Name Reservation

• The first step to incorporating in the state of Georgia is to file a name reservation. The cost is minimal and when you chose the name, the system will tell you whether or not the name is available. You do not need to do an additional search to see if another company is using the name, but it doesn't hurt to check first. You must use the incorporation title, such as INC, or Incorporated, or PC, or Professional Corporation, when filing the name reservation.
  
  

Forming a Corporation Online

• Within 24 to 72 hours after filing the name reservation, a designated person will contact you via email to let you know the status of your reservation. If not approved, you will have to choose another name and refile. If it is approved, you can move to the next step. Note that you do not have to do a name reservation ahead of time. Also, a name reservation is not the same as "protecting" the name from use by others. You will need to seek legal counsel for more information regarding trademarks.
  
  

Payment of Filing Fees

• Once you form the corporation online, which initially requires only a short form for the Secretary of State -- they give you an example of how to do it on the website -- you will need to pay a filing fee. You can do this online by credit or debit card. Upon completion and approval, the Secretary of State will send you a certification letter by mail showing that your corporation is duly formed and authorized to do business in the state of Georgia. The letter will have your corporate registration number at the top.
  
  

Annual Registration

• Once a year, a corporation must notify the State of Georgia that it is still in business and intends to remain in business for at least another year. You can complete the annual registration online; you will also need to pay a filing fee for the corporation to remain active for the upcoming year.
  
  

Dissolution

• The Secretary of State offices are housed in the state capitol, AtlantaComstock/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  You can dissolve, or close, a corporation in Georgia in one of two ways: by filing a Notice of Intent to Dissolve and Articles of Dissolution with the Secretary of State, or by administrative dissolution. An administrative dissolution means that the State of Georgia dissolved the corporation by judicial act, usually for failure to pay taxes, penalties, fines and/or fees in a timely manner.