Articles Of Organization In Georgia (Mar. 2026) – LLC Filing Guide

Georgia offers a strong business climate with a growing economy, a skilled workforce, competitive operating costs, and business friendly regulations that make it an attractive state for entrepreneurs forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC).

To form your Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Georgia, you must file your Articles of Organization online or by mail with the Georgia Secretary of State and pay a $110 filing fee.

In this guide, I will give you a comprehensive step by step explanation of how to file your Articles of Organization in Georgia.

Overview Of The Articles Of Organization In Georgia

Filing your Articles of Organization in Georgia officially establishes your LLC as a separate legal entity in the state. Until this document is properly filed and approved by the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division, your LLC does NOT legally exist.

This requirement is set under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) § 14-11-203, which governs the creation of Georgia LLCs.

You have three main filing methods to submit your Georgia Articles of Organization:

• Online: via the Georgia eCorp system). Standard processing time is approximately 7 business days.
• Digital filing: complete the Articles of Organization form (Form CD 030), but instead of sending it by mail to the state, you upload it directly through your eCorp account. It can take 10 to 14 business days to have your application processed
• By mail: complete the Articles of Organization form (Form CD 030) and send to the Georgia SOS by mail. Standard processing time is approximately 15 business days, plus mailing time

You must pay a one-time $110 Georgia Articles of Organization filing fee regardless of your filing method. This includes the basic $100 filing fee plus a $10 service fee.

If you want to have your application approved faster, you can pay an additional fee to use the expedite service. Review my table below for more information, I will discuss this in more detail further below.

How To File The Georgia Articles Of Organization Online

The state requires certain information to be submitted with your Articles of Organization filing. This is set under O.C.G.A. § 14-11-203(a).

The state’s electronic form already contains the legally-required fields and guides you through each mandatory step when you file online through the Georgia eCorp system.

Visit the eCorp Business Formation website to begin your online filing process. You will need a Georgia Secretary of State eCorp account in advance to continue.

Once you’ve created and logged into your Georgia Secretary of State eCorp account, you can proceed to file your Articles of Organization online.

Follow my guide below to complete your online application.

1. Choose Your Business Type

Once logged in, start by choosing the correct business category.

1. Select “I am creating a new domestic business” under the Create Business section.
2. Choose “Domestic Limited Liability Company” from the Business Type dropdown menu.

2. Enter Your Desired LLC Name

Enter your LLC’s legal business name and upload a name approval document if your chosen LLC name contains restricted words.

a. Choosing Your LLC Name

Indicate if you already have a Business Name Reservation Number in the “Business Name” section:

• If you did NOT make a name reservation in advance, choose “No.”
• If you completed your Georgia Name Reservation and have a valid Reservation Number, choose “Yes.”

Following this, provide your Requested Business Name in the required field.

• Your LLC name must include a valid Georgia LLC designator.
• Your name must fully comply with the Georgia LLC naming rules.

Alternatively, you can provide two alternative business names. This allows the Secretary of State to approve one of your alternate names if your first choice is unavailable.

I highly recommend listing three names to reduce the risk of your filing being rejected.

b. Upload Name Approval Document (If Applicable)

Make sure you upload the required written approval from the applicable regulatory agency if your desired LLC name contains restricted words. Words that need approval imply:

• Government oversight (e.g., authority, commission).
• Financial authority (e.g., bank, trust, credit union).
• Professional accreditation (e.g., insurance, university, college).

3. Provide Your Business Purpose (NAICS Code Selection)

Next, select your LLC’s NAICS Code and NAICS Sub-Code. These identify your primary business activity for statistical and regulatory purposes.

1. Main NAICS Code: Choose the first 2-digit industry category that best describes your business industry.
2. NAICS Sub-Code: Narrow down your choice with a more specific sub-classification. This should precisely define your type of operations within your industry.

You can choose “Any Legal Purpose” or “Unknown” for your initial filing if you’re unsure. In this case, you won’t be assigned a specific NAICS code for your LLC.

4. Add Your Formation State

This information is used to confirm your state of legal formation (Governing jurisdiction).

The system will automatically display Georgia as your formation state if you’re a domestic LLC. In this case, your filing can NOT be edited.

5. State Your Principal Office Address

Enter your LLC’s principal office address. This is the primary business location on record with the Georgia Secretary of State. This becomes part of the public record.

• You must use a physical street address (You can NOT use a P.O. box).
• This can be inside or outside Georgia.
• It must include the city, state, ZIP code, and country.

Click “Continue” once everything is done.

6. Confirm Your Business Email

Next, enter your LLC’s primary business email address in the provided boxes twice. You can also add a secondary email address for your backup contact. However, this is optional.

The Georgia Secretary of State will use this for official electronic correspondence related to your filing.

7. Provide Your Registered Agent Information

All Georgia LLCs must appoint and maintain a Registered Agent with a physical street address under O.C.G.A. § 14-11-209.

They act as your official contact point between your business and the state. They’re authorized to receive state regulatory notices, legal documents, and Service of Process on behalf of your LLC.

You can appoint:

• An individual Georgia resident (Yourself, a friend, or a family member).
• An official Georgia-authorized business entity (Typically a Professional Registered Agent service).

Click “Create Registered Agent” to add one. You should see a pop-up with the required information.

a. Individual Registered Agent

Choose “Individual” if you’re appointing a Georgia resident as your Registered Agent. Then, enter the agent’s information:

• Legal first and last name.
• Valid email address.
• Physical Georgia street address (You can NOT use a P.O. box).
• County and ZIP code.

Click “Create Registered Agent” once complete to save and attach the agent to your filing.

b. Business Registered Agent

If you’re appointing a Professional Registered Agent Company or another registered business, click “Business.”

Make sure you use their exact legal name as registered in Georgia. You must also provide their email address and a physical state office address. This ensures proper privacy and compliance reliability.

8. State Your LLC’s Organizer Information

Enter the details of your LLC organizer. This is the entity or person responsible for submitting and electronically signing your Articles of Organization.

You can use a foreign company or individual to act as your LLC organizer in Georgia. However, you need to provide their full legal name and physical mailing address. You can NOT use nicknames, abbreviations, and initials.

Your organizer must electronically sign your documents before you can submit your filing.

Click “Add” to save your organizer’s details. They’ll then appear in the box below. You can repeat the same process for each organizer.

9. Add Your Additional Provisions (Optional)

Optional LLC provisions are clauses not strictly required, but that enhance operational flexibility, provide clarity, and define important business rules. You need to make sure they are consistent with state law in Georgia.

Common optional provisions include:

• LLC management structure and rules.
• LLC scope and duration.
• LLC member limitations and/or special voting rights.

I strongly recommend leaving your optional provisions section blank and placing your LLC’s internal rules in your Operating Agreement. This is because your provided information becomes part of the public record in Georgia.

You can read my guide on How To Create Your Georgia LLC Operating Agreement if you want to learn about the Operating Agreement and how to draft one.

10. Input Your Filer’s Certification & Effective Date

You must check the box confirming that you agree to the filing terms and conditions.

You must then select your effective date for the LLC. Most filers choose the current date. Selecting the current date means the LLC becomes officially formed on the date the filing is accepted by the state.

If you need to forward-date your filing, Georgia allows you to select a delayed effective date up to 90 days.

After that, locate the “Authorizer Title” drop-down list and use the title that best reflects who is submitting your formation documents:

• Organizer: This is the most common option. This applies if you or a formation service files your documents.
• Manager: Use this if your LLC will be manager-managed and your LLC manager is signing.
• Member: Use this if your actual LLC owner is signing your document.
• Attorney-in-fact (Same meaning as an Authorized Representative): Choose this if a lawyer or authorized person is signing on your behalf.

11. Complete Your Final Review

Before completing payment, verify that your information is correct. Check your LLC name, email addresses, formation state, office address, organizer, business purpose, and Registered Agent details.

Make sure that you fix any mistakes in this section. You’ll need to file an amendment and pay an extra state fee if you already submitted your documents and notice a mistake.

12. Provide Your Payment & Submission

Finally, choose if you want to use the standard processing option or expedite your filing. Your standard fee is $100 + a $10 service fee.

Your expedited fee will be added to your total filing fee if you choose a faster processing option:

• Two business days: $120 (Total $230).
• Same day: $275 (Total $385).
• One-hour: NOT available.

Choose “Click to Pay” to complete your payment. Your LLC filing is officially submitted to the Georgia Secretary of State – Corporations Division.

Filing Your Georgia Articles Of Organization By Mail

When filing your Articles of Organization by mail, you must submit a completed filing dossier. All documents must be complete, printed, and signed with wet signatures.

Your final dossier packet should include:

1. Your Articles of Organization.
2. Your transmittal form (CD 231): This cover sheet identifies your filing, applicant details, processing speed, and payment method for the Corporations Division.
3. Filing fee payment: This must be made by check, certified bank check, or money order. Make it payable to the Georgia Corporations Division.

Submit your dossier by mail or hand delivery to the following address:

Georgia Secretary of State – Corporations Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE, Suite 313, West Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334.

You must pay the standard $110 filing fee. You can also choose the optional expedited paper processing on your Transmittal Form:

• Two business days: $230 (This includes the $120 expedited fee).
• Same day: $385 (This includes the $275 expedited fee).
• One hour: $1,310 (This includes the $1,200 expedited fee).

1. How To Complete The Articles Of Organization (Form CD 030)

First, click the “Download” button to get your form. Alternatively, access the Georgia Corporations Division forms page and get your form there.

The form consists of two pages:

• Page 1: For instructions and reference purposes (do not file).
• Page 2: The actual Filing Page that needs to be completed, signed, and submitted.

I’ve walked you through each step of the filing process below.

a. LLC Name

Enter your desired LLC name in this section. It must include a valid LLC designator (“Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.”) and be distinguishable on the Georgia Secretary of State’s records. Furthermore, it needs to follow the state’s strict naming rules.

b. Effective Date

The next section determines when your LLC will become legally active.

• Check the first box to ensure that your formation documents are effective upon filing with the Georgia Secretary of State. This is the default option and standard for most filers.
• You can choose the second option if you need a delayed effective date. In this case, enter the date and time in the boxes provided. Your date must NOT exceed 90 days.

c. Execution Date, Name, Capacity, And Signature

Provide your execution date in this section. This is the date that you sign your Articles of Organization, not your state-issued approval date.

State your full legal name exactly as it should appear on the official record. Make sure you only select one role: Organizer, Member, Manager, or Attorney-in-fact. Do NOT check more than one box.

Finally, print the document and sign it with an original wet signature once all fields are filled. The state will NOT accept printed or typed signatures.

2. Transmittal Form (CD 231)

Your Transmittal Form (CD 231) is the cover sheet used by the Georgia Corporations Division to identify your filing, link your payment, and route your LLC application for processing.

a. Provide Primary Email Address

Make sure you enter your LLC’s primary email address at the top of the form.

This will be used by the state for deficiency notices, status updates, and official communication. Your processing may be delayed if you provide incorrect information.

b. LLC Name Reservation Number

Leave the “LLC Name Reservation Number” line completely blank if you did NOT reserve your desired LLC name. You only need to complete this field if you filed a separate name reservation with the Georgia Secretary of State.

Then, enter your LLC name on the line below. This should be exactly as it appears in your Articles of Organization as stated above.

Your filing will be delayed or rejected if the state finds any mismatches.

c. Name And Contact Information Of The Person Filing

Next, enter the full legal name of the person submitting your formation documents. Your Certificate of Organization will be issued to the person at the address listed below.

Then, add your filer’s complete mailing address. This should include their:

• Street address.
• City.
• State.
• ZIP code.

Lastly, enter your filer’s email address. This email will be used for your filing results from the Secretary of State.

d. LLC Office Principal Mailing Address

Provide your LLC’s principal office mailing address. This is your main correspondence address. Unlike your Registered Agent’s address, you can use a P.O. box for this section.

The Secretary of State will use this address to mail your official mail and notices. Therefore, make sure it’s accurate and accessible.

e. Registered Agent Information

Enter the full legal name and complete physical street address of your Georgia Registered Agent. Your Registered Agent may be either:

• An individual (natural person).
• A qualified business entity authorized to act as a Georgia Registered Agent.

• Enter the person’s full legal name if your Registered Agent is an individual. This must be exactly as it appears on the official government records.
• Enter the exact legal name of your Registered Agent if they’re a business entity. This must be as it appears on the Georgia Business Registry.

Following this, provide your Registered Office street address:

• This must be a physical Georgia street address.
• You can NOT use a P.O. box, mail drop service, or a virtual mailbox address.

Finally, add your Registered Agent’s email address. This email is used for official notices, service-related communication, and administrative correspondence.

f. LLC Organizer(s) Information

State the full legal name and complete mailing address for at least one of your LLC organizers.

Your LLC organizer can be an individual or a business entity. Make sure you provide the following information for each Organizer:

• Full legal name: You can NOT use nicknames or initials for this section. Enter the exact legal name stated on their formation documents if your LLC organizer is a company.
• Street address, city, state, ZIP code: They may be located inside or outside of Georgia.

I highly recommend ensuring that all information entered in this section is accurate. It becomes part of the state’s business records.

g. Mailing Confirmation, Signature, And Date

Finally, you certify that your dossier includes the following items once you’ve signed this section:

1. Your Transmittal Information Form (CD 231).
2. Your Articles of Organization (CD 030).
3. The $110 filing fee is made payable to the Secretary of State.

Make sure you enter your filer’s full legal name below the signature. You can NOT use nicknames for this section.

Enter your filing date on the right-hand side. This is the date that you’ve signed and submitted your packet, not your approval date.

Once everything is complete, print your document and sign it using dark blue or black ink. This must be done on the “Signature of Authorized Person” line. The state does NOT accept an electronic or typed signature.

Your Georgia LLC mail filing is ready to be submitted to the Georgia Secretary of State once all required forms are completed, signed, and packaged alongside your correct fee payment.

How To E-File Your Georgia Articles Of Organization

The e-file method is the state’s hybrid filing option that merges the traditional paper filing with the online submission process:

• Your Articles of Organization must be prepared in PDF form. This is the same as the mail-in method.
• You need to upload your completed packet via your Georgia eCorp account instead of mailing your dossier. This is the same as the online filing method.

Sign in to the Georgia Secretary of State eCorp website and select “Submit Paper Filing Online” from the Online Services menu to begin your filing.

You will also need an account in advance. The guide for creating an account can be found below.

1. Choose Your Filing Type

First, select “Domestic Business Formation – Limited Liability Company.” This is because you’re forming a standard Georgia LLC. Following this, click “Continue” to proceed.

2. Add Your LLC Name

This step allows you to officially register your LLC name with the state.

a. Name Reservation

Reserving your desired LLC name is optional in the state of Georgia.

• Select “Yes” if you’ve already reserved your desired LLC name with the Georgia Secretary of State. Then, enter your Name Reservation Number exactly as issued.
• Select “No” if you did not reserve your LLC name.

b. Choosing Your LLC Name

Enter your full legal LLC name in the “Business Name” field if you haven’t made an advanced name reservation.

• It must include an approved designator, such as “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company.”
• It must be distinguishable from all existing Georgia business names.

c. Upload Your Name Approval Document (If Required)

You must upload the official written approval from the relevant regulatory authority in this section if your LLC name includes restricted terms. Your filing will be automatically rejected if not, even if all other information is correct.

Most Georgia LLCs can leave this section blank.

3. Provide Your Registered Agent Information

Your Registered Agent must meet the following requirements:

• Have a physical Georgia street address (You can NOT use a P.O. box).
• Be available during normal business hours.
• Be authorized to accept service of process and official state communications.

You can appoint an individual or a business entity.

a. Individual Registered Agent

Pick “Individual” if you want a real person to act as your Georgia Registered Agent. This must be a Georgia Registered Agent with a physical street address, NOT a P.O. box.

The filing system requires their full legal name (exactly as it appears on their government ID), along with their address and email.

b. Business Registered Agent

Pick “Business” if you’re appointing a professional Registered Agent service or using a qualified Georgia-authorized company. Then, enter their information. Their address is automatically set in Georgia.

4. State Your Business Purpose

In this section, define your LLC’s primary business purpose by selecting the appropriate NAICS Code and NAICS Sub-Code. Your NAICS Code is the first 2 digits for industry, while your NAICS Sub-Code is the full and detailed code for specific business activities.

Select the code that closely matches your LLC’s revenue-generating activity. You can choose the closest match if your business model is broad or still developing. Alternatively, choose “Any legal purpose” or “Unknown” if you want a broad definition.

5. Add Your Filer’s Information

This relates to the person submitting your Articles of Organization to the Georgia Secretary of State.

• All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory and must be completed accurately.
• You do NOT need to ensure your filer’s address is in Georgia or the United States.
• Your filer does NOT have to be an LLC owner or member.

6. Complete Your Formation State

In most cases, you don’t need to do anything for this step. The system will automatically display Georgia if you’re a domestic Georgia LLC. This is the state where you were legally formed and whose laws will govern your business.

7. Input Your Organizer Information

This identifies the individual or entity signing your Articles of Organization. This does NOT have to be an LLC manager or owner.

Make sure that the organizer’s legal name is exact. Furthermore, their address must be a valid U.S. address. It doesn’t have to be in Georgia.

Click “Add” once everything is completed. You should then see your LLC organizer’s details displayed in the box below. Repeat the process if you have more than one Organizer.

8. Add Your Business Email

Provide your primary business email address, then confirm it in the other field. This will be used by the Georgia Secretary of State for filing confirmations, official notices, and future compliance reminders.

The secondary email is optional and serves as a backup contact.

9. Add Your Principal Office Address

Next, enter your LLC’s main business address.

• This does NOT need to be in Georgia or the U.S. You can use any valid physical address if your LLC is primarily managed there.
• You’re NOT allowed to use a P.O. box for this section.

10. Upload Documents

Upload your completed Articles of Organization (Form CD 030) to the system.

Follow these steps to make your upload:

1. Choose “Select File” to find your completed Articles of Organization.
2. Click “Upload” once it displays on the bar.
3. Click the symbol under “View Documents” to double-check your choice. Your chosen file should appear in the list below.
4. Click the trash bin symbol under “Action” if you need to delete a file that was mistakenly uploaded. Then, re-upload the correct version by repeating the process outlined above.

11. Filer’s Certification (Signature)

First, check the “Fee acknowledgement box.” Then, enter your authorizer’s full legal name. This acts as your electronic signature.

Click “Continue” to proceed to the payment step once you’ve completed the required steps.

12. Complete Your Final Review

This is your last checkpoint before providing your payment:

1. Review all sections carefully on the summary screen.
2. Press “Edit Info” if you notice incorrect information.
3. Click “Submit” once everything is complete.

13. Provide Your Payment

Finally, the last page shows a full summary of your filing costs before you complete your submission. Your total filing amount should include your:

• Your Georgia LLC filing fee: $100.
• Your mandatory service charge: $10.
• Any expedited fees chosen by you.

Press “Click to Pay” to submit your payment when all information is confirmed.

Your Articles of Organization are officially submitted to the Georgia Secretary of State for processing once your payment is completed.

Georgia Articles Of Organization Approval Process

As stated above, the filing method you choose determines how quickly your Articles of Organization are processed by the Georgia Secretary of State.

• Online filing: 7 business days.
• Digital filing: 10 to 14 business days.
• Mail filing: 15 business days.

The Georgia Secretary of State will issue a Certificate of Organization and send it to you once your Articles of Organization have been approved.

• Online/Digital filing: Your Certificate of Organization is delivered electronically to your registered email address provided during your application process.
• Paper filings (Submitted by mail or hand delivery): Your certificate is sent by postal mail to your mailing address provided on your Transmittal Form.

Your filing will be returned with a deficiency notice if your application is incomplete or incorrect.

Georgia LLC Expedited Service Options

For additional fee, you can upgrade your filing to one of three official expedited tiers:

• 2-business-day processing.
• Same-business-day processing.
• 1-hour processing.

Your additional state fee depends on your desired approval time. The faster your approval, the higher your fee. The table below shows the tier-based expedite system with the exact expedite fees, total filing costs, and available options.

How To Set Up Your Georgia LLC Filing Account

You must create and log in to your Georgia Secretary of State eCorp account before submitting your Georgia Articles of Organization online.

1. Access Your Registration Page

Click “Create A User Account” in the Register panel on the eCorp login screen to create a new account when filing your Articles of Organization. You’ll find this button on the right-hand side of the page.

2. Enter Your Personal Information

You’ll then be taken to the “Provide Your Information” screen once you’ve clicked “Create A User Account.” This section requires you to provide your personal contact details.

These include:

• Your first name and last name.
• Your street address, city, state, and ZIP code.
• Your country.
• Your email address and email confirmation.

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

Click “Continue” to move to the next step once you’ve entered your required information.

3. Create Your Login Credentials

In the “Enter Login Details” section, you need to create your system credentials.

Follow this guidance:

1. Choose a User ID (8–32 characters, letters and/or numbers only).
2. Create and confirm your password.
3. Select a security question and enter your answer.

Your security question is used as identity verification if you forget your password. Therefore, it needs to be something that you will remember.

Click “Create My Account” once you’ve completed the required fields.

4. Your Account Is Successfully Created

You should see a confirmation screen stating that you’ve successfully created an account. The page will show:

• Your User ID.
• Your registered email address.

Click “Login” to return to the main login page. You can now sign in and begin your Georgia Articles of Organization filing.

Why You Must File The Georgia LLC Articles Of Organization

You will have four main consequences of not filing your Articles of Organization:

1. Your LLC Has No Legal Existence

Under O.C.G.A. § 14-11-203(a), your Georgia LLC is only legally formed once you’ve filed your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.

Until your Articles of Organization have been accepted by the Georgia Secretary of State, your LLC is NOT legally formed. This means it has NO legal existence, can NOT enter into business contracts, own property, or exercise its statutory rights.

2. Not Having Statutory Limited Liability Protection

One of the main purposes of forming an LLC is to create legal separation between you and your business. This ensures that your liability is generally limited to your company’s capital contribution.

Under O.C.G.A. § 14-11-303(a), LLC members and managers are “not personally liable” for company debts, liabilities, or obligations. In other words, the business liabilities belong to the company.

Without your approved filing, you lose the liability protection that an LLC business structure offers. In this case, your business is treated as your “personal activity.” Any lawsuits, obligations, or claims are imposed directly against your personal assets. This includes your income, savings, and home.

3. Cannot Obtain Essential Tax IDs, Licenses In Georgia

You can NOT obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) until your Georgia LLC has been legally formed and approved by the Georgia Secretary of State.

Without an EIN, you can’t perform the following important business operations:

• Open a dedicated business bank account.
• Hire LLC employees.
• Comply with your federal tax obligations.

This means that you’re either forced to operate illegally or can NOT operate at all.

In addition, without approved Articles of Organization, applications for business licenses or tax registrations will be automatically rejected at the state and local levels. If you operate in the state without the required licenses and registrations, you face civil penalties, enforcement actions, fines, and mandatory business shutdowns, especially in regulated industries.

4. Your Business Faces Serious Credibility And Operational Risks

Georgia businesses that do NOT appear as “Active” on the Secretary of State’s records effectively operate in a legal blind spot. In this case, your business is not verifiable to the general market.

This lack of official standing and recognition creates the following operational failures:

• Vendors may reject long-term supply contracts and trade terms.
• Financial institutions may reduce credit facilities and account opening.
• Large clients and government contractors may disqualify your business at the compliance stage.
• Your access to industry platforms may be blocked, meaning you can NOT use essential services and tools.

When this happens, business transactions may be routinely delayed, frozen, or rejected. This is because your legal status is unproven in the state.

Key Contact Information For The Georgia Corporations Division

Contact the Georgia Corporations Division under the Office of the Georgia Secretary of State if you need help with your LLC formation procedures. You can use the official contact details below:

Georgia Corporations Division
Office of the Georgia Secretary of State
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Suite 313, Floyd West Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334-1530

Phone: (404) 656-2817
Toll-Free: (844) 753-7825
Online Contact Form

Frequently Asked Questions