If you are in the process of choosing a name for your new company, or are just looking for a current business entity, you can perform a quick Georgia LLC search by going on the Georgia Secretary of State webpage. This type of search can be useful so that you can make sure the name you choose is available before filing your LLC paperwork.

Business entity searches are most likely performed to research information on businesses in the state such as:

  • Determining whether a business was legally formed
  • Seeing if the business is in good standing
  • Finding the address of the business
  • Finding the address of the registered agent of the business
  • Making sure your future name is still reserved

The Georgia Corporations Division platform is streamlined to make searches easy by providing queries for the following business types:

  • Limited Liability Corporation
  • Limited  Liability Partnership
  • Limited Partnership
  • Limited Liability Limited Partnership

While choosing the perfect name for your business can be tough there are few considerations you will want to make sure are met including:

  • Making sure the name describes what your business does
  • Having the name appeal to your target market
  • Making your business easy to search for
  • Ensuring it is unique
  • Not limiting your business to a specific product or service

Georgia LLC Name Requirements

Choosing the right name for your company is vital because it lets your customers, suppliers, and employees know what your business does. You will also need to make sure that the name you choose is appropriate and follows the naming guidelines of the state. One requirement is that your name is tagged with the abbreviations L.L.C or LLC to denote the fact that it is a limited liability company. 

Your name will have to be unique in the State of Georgia. You will not be allowed to use tags to claim that your business name is different from others simply by adding the following terms to a name that is already registered:

  • Corporation or Corp
  • Incorporated, Incorporation or Inc
  • Company or CO
  • Limited
  • LTD
  • Professional Corporation or PC
  • Limited Partnership, LP, or L.P
  • Limited Liability Partnership, LLLP, or L.L.L.P

Your business name will also not be deemed distinguishable simply by changing the grammar on the designators at the end of the name. These are some rules when it comes to naming your company in the State of Georgia such as:

  • Names must use the English alphabet
  • It should not be possible to confuse your name with another Georgia business
  • Changing the punctuation or typeface will not make your name distinguishable from another company with the same name
  • Your name cannot suggest affiliation with a government agency
  • The name cannot imply unlawful practice or conduct

Additionally, using certain terms that can be used with a company name may be subject to the specified written approval of specific departments in the state government. For example, The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance will have to approve any business name that includes any of the following terms:

  • Insurance
  • Assurance
  • Fidelity
  • Surety
  • Indemnity
  • Reinsurance
  • Reassurance

If your name includes a relation to the business or finance industry, you will be required to get approval from the Department of Banking and Finance. Approval of this department for any names that include:

  • Bank
  • Banc
  • Banque
  • Banker
  • Banking
  • Banking Company or Banking House
  • Bancorp
  • Bankruptcy
  • Savings and Loan
  • Credit Union
  • Trust or Trust Company

Approval from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission will be required for any company name that includes college or university.

Another important facet of naming a company is making sure that it does not infringe on the trademark or service mark of another business or company in or outside the state of Georgia. For example, you would not want to refer to the name Google in your business as the name is trademarked.

Searching the Georgia Name Database

For the quickest way to find out if your business name is taken or trademarked, you can go to the Business Search page and enter in your desired LLC name. If the response to the search is "no data found," that means that that company name is available for use.

If you need help with Georgia LLC searches, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.