Georgia Articles of Incorporation
Georgia articles of incorporation are filed to create a corporation.
Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your business corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the corporation. Only after this approval can the corporation apply for tax IDs, obtain business licenses, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.
Benefits
Incorporating provides many important benefits:
- Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
- Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
- Provides governance and adds credibility
Fast Facts
For Domestic Corporations:
| Agency: | Georgia Secretary of State |
| Form: | Transmittal Information Form Georgia Profit or Nonprofit Corporation |
| Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $100 |
| Turnaround: | ~5-12 business days |
| Law: | |
| Notes: | To file by mail submit Form BR227: Transmittal Information for Georgia Profit or Nonprofit Corporations, the original and one copy of the articles, and $100 filing fee. |
Other Helpful Georgia Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Georgia.
Georgia Directors
- Number: One or more required.
- Qualifications: Natural person, eighteen years of age or older.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws fix a different number. No less than one third.
Georgia Officers
- As stated in the bylaws. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.
Georgia Bylaws
- Required: Yes.
Georgia Annual Shareholder Meeting
- Required: Yes.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if by all shareholders entitled to vote on the action. May be altered by bylaws.
Georgia Shareholders
- Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Not required.
- Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.
