Georgia Articles of Organization

Discover the key steps to legally form your business in Georgia through the Georgia LLC Articles of Organization – follow our comprehensive guide to ensure a seamless incorporation process for your new venture.

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Limited liability companies are great business structures for small business owners because of their liability protection and tax advantages. To form a limited liability company (LLC) in the Peach State, you need to file Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State. This document provides basic information about your company and makes your LLC official.

You can start your Georgia LLC online today with our Georgia LLC Formation Service. Once you provide the necessary information, we will file the Articles of Organization with the state.

For details on filing Articles of Organization for your LLC in Georgia, follow the steps below. 

How to file your Georgia Articles of Organization

When forming an LLC, it’s important to accurately complete all formation documents. In Georgia, you need to submit Articles of Organization to the Secretary of State Corporations Division. If you’re filing in person or by mail, you must also include a Transmittal Information Form. Below we list and describe all the information you need to complete these documents. 

Step 1: Select a Name for Your LLC

A business’s name is the first impression that customers and clients receive. While choosing a name that reflects your products or services is important, you need to follow state naming requirements. Under Georgia law, an LLC name must:

  • Include the words “limited liability company,” “limited company,” or some abbreviation
  • Have no more than 80 characters, including spaces and punctuation
  • Be distinguishable from the name of any other company on file with the Secretary of State

With our Business Name Checker, we will search to see if the name you want is available. Once you find the name you want, you can reserve it for 30 days or until you file the Articles of Organization. The Secretary of State requires you to submit a name reservation form and pay a fee.

Step 2: Choose an Effective Date

In Georgia, you can choose when you want your LLC to formalize. The LLC can go into effect either at the time of filing or on a later date. Keep in mind the delayed effective date must be within 90 days of filing the Articles of Organization. 

Are there any benefits to delaying the start of your LLC? Possibly. Some business owners wait to formalize their LLC in January to avoid paying taxes or filing annual reports for the year they filed. 

Step 3: Provide the Name and Address of Your Registered Agent

All Georgia LLCs must have a registered agent. This person or entity is responsible for receiving service of process, documents, or any other official communication on behalf of the LLC. Your registered agent must be a Georgia resident. 

We can provide a registered agent for you with our Registered Agent Service. We meet all state requirements and are available to accept important legal documents for your business. 

Step 4: Give Contact Information for Each Organizer

At least one person must act as the organizer of the LLC. This person doesn’t have to be a member of the LLC, but they’re responsible for filing the Articles of Organization with the state. You must include their name and address. 

Step 5: Provide Principal Office Mailing Address

Your LLC must have a principal office mailing address. If you don’t have a designated physical office for your business, you can use your home address. 

Step 6: Include Authorized Signature

An authorized person or entity must sign your state of Georgia Articles of Organization. The signer can be an organizer, a manager, a member, or an attorney-in-fact. 

Step 7: Attach Any Needed Statements 

You can include additional provisions in your Articles of Organization. Just prepare them on a separate piece of paper and include them when you file your formation documents. For example, if you’re forming a nonprofit LLC, you may want to include 501(c)(3) language. 

Where to file your Georgia Articles of Organization

In Georgia, you have the option to file your documents by mail, in person, or electronically. To file Articles of Organization online, use the state’s online filing system. There are different processing times for each filing method, but you can pay an additional fee to expedite your application. 

What are the next steps? 

Registering your LLC with the Georgia Secretary of State is important, but only the beginning. Before doing any business, there are a few more things to address. 

Create an Operating Agreement 

An Operating Agreement is a document that governs how your LLC runs. You can customize it however you want, but Operating Agreements typically cover the following:

  • Duties and responsibilities of members and managers
  • Conflict resolution
  • Management structure
  • Profit distributions
  • Requirements for admitting new members
  • Dissolution events

If you choose not to adopt an Operating Agreement, Georgia law governs. This doesn’t always result in the outcome you and the other members want, so consider writing your own. 

If you need help creating an Operating Agreement, check out our Operating Agreement Template.

Apply for an EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to your business. Your EIN is used for identification purposes, but it’s also necessary to hire employees, open a bank account, and obtain financing. 

You have to apply for the number through the IRS’s website, which we can do for you with our Employer ID Number Service

We can help 

We want you to feel confident about the business venture ahead, so we’re here to help. From managing your money with the ZenBusiness Money App to staying on top of reporting requirements with our Worry-Free Compliance Service, we have what your business needs. 

Georgia Articles of Organization FAQs

  • Depending on what you want to change, there are different forms to file when amending your Articles of Organization. For example, there’s a separate Name Change Amendment for LLC form if you want to change your business name. For other amendments to your Articles of Organization, you need to file an application for Certificate of Authority Amendment with the Secretary of State. It’s important to include the filing fee, or your application won’t be processed.

  • To dissolve an LLC in Georgia, you must file a Certificate of Termination with the Secretary of State. If you file by mail or in person, you have to pay a filing fee, but there’s no charge for online filings.

  • No, there’s no requirement to adopt an Operating Agreement for your LLC. However, it’s a good business practice to have one.

  • No. The forms and processes are designed so that you don’t need to hire a lawyer, especially if your company is going to be a small business. But it never hurts to reach out to a lawyer with specific legal questions. If you’re worried about filing everything out correctly, let our experts help you. By following our easy, step-by-step guide, your company will be up and running in no time!

  • You don’t need a lawyer to start an LLC (or any business) in Georgia. If you’re unsure which type of business structure is right for you, an attorney can help.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

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Written by Team ZenBusiness

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