A corporation may need to change its name for a variety of reasons, including rebranding, ownership changes, or just because the current name no longer accurately describes the organization’s goals or beliefs. However, this procedure might be perplexing and challenging, particularly for Georgian companies. The purpose of this page is to provide answers to some of the most often asked concerns about changing a business name in Georgia, such as how much it will cost, how to remove a name from an LLC, how much it will cost to reserve a name, and how to trademark a name.
In order to change a company’s name in Georgia, a change must be made to the company’s articles of incorporation or articles of organization and submitted to the Secretary of State. This amendment will cost you $50, plus $20 more for quick processing. The cost may be higher for companies that are registered in Georgia as foreign corporations. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that changing a business name could necessitate revising additional paperwork, including licenses, permits, contracts, and marketing materials, which could result in more expenses.
You must take specific actions if you are a member of an LLC in Georgia and want to have your name removed from the business. Check the operational agreement to discover whether there are any provisions about member withdrawals. If not, you might need to settle the dispute with the other members or see a lawyer. A Certificate of Dissolution specifying the name of the LLC, the date of dissolution, and the names and addresses of the members who approved the dissolution must be filed with the Georgia Secretary of State after you have agreed on the conditions of your exit. This filing will cost you $100.
You can submit a Name Reservation Request to the Secretary of State if you’re launching a new company in Georgia and want to reserve a name before legally registering your business. This request has a $25 cost and is good for 30 days. For an extra $25, you can extend the reservation for an additional 30 days, or you can submit a new request. It’s important to understand that a name reservation does not ensure that the name will be accessible when your firm is registered.
You must submit Articles of Organization and pay a $100 filing fee to the Secretary of State in order to form an LLC in Georgia. The cost is $225 if you are a foreign LLC registering to conduct business in Georgia, nevertheless. Additionally, Georgia requires LLCs to pay a $50 yearly registration fee by April 1st of each year. LLCs with more than one member might also be required to pay $20 to the Georgia Department of Revenue to file a Partnership Return of Income.
In order to protect a company name as a trademark, the USPTO must receive registration of the name. To make sure the name isn’t already in use, this process normally entails completing a trademark search, creating and submitting a trademark application, and responding to any challenges or objections from third parties. The cost of trademarking a company name varies depending on the intricacy of the application and the assistance provided by the lawyer or firm. Typically, the costs for a basic application can range from $225 to $400 and for a thorough search and application, they can reach $2,000 in total.
The process of changing a business name in Georgia might be simple, but it’s important to be aware of the charges and criteria. It’s essential to seek legal and financial advice when creating a new LLC, reserving a name, or trademarking your business to make sure you adhere to all state and federal laws.