Georgia LLC Name Search — Step 1 of 8
Georgia's naming rules are fairly standard — a required designator, and a "distinguishable" test that's stricter than it sounds. Here's how to check availability and lock in a compliant name.
Your Georgia LLC name must include an approved designator — "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." — and be distinguishable from every other entity on file with the Secretary of State. Minor differences like an added "the" or abbreviated word don't count as distinguishable. Search availability for free through the Corporations Division Business Search at ecorp.sos.ga.gov before you file.
- Name search
- Free
- Required designator
- LLC / L.L.C.
- Reservation (optional)
- $35 / 30 days
- Search tool
- ecorp.sos.ga.gov
- Trade name (DBA)
- County-level
- Next step
- Step 2 →
Georgia's Naming Rules
Georgia's LLC Act keeps naming requirements fairly conventional, with one stricter-than-expected twist on distinguishability:
- Must include a designator — "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
- Must be distinguishable from every other business entity on file with the Georgia Secretary of State.
- Minor variations don't count — adding "the," abbreviating a word, or swapping "&" for "and" is not enough to make a name distinguishable from an existing one.
- Restricted words like "Bank," "Insurance," or "University" may need extra approval before use.
Name Compliance Checker
Type in your proposed LLC name to check it against Georgia's core naming rules:
Reserving Your Name (Optional)
Georgia checks your name when you file your Articles of Organization, so a separate reservation is entirely optional — most people skip it and file in the same session. But if you're not ready to file yet and want to lock in a name:
- File a Name Reservation Request online or by mail for $35 ($25 base fee + $10 service charge).
- Holds your name for 30 days — reservations cannot be renewed, so you'll need to submit and pay again if you need more time.
- Also check the USPTO trademark database separately — state name availability and federal trademark protection are two different systems.
Planning to operate under a different name?If you want to market your business under a name other than your LLC's legal name, you'll register a trade name (DBA). In Georgia, this is filed at the county Clerk of the Superior Court, not the Secretary of State, and requires publishing notice in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks — expect a total cost around $170–$340 depending on the county.
- ✓Checks name availability as part of formation
- ✓Forms your Georgia LLC for $39 + the $110 state fee
- ✓Free Georgia registered agent the first year
- ✓No upsells · No data selling · Privacy by Default
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Georgia LLC Name Search — FAQ
Ahmad Adil is the founder and CEO of LLC School. The naming guidance here — the required designators, the free Business Search tool, and the distinguishability standard — reflects current Georgia Secretary of State guidance. This is educational information, not legal advice.
About Ahmad Adil → Georgia LLC Overview →