Georgia Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Georgia Limited Liability Company formations are completed by filing articles of organization with the Secretary of State. Georgia has, and explains, its minimum LLC filing requirements although other provisions may be included. Using our online service to process you LLC filing is very easy, however, both EZonlineFiling.com and the Georgia Secretary of State recommend that you fully understand the legal and tax implications associated with a new business filing.

Name Reservation
It is possible to reserve a name for your LLC prior to filing in Georgia. There is a $25 fee payable to the Secretary of State for the reservation, but you may not want to do this. A name reservation can be a good idea if you don’t plan on filing the LLC soon. However, if you plan to file right away, or within the next few days, this is likely a waste of time and money. Getting your limited liability company filed is defineatly the best way to reserve the name.

Articles of Organization
Articles of organization must include the information exactly as described in O.C.G.A. 14-11-204. If you intend to file the LLC yourself, you must carefully read and follow this legal statute. The articles may be signed by any member of the limited liability company, any manager if management is vested in a manager, or by an organizer if the LLC has been formed but it has no members or managers. The filing attorney or other representative may also sign the LLC articles. The signer is required by law to indicate the capacity in which he or she is signing.

Filing the Articles of Organization
Both the original and a copy of the articles of organization must be submitted to the Georgia Secretary of State, along with a completed Transmittal Form 231 and a check for the state filing fees. If you use our service, we will handle this payment for you, so there will be no need for a check. The Articles are considered to be effective on the date they are received by the Secretary of State. A certificate of organization will be mailed within 5-7 business days after the filing is complete.

Annual Registration
Each year, every LLC is required to file an annual registration with the Secretary of State and pay a fee of $30.00. the initial registration is due between January 1 and April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which the limited liability company was formed.

Q: How long does it take to form an LLC in Georgia?
A: Because of the large volume of filings we complete in Georgia and depending on the options you select, we can complete a LLC formation as quickly as in one day. Review our rush options or speak with a specialist by phone to express any special requirements you may have.

Q: I am filing a limited liability company for the first time. Are there special rules related to naming my LLC?
A: Naming the LLC  is the first step in the LLC formation process and is one of the most important. The name you select:

• must contain, as the last words of the name, the words “limited liability company” or one of the following abbreviations: “LLC” or “L.L.C.”. The words limited and company may be abbreviated to “Ltd.” and “Co.”
• may contain the name of one or more of the members
• must clearly be distinguishable from the name of any other limited liability company registered in Georgia
• must not contain the words any words that suggest it is in the business of issuing policies of insurance and assuming insurance risks, such as “bank”, “trust”, “trustee”, “incorporated”, “inc”, “corporation”, “insurer”, “insurance company”, etc.

EZonlineFiling.com allows you to select 3 names in order of preference when you place your order and we are available to assist you with your name selection, to make certain your online LLC formation goes smoothly.

Q: What is an Operating Agreement and can I set up an LLC without one?
A: An Operating Agreement is a legal document which spells out each of the rules and regulations related to the governance of the limited liability company. This can cover everything from ownership percentages to rules on restrictions and/or prohibitions on the power of any or all members. Georgia does not require that you adopt an Operating Agreement when starting an LLC; however it is a standard practice that most companies can benefit from.

Q: Once I form a limited liability company, am I finished or are there other things I need to do?
A: Georgia requires that certain recurring responsibilities be met. A listing of some of the more important requirements is available in the General Information tab.

Q: How can a limited liability company be dissolved in Georgia?
A: Unless you specified otherwise in the operating agreement or in the original articles, a limited liability company is dissolved when one of the following events occurs:

• An event, as previously specified in the articles or operating agreement.
• Upon the consent of a number or percentage of the members, as predefined in the operating agreement.
• An event making it unlawful for the LLC to continue.
• A judicial decree.
• Administrative dissolution