How to Name Your LLC in Georgia
Learn the naming rules for a Georgia LLC — required suffixes, name availability search, name reservation fees, and DBA options. Step-by-step guidance from Bizee.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Georgia LLC at a glance
Filing fee: $100 (online); $110 (paper)
Processing time: 7 business days (standard online); expedited available for additional fee
State agency: Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
Annual report due: April 1 each year
State tax rate: 5.49% flat corporate income tax rate (2024); LLCs taxed based on elected classification
Georgia LLC naming overview
Naming your Georgia LLC takes a few specific steps: your name must include an approved LLC suffix, it can't conflict with an existing registered business, and it can't use restricted words without state approval. Once you've confirmed availability through the Georgia Secretary of State's Business Search tool, you can reserve the name or file your Articles of Organization directly.
Georgia LLC naming rules
Georgia law requires every LLC name to include a designator that identifies it as a limited liability company. Beyond that, the name can't mislead the public about what the business does or what type of entity it is.
Required LLC suffixes
Your Georgia LLC name must end with one of the following designators. Any of these options is acceptable — pick the one that fits your brand.
- LLC
- L.L.C.
- Limited Liability Company
- Limited Liability Co.
- LC
- L.C.
Prohibited and restricted words
Georgia will reject a name that implies the LLC is organized for a purpose it isn't permitted to carry out, or that suggests it's a different type of entity — for example, using corporate language like "Inc." in an LLC name. Words tied to regulated industries (things like "bank," "insurance," or "attorney") may require additional consent or documentation before the state will accept the name.
The name also needs to be distinguishable from every other registered business in Georgia's database. A name that's too similar to an existing entity — even with minor spelling differences — can be rejected at filing.
Georgia LLC name availability search
Before you file anything, check whether your name is available using the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division Business Search tool. It's the official state database — you can search by business name, control number, registered agent name, or officer name.
When searching by name, use the "Contains" filter rather than "Exact Match" — this surfaces businesses with similar names that could still create a conflict. The state is clear that the online search tool is for research only and isn't an official name availability determination. That determination happens when you actually file.
Most people don't realize the search tool won't catch every potential conflict — a name can look available online and still get rejected if the state finds it too similar to an existing entity during review. Running a broad search with multiple filters is worth the extra few minutes.
How to reserve a business name in Georgia
If you've found a name you want but aren't ready to file your Articles of Organization yet, you can reserve it with the Georgia Secretary of State. A reservation holds the name exclusively for you for 30 days — and that window is nonrenewable, so you'll need to file within it.
Online reservation
File online through the Georgia Secretary of State's online services portal. You'll create an account, select the name reservation option, enter your personal information, and list up to 3 desired names in order of preference. The fee is $25, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover — and it's nonrefundable. Standard processing takes about 7 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee.
Mail reservation
Download and complete the Name Reservation Request form, then mail it with a $35 fee (paper filings cost $10 more than online) to: Office of the Secretary of State, Corporations Division, Name Reservation Request, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE, Suite 313 West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334.
Using your reservation number when you file
Once approved, you'll receive a reservation certificate with a reservation number. When you file your Articles of Organization, you'll enter either your LLC name or that reservation number — the state's registration checklist lists it as a required item. File within the 30-day window or the reservation expires and the name goes back into the pool.
Trademarks and your Georgia LLC name
Registering your LLC name with the Georgia Secretary of State doesn't give you trademark protection. Those are two separate things. A name can be available in Georgia's business database and still infringe on a federally registered trademark — and if that happens, you can be forced to rebrand after you've already built your business around the name.
Before you commit to a name, search the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) at uspto.gov to check for existing federal trademarks. If your name is distinctive and you plan to use it across state lines, talk to a legal professional about filing your own trademark application. State registration and federal trademark protection serve different purposes — you may want both.
Georgia DBA (doing business as)
Your LLC's legal name — the one on file with the state — doesn't have to be the name you use with customers. In Georgia, you can operate under a different name by registering a DBA (doing business as), also called a fictitious name or trade name.
A DBA is useful if you want a shorter or more customer-facing name, if you're running multiple lines of business under one LLC, or if your legal name includes your own name and you'd rather not use it publicly. The DBA doesn't create a separate legal entity — it's just a registered alias for your existing LLC. You'll still sign contracts, open bank accounts, and file taxes under the LLC's legal name.
FAQ
Use the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division Business Search tool at georgia.gov to search existing registered entities. Search by name using the "Contains" filter to catch similar names, not just exact matches. The tool is for research only — the state's official availability determination happens when you submit your filing or name reservation.
Yes. The Georgia Secretary of State lets you reserve a name online for $25 or by mail for $35. Online reservations take about 7 business days to process. Once approved, the reservation holds your name exclusively for 30 days — that period is nonrenewable, so you'll need to file your Articles of Organization within that window.
Your Georgia LLC name must end with an approved designator — "LLC," "L.L.C.," "Limited Liability Company," "Limited Liability Co.," "LC," or "L.C." The name can't be the same as or too similar to an existing registered entity in Georgia, can't imply a purpose the LLC isn't authorized for, and can't use restricted words without state approval.
Yes. You can register a DBA (doing business as), also called a fictitious name or trade name, to operate under a name different from your LLC's legal name. A DBA doesn't create a new legal entity — your LLC's legal name stays on all official documents, contracts, and tax filings. A DBA is useful for customer-facing branding or running multiple lines of business under one LLC.
Registering your LLC name with the Georgia Secretary of State doesn't give you trademark rights. To protect your name from use by others — especially across state lines — you need to file a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at uspto.gov. State registration and federal trademark protection are separate processes. Talk to a legal professional if you're unsure which you need.
Georgia requires that a proposed LLC name be distinguishable from every other entity already registered in the state's database. The state uses name availability standards to evaluate whether a proposed name is too similar to an existing one — even minor spelling variations may not be enough to make a name distinguishable. The online Business Search tool is a research aid, not a final availability ruling.
