The official search
The Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division runs business records through its eCorp system, which handles searching, filing, and annual registrations in one place.
- Search page: https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch
- Cost: Free
- Login: None to search (an eCorp account is required to file)
A record shows the business name, Control Number (the state's file number), entity type, status such as Active/Compliance or Admin. Dissolved, principal office address, registered agent, and filing history. One thing the record will never show: who owns or runs an LLC. Georgia does not collect LLC members or managers, so there is no ownership information to find.
Step by step
- Open eCorp Business Search and choose Business Name as the search field.
- Pick a match mode. eCorp offers Starts With, Contains, and Exact Match. Run your name without "LLC" using Contains first — it catches the most conflicts. Use Exact Match last, to see whether the precise name is already taken.
- Work through close matches. Your name must be distinguishable from corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships; foreign entities registered in Georgia; nonprofit and professional entities; and reserved or registered names. Open any result that looks similar and check its status and type.
- Try variations. Shorten the name, change word order, and test obvious spelling variants. A creative spelling does not make a sound-alike name safe.
- Use the other search fields if needed. You can also search by Control Number, Registered Agent Name, or Officer Name — though the officer search is useless for LLCs, since Georgia collects no LLC officers.
- Treat the result as a signal, not a verdict. eCorp says so itself: availability is only settled when your Articles of Organization are accepted.
Georgia's name rules
The rules are in O.C.G.A. §14-11-207.
Designator. The name must contain "limited liability company" or "limited company" (with "Limited" abbreviable as "Ltd." and "Company" as "Co."), or the abbreviation "L.L.C.," "LLC," "L.C.," or "LC."
Distinguishable. The name must be distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State from the names of corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships; foreign entities with a Georgia certificate of authority; nonprofit corporations, professional corporations, and professional associations on file; and any reserved or registered name.
Length cap. A Georgia LLC name cannot exceed 80 characters, including spaces and punctuation. A long name can be rejected on length alone.
A warning written into the statute. Section 14-11-207 itself states that the state issuing a name "does not affect the commercial availability of the name." In plain English: Georgia's check covers filing records only, not trademark rights, and the chapter does not govern fictitious or trade (DBA) names.
Prohibited words. The statute contains no separate banned-word list. Keep in mind that in filing practice, names implying a government affiliation or an unlicensed regulated activity can draw rejection.
Reserving a name. You can reserve a name for $35 — but it holds the name for only 30 days and the fee is non-refundable. Most states give 120 days, which is why many Georgia founders skip the reservation and simply file.
What the search can't tell you
- Final availability. The search page disclaims it directly. Acceptance of your Articles is the only confirmation.
- Who owns a company. Georgia never collects LLC members or managers, so no search will reveal them.
- Trademark conflicts. State acceptance does not clear federal or common-law trademark rights — the statute says so itself.
- DBA names. Fictitious and trade names are outside this chapter of the law, so a trade name in use may not appear as a conflict.
- Domain availability. The state does not check .com or social media names.
If the name looks available
File Articles of Organization (Form CD 030) with the Corporations Division — online through eCorp (account required) or by mail or hand delivery in Atlanta. Paper filings also need Transmittal Information Form CD 231.
- Cost: $110 total — a $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge. Since September 6, 2025, the service charge applies to online filings too, so older guides quoting "$100 online" are out of date.
- Processing: georgia.gov lists 15 business days for mail filings. Online standard processing is commonly reported at about 7–10 business days — check eCorp for the current estimate. Expedited service under the current fee schedule costs $120 for 2 business days, $275 for same day (received by noon), or $1,200 for 1 hour.
- Fees are non-refundable, including for filings that come back deficient.
Ongoing: the Annual Registration. Every Georgia LLC files an annual registration during the January 1 – April 1 window each year.
- Fee: $60 total ($50 plus the $10 service charge).
- Your first registration is due in the January–April window of the year after your formation year — you do not owe one immediately.
- Late penalty: $25. Continued failure to register can lead to administrative dissolution; reinstatement costs $260.
- If your entity is current and nothing has changed, the "One Click" annual registration can be filed without logging in.
FAQ
Is the Georgia LLC name search free? Yes. eCorp Business Search is free and requires no login. You only need an account when you file.
How much does it cost to form a Georgia LLC? $110 total: a $100 Articles of Organization fee plus a $10 service charge that, since September 2025, applies to online and paper filings alike.
Can I reserve a Georgia LLC name? Yes, for $35, but the reservation lasts only 30 days and is non-refundable — much shorter than most states — so many founders file the Articles instead.
Is there a length limit on a Georgia LLC name? Yes. Under §14-11-207, a name may not exceed 80 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
When is my first Georgia annual registration due? In the January 1 – April 1 window of the year following your formation year. The fee is $60, with a $25 late penalty.
Sources
- Georgia SOS — eCorp Business Search: https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch
- Georgia SOS — Corporations Division Filing Fees (effective September 6, 2025): https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/Reference%20-%20Filing%20Fees%20%28Effective%209.6.2025%29.pdf
- georgia.gov — Register an LLC: https://georgia.gov/register-llc
- O.C.G.A. §14-11-207: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2020/title-14/chapter-11/article-2/section-14-11-207/
- Georgia SOS — Corporations Division filing procedures for forming a Georgia LLC