Georgia Corporation Names: Rules, Requirements, and How to Reserve Yours
Learn the rules for naming a corporation in Georgia — required designators, name availability, the 80-character limit, and how to reserve your name for $25 with the Georgia Secretary of State.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Georgia corporation at a glance
Filing fee: $100 (online) / $110 (paper) for Articles of Incorporation
Processing time: [PROCESSING_TIME]
State agency: Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
Annual report due: April 1 each year
State tax rate: 5.75% corporate income tax
Georgia corporation naming rules
Georgia corporations must follow specific naming rules set by the Georgia Secretary of State under O.C.G.A. § 14-2-401. Your name must include a required corporate designator, stay within 80 characters, use only permitted characters, and be distinguishable from any name already on file. Getting the name right before you file saves time and avoids rejection.
Required corporate designators
Every Georgia corporation's legal name must end with one of the following words or abbreviations. The designator is part of the official name you file with the state — it's not optional and it can't be dropped after formation.
Corporation or Corp.
Incorporated or Inc.
Company or Co.
Limited or Ltd.
LLC-specific designators — like "LLC" or "L.L.C." — don't satisfy this requirement. Those are reserved for limited liability companies, not corporations. If you're forming a corporation, one of the four designators above must appear at the end of your name.
Permitted characters and name length
Georgia allows English alphabet letters, Arabic numerals, Roman numerals, and symbols in a corporate name. The full legal name — including the designator, spaces, and any punctuation — can't exceed 80 characters. That limit applies to the name exactly as it will appear on your Articles of Incorporation.
Most business names fall well under 80 characters, but it's worth counting if your name is long or includes a full phrase. A name like "Southeastern Regional Agricultural Development Corporation" is 57 characters — fine. Add a subtitle or location and you can get close to the limit faster than you'd expect.
Name availability and distinctiveness
The Georgia Secretary of State can reject a proposed name if it's identical to or not distinguishable from a name already registered or reserved in the state. Before you file, search the Georgia Corporations Division database to check whether your name is taken.
The online search is a research tool, not an official availability determination. A name that looks clear in the search results can still be rejected at filing if the Secretary of State finds it too similar to an existing name. Running the search early gives you time to adjust before you pay the filing fee.
How to reserve a business name in Georgia
If you're not ready to file your Articles of Incorporation yet, you can reserve your corporation's name with the Georgia Secretary of State. A reservation holds the name for 30 days while you finish preparing your formation documents.
The reservation fee is $25 online and $35 by mail or in person. The fee is nonrefundable. When you file, you can list up to 3 name choices in order of preference — the Secretary of State will work through them in that order if your first choice isn't available.
Trademarks and service marks
State registration doesn't protect your name from trademark conflicts. A name can be available in Georgia's database and still infringe on a federally registered trademark. Before you commit to a name, search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database to check for existing trademarks.
If you want to protect your corporation's name from use by others, you'll need to register it as a trademark or service mark — either at the federal level through the USPTO or at the state level through the Georgia Secretary of State. A legal professional can help you figure out which level of protection makes sense for your business.
Doing business under a different name (DBA)
Your corporation can do business under a name that's different from its legal name. This is called a trade name, assumed name, or DBA ("doing business as"). You'd register the trade name with the Georgia Secretary of State after your corporation is formed.
A DBA is useful if you want a shorter customer-facing name, run multiple brands under one corporation, or want to test a product line without forming a separate entity. The legal name on your Articles of Incorporation stays the same — the DBA is what you use in marketing and on storefronts.
FAQ
Georgia requires that a proposed corporation name be distinguishable from any name already registered or reserved with the Secretary of State. The state can reject a name that's identical to or too similar to an existing name. You can check availability using the Georgia Corporations Division online search tool, but that search is for research only — it's not an official determination. The Secretary of State makes the final call at filing.
File a name reservation request with the Georgia Secretary of State online ($25), by mail ($35), or in person ($35). You can list up to 3 name choices in order of preference. An approved reservation holds your name for 30 days. The fee is nonrefundable regardless of whether your name is approved.
It depends on the level of protection you need. For nationwide protection, register your name as a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). For protection limited to Georgia, you can register a trademark or service mark with the Georgia Secretary of State. Registering your corporation's name with the state doesn't give you trademark rights — those are separate filings. A legal professional can help you figure out which option fits your situation.
Yes. Every Georgia corporation's legal name must end with one of these words or abbreviations: Corporation, Corp., Incorporated, Inc., Company, Co., Limited, or Ltd. The designator is part of the official name filed with the state. LLC-specific designators don't qualify — those are for limited liability companies only.
Yes. A Georgia corporation's name can't exceed 80 characters, including spaces and punctuation. The limit applies to the full legal name exactly as it will appear on your Articles of Incorporation — designator included. Most names fall well under the limit, but it's worth counting if your name is long.
Yes. A Georgia corporation can operate under a trade name (also called an assumed name or DBA) that's different from its legal name. You'd register the trade name with the Georgia Secretary of State after your corporation is formed. The legal name on your Articles of Incorporation stays the same — the DBA is what you use publicly.
Your corporation's legal name gets registered when you file your Articles of Incorporation with the Georgia Secretary of State. You don't register the name separately — it becomes official as part of the formation filing. If you want to use a trade name (DBA) in addition to your legal name, that's a separate registration with the Secretary of State after formation.
