Georgia Registered Agent

If you plan to incorporate in Georgia, you will file Articles of Incorporation. The state offers an online filing option for new corporations. If you prefer paper filings, you will have to draft your own Articles as there is not a state-issued form. Instructions are available on the Georgia Secretary of State's website. One original and one copy of the Articles need to be submitted by mail or delivery to the Corporations Division of the Secretary of State. Transmittal Form 227 (available on the Georgia Secretary of State's website) must also be included. The filing fee is $105 for online submissions and $110 for paper filings. Routine filings are generally completed within 7-10 business days for online submissions and 15 business days for paper filings. Expedited options include:

• $120 for two business day processing
• $275 for same-day processing
• $1,200 for one-hour processing

Within 90 days of incorporation, an Initial Annual Registration must be filed with the Secretary of State, listing three principal officers. The filing fee is $55 for profit corporations ($60 for paper filings) and $35 for nonprofit corporations ($40 for paper filings). Subsequent Annual Registrations will be due each year.

**Publication Requirement** All corporations are required to publish a Notice of Intent to Incorporate no later than the next business day following the filing of the Articles of Incorporation. The requirements regarding which newspaper is used are as follows, according to the Secretary of State: "Publish in the newspaper which is the official legal organ of the county where the initial registered office of the corporation is to be located, or in a newspaper of general circulation in such county and for which at least 60 percent of its subscriptions are paid." The clerk of the superior court can advise as to the legal organ in the county. Submit the Notice of Intent and $40 publication fee directly to the newspaper.

To register as a Foreign Corporation in Georgia, you will file the Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Corporation, Form 236. Submit this by mail or delivery to the Secretary of State. An original Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Good Standing from the state of incorporation, not more than 90 days old, must also be included with the filing. The filing fee is $230 for online submissions and $235 for paper filings. Routine filings are generally completed within 7-10 business days for online submissions and 15 business days for paper filings. Expedited options include:

• $120 for two business day processing
• $275 for same-day processing
• $1,200 for one-hour processing

If you plan to organize your LLC in Georgia, you will file Articles of Organization. The state offers an online filing option for organizing an LLC. If you prefer paper filings, you will have to draft your own Articles as there is not a state-issued form. Instructions are available on the Georgia Secretary of State's website. One original and one copy of the Articles needs to be submitted by mail or delivery to the Corporations Division of the Secretary of State. Transmittal Form 231 (available on the Georgia Secretary of State's website) must also be included. The filing fee is $105 for online submissions and $110 for paper filings. Routine filings are generally completed within 7-10 business days for online submissions and 15 business days for paper filings. Expedited options include:

• $120 for two business day processing
• $275 for same-day processing
• $1,200 for one-hour processing

An Annual Registration will be due between January 1 and April 1 of the year after the calendar year that the LLC was formed. The filing fee is $55 for online submissions and $60 for paper filings.

To register as a Foreign LLC in Georgia, you will file the Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Limited Liability Company, Form 241. Submit this by mail or delivery to the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $230 for online submissions and $235 for paper filings. Routine filings are generally completed within 7-10 business days for online submissions and 15 business days for paper filings. Expedited options include:

• $120 for two business day processing
• $275 for same-day processing
• $1,200 for one-hour processing