Do you have the perfect name idea for a new business entity in the state of Georgia, but you’re not quite ready to form your company?
Georgia allows you to reserve a business name until you’re prepared for the business formation process, but how does the reservation process work and how long will the state reserve the name for you? In this guide, we’ll run down all the important details of reserving a business name in Georgia.
Rocket Tip: If you’d rather officially incorporate in Georgia rather than file the extra paperwork to register a business name, there are many good incorporation services that can do it for you.
How to Reserve a Business Name in Georgia
The first step is to determine if your desired business name is even available in Georgia to begin with. You can easily search for existing business names via the Corporations Division section of the Secretary of State’s website. This allows you to determine if your desired business name is available. Once you’ve determined the availability of your desired name, you can begin the process of reserving it with the state.
You can file your name reservation online via the Secretary of State’s eCorp website. If you prefer to file by mail, you can print out the Name Reservation Request form here. In either case, you will need to provide the following information: Office of Secretary of State, Corporations Division Name Reservation Request
2 Martin Luther King Jr. DR SE
Suit 313 West Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334
In addition to this form, you will also need to include payment for the $25 filing fee. Checks should be made payable to the “Georgia Secretary of State.” If you are filing by mail, you can send the form and the check to this address:
How Long Is My Business Name Reserved For?
Name reservations are valid for a period of 30 days. You will need to file your formation paperwork before the period ends, otherwise the name will become available for others to claim. There is no name reservation renewal process, however, you can submit a new Name Reservation Request if you need more time to form your business. You will need to pay the $25 fee every time you file a new request.
Conclusion
Just because you aren’t ready to form your Georgia business entity doesn’t mean you can’t lock down your desired business name.
Georgia name reservations only last for 30 days and cost $25 per submission, so if you do need to reserve your business name, you should make sure that you will be able to form your business within a month of filing the name reservation.