For generations, the state of Georgia has been the home to many innovative and driven entrepreneurs. Massive corporations such as Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines fondly call the Peach State home, and a great deal of small and large businesses alike thrive throughout the state. If you are a Georgia resident who is interested in forming an LLC in Georgia, the economic opportunities that come with registering your limited liability company in the state are considerable. There is, of course, a process to follow as well as rules and regulations to adhere to. By having a knowledge of what to expect, you can greatly streamline the registration process for yourself and get back to generating revenue for your business.
Limited liability companies are a particularly common way to structure a business. They are generally favored by business owners because the concept of “limited liability” can be uniquely appealing. Limited liability means that should a business face costly lawsuits, or end up in bankruptcy, the members of the LLC cannot be found personally liable. In such a scenario, this layer of protection can allow you to keep your home or retirement accounts in the face of a financial calamity.
There are also tax implications to consider. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) views limited liability companies as “pass-through” organizations. In simple terms, the money made by your business is not taxed until it passes through to the individual members of the LLC, who then pay taxes on their personal income.
If these benefits seem right for you and your business, read on to learn more about how you can create a limited liability company in the state of Georgia.
Step 1: Choose a Name for Your Organization
It all starts with a name. Maybe you have had a moniker in mind for your business for some time, or you are still weighing what is available. Either way, having a unique name is important from a marketing standpoint. You are going to want a clear, recognizable name that allows you to distinguish yourself from your competition. In the state of Georgia, it is also compulsory that the name of your business does not match any other LLCs registered in the state’s database.
You will also need to include the words “Limited Liability Company,” or an acceptable abbreviation thereof, within the name of your business. To explore what names are already taken, you can peruse the state’s LLC database, as this is public information.
Step 2: Designating a Registered Agent
It is an unfortunate reality that we live in a particularly litigious society. Business owners are often faced with lawsuits, sometimes frivolous, other times stronger in merit. In order to protect your interests and remain prepared for such an event, it is wise to have someone–perhaps in-house legal counsel–who is tasked with navigating such matters on a basic level.
In the state of Georgia, this individual is known as a “Registered Agent,” and such a role is required to be filled within an LLC. As your registered agent, this person will receive all service of process on behalf of your limited liability company. Beyond legal documents, they will also handle the receipt of government and tax correspondence.
Step 3: Filing Your Articles of Organization
With the name of your business chosen and a registered agent decided upon, it is time to handle some paperwork. In order to register your limited liability company in Georgia, you will need to complete what is known as Articles of Organization, also called a Form CD 030.
Your Form CD 030 will ask for relevant details about your business, such as its location, members, and more. You can locate this document by visiting the Secretary of State’s office or website. Once you have completed your Form CD 030, you can then mail it to the correct state office for processing.
Step 4: Submit Your Documents Online with Our Help
If you are in the process of starting your own business, free time may seem like a luxury you cannot afford. You have your hands full with devising a business plan, hiring a staff, and producing marketing materials. Do you really have the time necessary to fill out paperwork by hand, package it, and bring it down to the post office? You will be happy to know that there is an easier way.
At the Corporation Center, we built our business with the busy entrepreneur in mind. We offer easy-to-fill online forms for limited liability company registration documents in Georgia as well as the other 49 states. We also value your security, so we utilize an SSL-encrypted web portal to safely process all of your personal information. To learn more about how we can help your business, contact one of our helpful customer service agents today.
