GUIDE TO STARTING A BUSINESS IN GEORGIA

The following are suggested steps to take in order to start a business. These steps are being listed in the sequential order that is suggested you follow: 1. Decide on the business structure or legal entity for your business. Most common forms of business structure are sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company ( !", small business corporation or regular corporation. #ou should discuss the features of each type of legal entity with your legal ad$isor. a. %n o$er$iew of this topic is a$ailable at http:&&sos.georgia.go$&corporations&legal'entity.pdf

(. )f you decide on a limited liability company, small business corporation or regular corporation, you will need to register your business* name with the +eorgia ,ecretary of ,tate (,-," office. Decide on a name for your business and then contact the (./.&0102(314" to see if any other entity is using this name. )f not, then you can reser$e the name by filing a 56ame 7eser$ation 7equest8 form with the ,-,. There is a 9(1 nonrefundable fee to reser$e a name. a. #ou can obtain the reser$ation request form at http:&&www.sos.ga.go$&acrobat&!orporations&name:(/reser$ation:(/form:(//3.pdf b. #ou can reser$e your name on line at https:&&corp.sos.state.ga.us&business&namereser$ation&default.asp;<=)D>0/d1443/2 f(?e2..412??a324/13?@(?b//b. % 9(1 filing fee applies to on2line filings as well. @. %fter deciding on your business structure and name for your business, you will need to prepare or ha$e someone prepare your business formation documents. %gain, you need to consult with your legal ad$isor on the types of documents required. a. %n o$er$iew of this topic is a$ailable at http:&&www.sos.ga.go$&corporations& and http:&&sos.georgia.go$&corporations&filing'procedures.htm .. -nce the business formation documents ha$e been prepared you need to and file the appropriate registration form and business formation documents with the ,-,. a. #ou can file your domestic corporation on2line at http:&&www.sos.ga.go$&corporations&new'entity'notice.htm b. % partnership or limited liability partnership may not be filed on2line. 1. !ontact the local go$ernment office, i.e. county office or city hall, etc., in the location where your business will be located to see if you need to register your business. ,ole proprietorships are not required to register with the state but all other business must register with the state. 1

Aartnerships, As, !s and all types of corporations may need to register with the local go$ernment where their business is located. 0. %pply for a federal Ta; )dentification 6umber (T)6" with the )7,. This can be done at no cost. )f your business is a sole proprietorship you will use your ,,6 in lieu of a T)6 and thus you do not need to apply for a T)6. a. #ou may apply for a T)6 on2line at https:&&sa(.www..irs.go$&modiein&indi$idual&inde;.Bsp. The )7, will assign you a number immediately while you are still on2line. Ce sure you can access a printer while on2line so that you can print out a copy of your T)6. #ou can use this T)6 as $erification of your business when completing other business formation tasks. b. Dor other )7, matters go on2lime to http:&&www.irs.go$& 4. #ou will need to submit a 5,tate Ta; 7egistration8 application (Dorm !7D2//(" with the ,tate of +eorgia to register your business. This will also automatically register you for a +eorgia sales ta; number and withholding ta; number as well as other ta; registration numbers that might be applicable for the type of business you will operate. a. Dor a list of +eorgia ta; forms go to https:&&eta;.dor.ga.go$&ctr&formsreg.asp; b. Dor instructions on filing Dorm !7D2//( go to https:&&eta;.dor.ga.go$&ctr&T,D',tate'Ta;'7egistration'%pplication')nstructions.pdf c. To obtain Dorm !7D2//( go to https:&&eta;.dor.ga.go$&ctr&T,D',tate'Ta;'7egistration'%pplication'!7D//(.pdf a. E Dor assistance call Ta;payer 7egistration at 344..(@.0411 or go to +eorgia Department of 7e$enue at https:&&eta;.dor.ga.go$& 3. -pen a bank account in the name of your business. #ou will need to pro$ide the bank with identify information about yourself, i.e. dri$er*s license number and ,,6, etc., as well as proof that your business has been registered with the city, county or state. ,!-7F strongly recommends that you keep your business finances separate from your personal finances and thus the need for a business bank account. ?. Dor other information on starting a business, the +eorgia ,-, pro$ides many helpful documents including: a. Dirst ,top Cusiness +uide 2 http:&&sos.georgia.go$&firststop&default.htm b. Dirst ,top Cusiness +uide (D%G" 2 http:&&sos.georgia.go$&firststop&faqs.htm 1/. The Hni$ersity of +eorgia*s ,mall Cusiness De$elopment !enter (,CD!" has also de$eloped a booklet called 5,tart2HA Casics8 http://www.georgiasbdc.org/pdfs/Start pBasics.pdf. This (

booklet contains $ery helpful information and issues to consider for all indi$iduals who are considering starting their own business. The ,CD! also has other helpful brochures on their web site http://www.georgiasbdc.org/i!de".asp"#cart$%&'(%')*+,'-)+.cc)+*c%/+ a(acc%*d%/'b0page1!a2e$doc 2e!t1porta3.