These steps will definitely help you to form your LLC in no time!
Step One:
Choose a Business Name
The first step in forming your LLC is choosing a name that reflects the mission of your business and meets Georgia’s naming requirements. You can search available names online using the Corporations Division website or take advantage of an online tool like NamingForce.com which helps you find and register a unique name. Additionally, make sure you check if the name is trademarked or copyrighted before you officially register it as your LLC’s name.
Step Two:
File Articles of Organization with the State Office
Once you have chosen a unique name for your business, you need to file articles of organization with the Corporations Division of the Secretary of State office in Georgia. This filing includes information such as registered agent’s address, members, managers, purpose and duration of the LLC, etc. The filing fee is $100 and can be paid by credit card or check. You can file this paperwork either online or by mail; both are accepted by the state office. Once filed, it takes about 2-4 weeks for approval from the state office.
Step Three:
Create Operating Agreement
Creating an operating agreement is one of most important steps in forming an LLC in Georgia because it outlines how decisions are made within the company, describes how disputes are handled between members, and outlines other details related to running a business such as voting rights and profits/losses distribution among members. Although not legally required by law in all states (it’s optional in GA), having one is recommended because it lays out expectations and prevents potential legal issues down the road due to misunderstandings between members over operations/management issues.
Step Four:
Obtain Necessary Licenses & Permits
Depending on what type of business activities your LLC will be conducting (manufacturing vs retail vs services), there may be additional licenses or permits required from local government offices such as Dept of Revenue or Health Departments for example for food service businesses etc., so make sure you do your research beforehand so that all necessary permits/licenses are obtained before launching operations officially.
Step Five:
Open Up Bank Account For Your Business
Lastly once all filings have been sorted out with state offices including obtaining any necessary licenses/permits from local government offices mentioned above ,you need to open up separate bank account for your new LLC . This account should be used exclusively for all transactions related to running day-to-day operations including payments made to suppliers ,vendors , customers etc . Having dedicated bank account also provides more credibility when dealing with vendors & customers because they know that all transactions will be tracked & recorded properly without any ambiguity.
For more online resources to support you on each step, you may visit our LLC GA Resources page.