Georgia Business Name Search: How to Check Availability and Reserve a Name ($35 for 30 Days)
Georgia Business Name Search: How to Check Availability and Reserve a Name ($35 for 30 Days)
Before you file anything with the state, you need to know whether your business name is free. In Georgia, that check happens in one place: the Secretary of State's eCorp business search. This guide explains how to run the search, what the Georgia rules require of a name, when to reserve a name for 30 days, and what the state search does not cover, including trade names, federal trademarks, and names tied to dissolved entities.
This content is informational, not legal or tax advice. If your name is tied to a trademark dispute, a partnership, or a business with complex ownership, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA before you commit.
Is My Business Name Available in Georgia?
To answer that question, search the Georgia Secretary of State eCorp Business Search at ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch. The database lists entities filed with the Secretary of State, including corporations, LLCs, and other filed entities. If a Georgia entity already holds your exact name, the state will not file a new entity under it.
Follow these steps:
- Enter your proposed name exactly as you plan to write it on your Articles.
- Search common variations, such as adding or dropping "The," changing punctuation, and swapping "Company" for "Co." A close match can be refused even when the exact name is not on record.
- Review every result, including inactive and dissolved entities. A dissolved entity can still hold its name (see the section on dissolved entities below).
- Check the USPTO federal trademark database, then check whether the matching domain name and social media handles are available.
- If the name is clear, reserve it or file your Articles right away.
The state test is that your name must be distinguishable from names already on the Secretary of State's records. The Georgia code sets the exact standard, and the Secretary of State's name rules show how it applies. An LLC name must also include a limited liability company designator, such as Limited Liability Company, LLC, or L.L.C. Read the Secretary of State's name rules before you file, because a name that differs from an existing one by only a word or a letter can be refused.
A clear state search does not mean the name is safe to use. A federal trademark can cover a name in your industry even when no Georgia entity uses it. Clear the trademark search before you order signage, packaging, or a logo.
How to Reserve a Georgia Business Name for 30 Days
A name reservation holds a name for 30 days for $35, which is $25 plus a $10 service charge (O.C.G.A. 14-2-402). Reservation is optional. If you plan to file your Articles within a few days, you can skip it, because filing the Articles also claims the name.
A reservation makes the most sense when you need time before filing. Common reasons include waiting on a co-owner's signature, lining up a bank account, or setting a launch date. Follow the reservation instructions on the Secretary of State's Corporations Division site at sos.ga.gov/corporations-division.
A reservation can be reserved again for another 30 days, and the new reservation can be made by the same applicant or by a different one. If you let a reservation lapse, treat the name as open. Another party can reserve it or file for it, so check the eCorp search again before you rely on a name you once held.
What the Search Does Not Cover: Trade Names (DBAs)
The eCorp database does not include trade names, which are the names you use to do business that differ from your legal entity name. A trade name is not filed with the Secretary of State. Instead, you register it with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the business is chiefly carried on, before the business begins. Notice of the trade name must be published once a week for two weeks in the county's legal organ (O.C.G.A. 10-1-490).
The clerk fee is about $165 in the counties checked, plus the newspaper publication charge. The newspaper charge varies, so ask your county clerk for the total before you file. For the full process, see how to file a trade name (DBA) in Georgia and what it costs.
An LLC or corporation that operates under its own filed name does not need a trade name. An entity that operates under a different name does (O.C.G.A. 10-1-492). Trade name filings still go to the county clerk, not the Secretary of State.
Dissolved Entities: Why a Name May Look Open but Is Not
When an entity is administratively dissolved, its name stays reserved to that entity for five years or until it is reinstated (O.C.G.A. 14-11-603; 14-2-1422). A name that looks dead in your search can still be unavailable. Reinstatement costs about $260, according to the Secretary of State's fee information. Before you plan around an older name, confirm its status and whether it is free with the Secretary of State.
Certificate of Existence
A certificate of existence is listed at $20. Order one when a bank, lender, or another state asks you to prove that your Georgia entity is active. It is a separate request from the name search and the Articles, so budget for it if a third party will require it.
Key Fees at a Glance
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $35 | Holds the name for 30 days ($25 plus $10 service charge) |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $110 | $100 fee plus $10 service charge; online or paper |
| Corporation Articles of Incorporation | $110 | $100 fee plus $10 service charge; online or paper |
| Annual Registration | $60 | $50 plus $10 service charge; confirm the current filing window and late penalty with the Secretary of State |
| Certificate of existence | $20 | Listed fee |
| Trade name clerk fee | About $165 | Plus newspaper charge; confirm with your county clerk |
| Reinstatement after administrative dissolution | About $260 | Confirm with the Secretary of State |
Next Steps Once Your Name Is Clear
- File your Articles. An LLC files Articles of Organization and a corporation files Articles of Incorporation. Each costs $110 total, filed online through eCorp or on paper. Online filings take about 7 to 10 business days, and paper filings take about 15 business days. Expedited review costs $120 for 2 business days, $275 for same-day review if received by noon, or $1,200 for one-hour review on business days. For LLC steps, see how to start an LLC in Georgia.
- Appoint a registered agent. Every Georgia entity must keep a registered agent at a Georgia street address. A P.O. box or mail drop does not qualify. An entity cannot serve as its own registered agent. For requirements and costs, see Georgia registered agent requirements.
- Get the local occupation tax certificate. Georgia issues no general statewide business license, and the Secretary of State issues none. The local certificate, often called a business license, comes from the city if your business is inside city limits, or from the county if it is unincorporated. Georgia has 159 counties and about 537 cities and towns, and each sets its own formula, deadlines, and prerequisites. Employers with more than 10 employees must file an E-Verify affidavit to get the certificate (O.C.G.A. 36-60-6). Confirm the requirements with your city or county.
- Register for sales tax if needed. If you sell taxable goods or have employees, register with the Georgia Department of Revenue through the Georgia Tax Center. Registration is free. It is not a business license. Georgia's state sales tax rate is 4%, and combined state and local rates run from 6% to 9% by county and city.
Common Questions About Georgia Name Searches
Does a clear search mean I own the name?
No. A clear search means no Georgia entity holds the name on file today. It does not clear federal trademarks, local trade name rules, or domain availability, and it does not prevent another party from filing a similar name later. Reserve the name or file your Articles to secure it with the Secretary of State.
Can I use a name I see on the state search for my sole proprietorship?
A sole proprietor using a name other than their own usually needs a trade name registration with the county clerk. The eCorp search does not show trade names, so a clear state search does not protect that name. Confirm the rules with the county clerk and an attorney.
Start with the eCorp search, reserve the name if you need time, and then file. Each step is inexpensive compared with rebranding a business after launch.