How to Start a Business in Georgia

Starting your own business is exciting, but to launch a Georgia business, it’s important to get started in the right direction. Each state has its own unique regulations and requirements for businesses, especially those starting up. In this article, you will learn the steps to starting a business in Georgia.

14 Steps to Starting a Business in Georgia

To start a business in Georgia, you’ll need to follow the same steps as any other state. There are a few specific things you need to do to register your business in Georgia, and you’ll also need to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations that apply to businesses in the state.

 

1. Determine Your Business Name

The first thing you need to do is determine your business name. Georgia has its own restrictions on what kind of business names it accepts, so if your initial name choice isn’t available, you may want to look into using a different one. When choosing your company’s name, keep the following rules in mind:

• The name cannot be the same as or too similar to any other registered business in the state.
• The name cannot include “Georgia” unless your company is actually located in Georgia.
• Your name cannot be misleading or fraudulent.

Once you’ve decided on a name, check it against the records available through the Secretary of State’s website.

 

2. Write a Business Plan

The next step in starting any business is to conduct market research and write a business plan for your business idea. This document will outline your business goals, strategies, and how you plan to achieve them. It’s important to be realistic in your business plan and to include all the necessary information, including financial models. A well-written business plan can help you secure funding from investors or lenders, and it can also be used as a roadmap for your business. Our collection of business plan examples can help you determine the best type of business to start.

 

3. Choose the Right Business Structure

There are several options available when it comes to your legal business structure. The most common options include:

• Sole Proprietorship – Sole proprietorships are the simplest and least-expensive way to start a business in Georgia, but because it is an informal legal structure, it also exposes you to the most risk. While there are no restrictions on who can own a sole proprietorship, only the owner(s) have legal and financial responsibilities, and they alone are responsible for the success or failure of their business.
• Partnership – A partnership can be a good choice if you have a trusted friend or family member who is interested in starting a business with you. In a partnership, each partner contributes resources to the business but also shares the benefits gained from it. All partners have joint and several liability, meaning that if the business fails, all partners are equally responsible for its debts or other legal obligations.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – This is a formal business entity and a good choice for a new business because it combines some of the benefits of a corporation with some of the benefits of a limited partnership. Limited Liability Companies offer limited personal liability to the owners, but they also allow each owner to be taxed separately. So if you decide to leave your business in the future, you can keep your personal income separate from your business income.
• Corporation – A corporation is a good choice if your business has potential for significant growth and expansion because it comes with higher startup costs. Owners of a corporation are called “shareholders” and they have no personal liability for the company’s debts or legal responsibilities. However, corporations offer higher tax rates than other business structures because corporate income is taxed twice: once at the corporate level and then again when it’s distributed to the shareholders as dividends. You can choose either a C-Corporation or an S-Corporation.

If you choose a formal business structure, you need to register your business with the Secretary of State

• Register an LLC
• Register an LP
• Register a Corporation

 

4. Choose a Business Location

Georgia offers plenty of options when it comes to choosing a location for your business. If you’re planning to operate in Georgia, but aren’t planning on locating your headquarters here, check out Georgia’s tax incentive programs.
You should also consider these questions about your potential business location:

• Is the property zoned for commercial use?
• Are there enough customers nearby who would make it worth your while?
• How much will it cost to lease or buy the property?

 

5. Licenses and Permits

Any entity that does business in Georgia is required to register for one or more of the following tax-specific identification numbers, permits, and/or local licenses.

• Georgia Business License: If your business will operate out of a physical location in the state of Georgia, you must register your business. You can apply online through the Georgia Tax Center portal.
• Sales & Use Tax: Regardless of whether all transactions will be carried out online, outside the state, wholesale, or tax-free, any person or entity that meets the definition of “dealer” under Georgia law must obtain a sales and use tax registration number and certificate of registration.
• Alcohol License: If you want to offer liquor for sale in your store, restaurant, bar, hotel, or other type of establishment, you’ll need to apply for a liquor license from the Georgia Department of Revenue.
• Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN): Every for-profit business needs to have an EIN if they’ll be employing people and/or operating as a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company. If you plan on opening a sole proprietorship or general partnership, then you can use your social security number. Apply for an EIN through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website.

Additional tax registration information can be found on the Georgia Department of Revenue website.

 

6. Open a Business Bank Account

Before you can secure any bank loans or lines of credit, you’ll need to have a bank account into which the business funds can be deposited. This will help you keep track of your business income and expenses, while keeping your personal assets separate.

Many banks also offer merchant services that can help you accept debit and credit cards for payment, which will allow customers to purchase products or use services right away.

 

7. Learn About Intellectual Property Ownership

While you’re getting started, your business may or may not have any intellectual property that could be potentially protected. Here are the basics of when and how to apply for a trademark or patent in Georgia:

A trademark protects words, names, symbols, sounds, or colors that distinguish products and services from those offered by competitors. A trademark of special distinction can also be used to show a connection between a company and its products by using the ® symbol. A trademark provides protection both inside and outside of Georgia.

Applying for a patent is a complex process, so you might want to consult with an experienced patent lawyer to guide you through it from start to finish if your product or service will require one.

Go to the U.S. Patent and Trademark website for more information about intellectual property protection.

 

8. Get Business Insurance

Before you open your doors, it’s important to secure business insurance coverage that will protect your company and its assets in the event of an accident or natural disaster and your employees in case of a work-related injury. The following types of insurance are most common for new businesses:

• General Liability Insurance: General liability insurance covers your business if it’s sued by a customer or client for bodily injury or property damage that occurred on your premises or as a result of one of your products. It also covers injuries that happen to people outside the scope of their employment, such as customers and vendors. You may want to consult with an experienced insurance agent to help identify the right kind of coverage for your needs.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Every business in Georgia with employees must carry workers’ comp insurance, which covers medical costs and lost wages for work-related injuries or illness.
• Property Insurance: If you’re opening a storefront business, then you’ll need to insure your physical location against fire, theft, vandalism, natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, and other risks.

Additional information about insurance requirements can be found on the Georgia Department of Insurance website.

As a small business owner, you might also qualify for certain tax credits, incentives, and savings opportunities. It’s important to stay informed about these benefits so that you can take advantage of them while they’re still available.

 

9. Establish Your Accounting and Tax Filing System

Before you open your business, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of how you’ll handle its financial operations.

For example, if you’re operating as a sole proprietorship or general partnership, then your tax filing responsibilities will be fairly straightforward. You can use the Schedule C form to report any income that was generated from commissions or sales, and you’ll also need to file quarterly tax returns.

However, if your business is structured as a corporation or an LLC, then your business taxes will be more complicated because the IRS views you and your company as completely separate entities. You may even want to consult with a tax attorney or business accountant about these specific requirements.

In either case, you’ll need an accounting system to keep track of and manage your business’s financial operations. It is especially important for keeping your personal and business expenses separate. For example, use a program like QuickBooks to track business-related expenses and generate invoices. You can also use an online system like PayPal to accept payments from customers.

 

10. Create a Marketing Plan

As a startup business, you’ll need to develop and implement your marketing plan in order to get the word out about your products or services.

For example, if you’re opening a brick-and-mortar shop, then it’s important to do some thorough market research so that you can figure out how best to reach potential customers in your area. If you’re launching an online business, then it’s important to create a website that clearly explains what your company does and how it benefits the consumer. You might also want to consider having professional-looking social media pages where you can share updates about your business with followers.

Developing a comprehensive marketing strategy will require some creativity and a great deal of time and effort. However, you should keep in mind that this is one of the most essential elements to starting up and running a successful business.

 

11. Obtain Funding For Your New Georgia Business

Many entrepreneurs underestimate how much money they need to get their businesses off the ground. If you’re in this position, then it’s a good idea to learn about some of the potential startup funding options available.

• Bank Loan – This is a traditional method of financing that requires you to take out a business loan from your local bank. However, if you don’t have an established credit history or high credit score, then it’s usually difficult to obtain this type of funding.
• Small Business Loan – Either through your local bank or the Small Business Administration (SBA), you may be able to take out a loan to help you get started. This type of loan requires less stringent qualifications, but the interest rates are typically higher than those for bank loans.
• Small Business Grant – There are some organizations that offer grants specifically for small businesses in Georgia. However, the application process can be fairly involved and competitive.
• Angel Investor – This is an option for startup businesses that are looking for larger sums of money. However, angel investors tend to be fairly selective about which companies they invest in, and startups need to prove that their business model has potential before they can land this type of funding.
• Personal Loan – If you have friends or family willing to loan you money, then this is a viable option. However, you’ll need to ensure that your agreement is properly documented so that both parties are protected from potential legal troubles in the future.

Before you apply for any sort of financing through a bank, investor, or government agency, it’s very important that you have a well-crafted business plan in place. This document will include your goals and objectives for the company, financial requirements, target customers, marketing strategy, etc. Without it, you’ll have a difficult time getting anyone to take your business seriously.

 

12. Recruit and Hire Employees

Having a staff of dedicated employees can make all the difference when it comes to running a successful business. However, you’ll need to carefully consider your staffing needs before you make any final decisions. For example, will you hire full-time or part-time workers? What types of positions do you need in order to be successful?

Whatever your requirements, be sure to post your business opportunities through reputable job websites and employment agencies. You can also do some direct outreach and place ads on Craigslist and job fairs in the area.

Once you’ve settled on a list of potential candidates, then it’s important to ensure that they meet all the required qualifications for the position. The hiring process may be fairly involved, but it’s essential for protecting your business from any legal problems down the line. Be sure to have a strong interview process in place with a series of questions that help you make a fair and informed decision.

Once hired, be sure that your employees are appropriately trained to handle their specific roles in the business. This could include a variety of things, such as product knowledge, customer service best practices, and safety procedures.

 

13. Stay Organized and On-Track

Regardless of the size or type of business you’re running, it’s important that you develop a solid organizational structure right from the very beginning. You can accomplish this by creating an effective chart and clearly defining each employee’s specific responsibilities in relation to their roles and your company’s overall goals. If anything in your company changes, then you’ll need to update your organizational chart accordingly.

You should also create an up-to-date filing system where you save copies of all the necessary paperwork and documentation for your company. It’s important that you keep track of bills, financial statements, tax documents, licenses and permits, contracts, and other items that will support your business over time. Make sure you keep all of these records in one central location, and that your staff knows where to find them whenever they’re needed.

To ensure that your business succeeds, it’s essential that you remain focused on the big picture. This could include setting up milestones for key events throughout the year, writing down an effective long-term strategy, and continually monitoring your progress. In the end, it’s the steps that you take today that will have a direct impact on where your business is headed tomorrow.

 

14. Open for Business

Now that you’ve developed a business plan, recruited a team of employees, and set up a successful filing system, it’s time to officially open for business. Get customer feedback, develop a business website, engage in search engine optimization (SEO), monitor your online reputation and be sure to create an effective social media presence where you can promote your new company.

As the founder of your business, it’s up to you to make all of the final decisions. While many people enjoy having this type of control, it’s important that you seek guidance from an experienced mentor or coach who has already run their own business successfully. By using their expertise to help you overcome any challenges that arise along the way, they could play an integral role in your company’s ongoing success.

For more information on starting a business in Georgia, visit the Georgia Secretary of State website.