whether your LLC will be member-managed vs. manager-managed.

For help with completing the form, visit our Georgia Articles of Organization guide.

If you’re expanding your existing LLC to the State of Georgia, you will need to form a Foreign LLC.

STEP 4: Create a Georgia LLC Operating Agreement

An operating agreement is not required for an LLC in Georgia, but it's a good practice to have one.

What is an operating agreement? An operating agreement is a legal document outlining the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC.

Why are operating agreements important? A comprehensive LLC operating agreement ensures that all business owners are on the same page and reduces the risk of future conflict.

For more information on operating agreements, read our Georgia LLC operating agreement guide.

STEP 5: Get a Georgia LLC EIN

What is an EIN? EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. EINs are a nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help identify businesses for tax purposes. It is essentially a Social Security number for a business.

An EIN is sometimes referred to as a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN).

Why do I need an EIN? An EIN is required to:

• Open a business bank account
• File and manage federal and state taxes
• Hire employees

What if I already have an EIN for my sole proprietorship? The IRS requires that sole proprietorships get a new EIN when converting to an LLC.

Where do I get an EIN? You can get an EIN for free from the IRS. Getting an EIN is an easy process that can be done online or by mail.

FOR INTERNATIONAL EIN APPLICANTS: You do not need a SSN to get an EIN. For more information, read our How to Get an EIN as a Foreign Person guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Steps After Forming an LLC

Separate Your Personal and Business Assets

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your Georgia LLC is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

You can protect your LLC in Georgia with these three steps:

1. Opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank, credit union, business-loan friendly banks, one with many brick-and-mortar locations, and more.

2. Getting a business credit card:

• Helps categorize and separate all business expenses for end-of-year tax purposes.
• Helps build your business credit score — an essential step toward getting a line of credit or business loan in the future. 
• Allows you to keep track of department expenses by issuing multiple cards (with multiple budgets) to your employees.

For a closer look at business credit cards and their benefits, check out our review of the best small business credit cards.

3. Hiring a business accountant:

• Prevents your business from overpaying on taxes while helping you avoid penalties, fines, and other costly tax errors.
• Makes bookkeeping and payroll easier, leaving you with more time to focus on your growing business.
• Manages your business funding more effectively, discovering areas of unforeseen loss or extra profit.

Recommended: Find out how much you could be saving today by trying our recommended accounting service.

For more business accounting tools, read our guide to the best business accounting software.

Get Business Insurance for Your LLC

Business insurance helps you manage risks and focus on growing your Georgia LLC. The most common types of business insurance are:

• General Liability Insurance: A broad insurance policy that protects your business from lawsuits. Most small businesses get general liability insurance.
• Professional Liability Insurance: A business insurance for professional service providers (consultants, accountants, etc.) that covers claims of malpractice and other business errors.
• Workers' Compensation Insurance: A type of insurance that provides coverage for employees’ job-related illnesses, injuries, or deaths. Businesses with one or more employees, including LLC members and corporate officers, are required by Georgia law to have workers' compensation insurance.

Read our review of the best small business insurance companies.

Create Your Website

Creating a website is an important step in legitimizing your business. Every business needs a website and valid email address if you want your customers to find you.

Send Out a Press Release

Press Releases are among the easiest and best ways to promote your business. They are also one of the most cost-effective strategies as they:

• Provides publicity
• Establish your brand presence on the web
• Improve your website’s SEO, driving more customers to your website
• Are a one-time cost in terms of effort and money
• Have long-lasting benefits

Keep Your Company Compliant

Georgia Business Permits & Licenses

To operate an LLC in Georgia you must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations. For example, restaurants likely need health permits, building permits, signage permits, etc.

The details of business licenses and permits vary from state to state. Make sure you read carefully. Don't be surprised if there are short classes required as well.

Fees for a Georgia business license and permit will vary depending on what sort of license you are seeking to obtain.

Find out how to obtain the necessary Georgia business licenses and permits for your LLC or have a professional service do it for you:

• Business License Guide: Use our detailed Georgia Business License guide.
• Federal: Use the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guide to federal business licenses and permits.
• State: Visit Georgia's Official State Page.
• Local: Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and ask about local business licenses and permits.

Georgia LLC Tax Filing Requirements

In order to keep your business in good standing, it's important to stay up to date on your Georgia LLC taxes.

Depending on the nature of your business, you may be required to register for one or more forms of state tax:

Georgia Sales Tax

If you are selling a physical product, you’ll typically need to register for a seller's permit online through the Georgia Department of Revenue website.

This certificate allows a business to collect sales tax on taxable sales.

Sales tax, also called "Sales and Use Tax," is a tax levied by states, counties, and municipalities on business transactions involving the exchange of certain taxable goods or services.

Read our Georgia sales tax guide to find out more.

Georgia Employer Taxes

If you have employees in Georgia, you will need to register for Unemployment Insurance Tax with the Georgia Department of Labor. Employers who are required to pay Employee Withholding Tax will need to register with the Georgia Tax Center.

Federal LLC Tax Filing Requirements

Most LLCs will need to report their income to the IRS each year using:

• Form 1065 Partnership Return (most multi-member LLCs use this form)
• Form 1040 Schedule C (most single-member LLCs use this form)

How you pay yourself as an owner will also affect your federal taxes. Visit our guide to learn more about how to pay yourself from your LLC.

Georgia LLC Annual Registration

Georgia requires LLCs to file an annual report with the Secretary of State. This can be done online at the Georgia Secretary of State website.

Avoid Automatic Dissolution

LLCs may face fines and even automatic dissolution when they miss one or more state filings. When this happens, LLC owners risk loss of limited liability protection. A quality registered agent service can help prevent this outcome by notifying you of upcoming filing deadlines, and even submitting reports on your behalf for an additional fee.

Hiring Employees in Georgia

If you plan to hire employees for your business, stay compliant with the law by following these steps:

• Verify that new employees are able to work in the US
• Report employees as "new hires" to the State
• Provide workers' compensation insurance for employees
• Withhold employee taxes
• Print workplace compliance posters and place them in visible areas of your work space

Find more information from Georgia's Department of Labor.

Small Business Resources

Get Help Starting a Business in Georgia

We understand that creating an LLC and getting your business up and running comes with many challenges. To help you succeed, we compiled the best local resources in every major metro area in Georgia. You can get free assistance in the following areas:

Atlanta | Augusta | Savannah

State of Georgia Quick Links

• Georgia State Corporations
• Georgia Department of Revenue Business Center
• Georgia LLC Statutes
• Understanding Georgia LLC Laws
• Georgia LLC Annual Report
• Best Registered Agent Service in Georgia

More Georgia LLC Information

Georgia Foreign LLCs

Forming a foreign LLC allows your company to operate as one entity in multiple states. If you have an existing LLC and want to do business in Georgia, you will need to register with the Secretary of State as a foreign LLC. This can be done by mail.

How to Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing in Georgia

A Certificate of Good Standing, known in Georgia as a Certificate of Existence, verifies that your LLC was legally formed and has been properly maintained. Several instances where you might need to get one include:

• Seeking funding from banks or other lenders
• Forming your business as a foreign LLC in another state
• Obtaining or renewing specific Georgia business licenses or permits

You can order a Georgia LLC Certificate of Existence online with the Secretary of State.

How to Dissolve an LLC in Georgia

If at any point in the future you no longer wish to conduct business with your LLC, it is important to officially dissolve it. Failure to do so in a timely fashion can result in tax liabilities and penalties, or even legal trouble. To dissolve your Georgia LLC, there are two broad steps:

• Close your business tax accounts
• File the Georgia Articles of Dissolution

When you are ready to dissolve your LLC, follow the steps in our Georgia LLC Dissolution Guide.