The Georgia Secretary of State business search is on the Corporations Division’s eCorp Business Search. It’s free: type the name you want, review similar results, and confirm nothing on record is too close. The state stresses that this search is for research only, not an official ruling on availability.
For an official answer, file a name reservation. It costs $35 ($25 fee plus a $10 service charge), lets you submit up to three names in order of preference, and holds an approved name for 30 days. Trade names (DBAs) aren’t filed with the Secretary of State at all; they’re registered with the clerk of superior court in your county.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Georgia (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Georgia, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Georgia registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | GA Registered Agent.org | Georgia registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Georgia Registered Agent.co | Georgia registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Georgia. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. GA Registered Agent.org
GA Registered Agent.org is a Georgia registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Georgia Registered Agent.co
Georgia Registered Agent.co is a Georgia registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Georgia business name search at a glance
| Topic | Georgia (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division |
| Search tool | eCorp Business Search (free; research only) |
| Name reservation | $35 ($25 + $10 service charge), online or paper; approved name held 30 days |
| Reservation processing | About 7 business days online unless you pay for expedited service |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $110 ($100 + $10 service charge), online or paper |
| Name change (Articles of Amendment) | $30 |
| Annual registration | $60, due January 1 to April 1 each year |
| Trade name (DBA) | Registered with the clerk of superior court in the county where you do business |
Fees are from the Corporations Division fee schedule effective September 6, 2025, which added a $10 service charge to most filings. Mainstay Filing’s Georgia LLC cost guide adds up the state fees in one place.
How to use the Georgia Secretary of State business search
eCorp holds the records of Georgia corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and other entities. Here’s a practical way to use it.
1. Go to eCorp Business Search
Open the Business Search page. You don’t need an account to search; you only need one to file or reserve.
2. Search by business name
Enter the core of your proposed name and leave off LLC, Inc. or Corp. Searching “Peachtree Pixel” instead of “Peachtree Pixel Studio, LLC” shows more potential conflicts. Try alternate spellings and plural forms as well.
3. Open the closest results
Check each similar entity’s status and type. An active entity with a name that’s too close is the most common reason a Georgia filing gets rejected.
4. Treat the result as research, not approval
Georgia’s own reservation guide says the online business search is “for research purposes only and is not meant to serve as an official name availability search.” If certainty matters, reserve the name or file your Articles promptly.
5. Look beyond eCorp
Trade names are kept by county clerks, not in eCorp, and trademarks are separate again. The sections below cover both.
Georgia name requirements
The Secretary of State publishes its name availability standards with its reservation guidance. The core rules:
- Distinguishable on the records: a new name must be distinguishable from the names of entities and reservations already on file with the Secretary of State.
- LLC designator: a Georgia LLC name must include “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” or an abbreviation such as “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “LC” or “L.C.”
- Corporate designator: a corporation needs “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” “Company” or “Limited,” or an abbreviation of one of them.
- Small changes don’t count: swapping the entity ending, adding punctuation or changing “and” to “&” usually won’t make a name distinguishable.
- Regulated words: names that suggest banking, insurance or a government connection may be refused or need regulator approval.
Brainstorming alternatives? Namechk’s business name generator can help you build a shortlist to check in eCorp.
How to reserve a business name in Georgia
A reservation is optional in Georgia, but it’s the only way to get the Secretary of State’s own review of a name before you file. According to georgia.gov:
- Sign in to the Secretary of State’s online services (create a free account if needed) and choose name reservation.
- Enter your details and up to three names in order of preference. The Corporations Division checks them in that order.
- Pay $35 ($25 fee plus the $10 service charge). The price is the same online or on the paper form.
- If a name is approved, it’s held for 30 days. To keep it longer, you must reapply and pay again.
When you file your Articles of Organization, you can enter the reservation number instead of waiting for a fresh name check. Because the hold is only 30 days, reserve when you’re close to filing.
Search trademarks, domains and social handles
The Secretary of State doesn’t check federal trademarks. Before you commit, search the USPTO trademark database for registered or pending marks that could conflict with your name.
It’s also worth confirming you can match the name online. Namechk checks domain availability and social media usernames in one search, and the domain name generator helps if your first-choice .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Registering a trade name (DBA) in Georgia
Georgia handles DBAs at the county level. Under Georgia’s trade name statute (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-490), a business that operates under a name other than its legal name registers that trade name with the clerk of the superior court in the county where the business is located.
- Where: the superior court clerk’s office in your county (not the Secretary of State).
- Publication: the registration must be published in the county’s legal newspaper (the legal organ). The clerk’s office can tell you the current schedule and paper.
- Fees: filing and publication costs vary by county, so check with your clerk before filing.
- Entities: an LLC or corporation that trades under a brand different from its registered name also registers that trade name with the county clerk.
Since trade names are recorded county by county, there’s no single statewide trade name search in eCorp. Check with the clerk in each county where you plan to operate.
After the search: forming your Georgia company
Once you’ve landed on a name, our Georgia LLC guide walks through the full process:
- File Articles of Organization on eCorp or on paper ($110 either way). See the state’s LLC registration page for expedite options.
- Name a registered agent with a Georgia street address. Mainstay Filing includes one with its formation package, and our Georgia registered agent guide covers the rules.
- Get an EIN and register with the Georgia Department of Revenue if you’ll collect sales tax or withhold payroll (georgia.gov).
- File the annual registration between January 1 and April 1 each year. Our Georgia start-a-business guide lists local licenses too.
FAQs
Is the Georgia Secretary of State business search free?
Yes. The eCorp Business Search on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website is free and doesn’t require an account. You can look up corporations, LLCs and other entities and see their status. Georgia notes the search is for research only and isn’t an official name availability search; a name reservation gives you the state’s review.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Georgia?
A Georgia name reservation costs $35, a $25 fee plus a $10 service charge, under the fee schedule effective September 6, 2025. You can submit up to three names in order of preference. If one is approved, it’s reserved for 30 days; after that you must reapply and pay again. Online requests take about seven business days unless expedited.
Where do I register a DBA in Georgia?
Georgia trade names are registered with the clerk of the superior court in the county where the business is located, not with the Secretary of State. The registration must also be published in the county’s legal newspaper. Fees and the publication schedule vary by county, so contact your county clerk before filing.
Do I need a name reservation to form a Georgia LLC?
No. A reservation is optional. You can file Articles of Organization with just the LLC’s name, and the Secretary of State checks availability during review. If you did reserve a name, you can enter the reservation number on your filing. The LLC filing fee is $110, online or on paper.
What does a Georgia LLC name have to include?
A Georgia LLC name must include Limited Liability Company or Limited Company, or an abbreviation such as LLC, L.L.C., LC or L.C. It must also be distinguishable from names already on file with the Secretary of State. Changing only the ending or punctuation usually isn’t enough to make a name distinguishable.
Does an eCorp search show trade names?
No. eCorp covers entities registered with the Georgia Secretary of State. Trade names are registered and indexed by the superior court clerk in each county, so a business could be trading under your preferred name without appearing in eCorp. Check with the county clerk and search the USPTO trademark database as well.
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