Our free guide provides you with all of the information you'll need to file your DBA in Georgia. Bookmark this page as a reference so you can return easily as you complete each step of the process.
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Filing a DBA (also known as Doing Business As) allows you to operate and receive payments under a name that is different from your legal business name. This helps you create an identity for your business that presents it in a professional light to customers and vendors, while allowing customers to write you checks and make payments directly to the business name you have chosen. Follow our step by step guide or let us handle the paperwork on your behalf, ensuring your business is filed quickly and accurately.
File a Georgia DBA for just $129 + state fees
or scroll down to our guideWhat do major corporations like UPS, The Home Depot, and The Coca-Cola Company have in common? These corporations are all headquartered in Georgia.
More and more businesses are setting up shop in Georgia. Georgia ranks number one in the U.S. for its small business climate, second in the country for the most startups created by women and third as the best state to start a business.
All these advantages, plus Georgia's overall ease in starting and growing a business, makes it the ideal location to start a business. Here's what you need to do to file a DBA in Georgia.
MyCorporation® can help you file all of the necessary documents to file your
DBA in Georgia.Our free guide provides you with all of the information you'll need to file your DBA in Georgia. Bookmark this page as a reference so you can return easily as you complete each step of the process.
Use Our Free GuideOur filing experts can get you up and running quickly and accurately, completing the required filings on your behalf.
Are you looking for another entity type? We offer several other guides for the state of Georgia.
For those unfamiliar with the acronym, DBA stands for "doing business as." Georgia refers to a DBA as a Fictitious Name and also as a DBA. No matter which type of business structure you have incorporated as, whether it's a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or LLC, if you plan to operate your business under a name different than your real name or an existing corporate name, then you need to file a DBA.
What else can you do with a DBA? Here are a few additional benefits you'll receive by registering a fictitious name in Georgia:
The first step is determining if a DBA is right for you. There are a few common situations where registering a DBA makes the most sense:
The next important step seems obvious: you'll need to decide on a name to register. Here are a few rules to keep in mind as you come up with a name in Georgia.
Do you know about the First Stop Business Information Center? This is a portal available through the Georgia Secretary of State that provides entrepreneurs with information pertaining to operating a small business. In this portal, you may access the business name search tool available from the Georgia Corporations Division. Use it to see if your DBA is available and ready to use for your nonprofit corporation.
Another, more reliable approach is to conduct a Georgia DBA Name search. MyCorporation may complete a thorough business name search on your behalf, and report back the findings to help you avoid unnecessary rejections.
Now that you have determined the name is available for registration, and you've determined your business' classification, it's time to complete the filing with the forms provided by Georgia. You will need to complete an Application to Register a Business to Be Conducted Under Trade Name. It is important that you file your DBA in the Georgia county of the principal place of business. Most Georgia counties require the following information in the certificate's application:
Once you have completed the certificate's application, you must pay a filing fee and return it to the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Clerk. Check in with the Georgia Secretary of State to determine the current DBA filing fee.
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File a DBAWe hope you find this detailed list of steps makes the process of registering a doing business as name (DBA) a bit more simplified for you. However, we understand that filing a DBA for your business can be confusing and time-consuming process. That's why MyCorporation offers DBA filing services for businesses all across the state of Georgia.
Our experts will complete the forms for your county, check its registration status, and even publish the DBA notice where required. All you need do is sign and return a few documents in our prelabeled envelope. You'll receive the approval and publication certificate for your records without any heavy lifting.
We make filing a DBA easy.
Operate your business under your business name, open a bank account for your business, and build credibility without all of the hassle. MyCorporation will handle the paperwork for you, so you can focus on building your business.
Start My DBA FilingNo. A business license is required of all businesses, whereas a DBA is required only if the business is operating under a name different from the name of the owner.
The business licenses and/or permits your Georgia company obtains will ultimately be determined by its location (including city and/or county) and industry. The Georgia Secretary of State has a professional licensing page where small business owners may conduct a search for an individual licensee or a facility license. It is recommended that you conduct a search for existing data records before adding new information in order to avoid adding in potentially duplicate data to their system. Then, you may submit an application for a new business license. This page may also be used to renew an existing license or for a charity renewal. In a pinch, you may also use MyCorporation's business license compliance package. Our team of skilled professionals will identify the licenses required by your business and provide you with all the information you need to file.
A DBA does not grant exclusivity for the use of a business name. DBAs identify the business and claim the business's name, but they only claim the name itself. Once you file for a DBA, the name cannot be used by another business on the state level. However, if a business in a different state wanted to register the same DBA as your business, they could so long as no other business in their state had already claimed that name. It is also possible to trademark a DBA. This would offer nationwide protection against infringement.
In the state of Georgia, a DBA must be renewed every five years.
Filing a DBA in Georgia will not impact your taxes, as it does not alter your tax status. Only the name you conduct business as will change. The structure of your business is what determines how you will be taxed (sole proprietor, corporation, LLC, etc.), so you will continue to pay taxes as usual after filing a DBA.
If you are not planning to continue using your DBA, you may file an Application For Withdrawal of Certificate of Authority with the Georgia Secretary of State. Remember to include the $10 filing service charge fee when submitting the application.