A corporation is a business structure that provides personal liability protection by separating the owner’s personal assets from the business’s assets. Thus, a corporation is liable for the business’s actions and finances, while the owners (known as shareholders) are not.
Corporation Pros
- Corporations provide liability protection for the shareholders
- A corporation can raise non-debt financing by selling shares of the business
- Taxation may be lower than a sole proprietorship or partnership
Corporation Cons
- Corporations are more complex and expensive to set up than sole proprietorships, partnerships, and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- At a minimum, corporations are required to hold an annual board of directors meeting and shareholders meeting, take minutes at the meetings, issue shares, etc., to maintain the entity’s liability protection.
Generally, Corporations are chosen over Limited Liability Companies when a significant amount of funding is being raised from investors. However, due to the cost and complexity of a Corporation, most small businesses are better off forming an LLC.
Related: How To Form An LLC In Georgia
The following steps are to create a domestic Corporation, which is the most common type for businesses. The other types of Corporations in Georgia include a foreign Corporation (an out-of-state Corporation wanting approval to physically operate in the state), a professional Corporation (designated for Corporations offering professional services), or a non-profit Corporation.
Steps to Forming a Corporation in Georgia
Step 1: Choose a Name
The first step in forming a Corporation in Georgia is selecting a name.
The name of the Corporation has to be different from other entity names in the state of Georgia. Check available Corporation names in Georgia.
The name of the Corporation must include one of the following designators at the end of the business name:
- Corporation
- Company
- Incorporated
- Limited
- Or an abbreviation for one of those words: Corp., Co., Inc., or Ltd.
A comma may be used after the business name and before the designator. For example, “Common Grounds Coffee Inc.” and “Common Grounds Coffee, Inc.” are both acceptable.
If you want a name but are not ready to register the Corporation, you can file a Name Reservation Request with the Georgia Secretary of State. The name reservation will hold a name for up to 30 days.
While a Corporation has to select a unique name that another Georgia Corporation isn’t using, that doesn’t guarantee the name isn’t currently in use by someone else. So before registering a Corporation name, be sure to do a trademark search to verify it is available for you to use.
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
To have a Corporation in Georgia, a Georgia Registered Agent must be identified to act as a central point of contact for receiving legal documents, tax notices, summons, subpoenas, etc., on behalf of the Corporation. This agent can either be a resident of Georgia or a commercial registered agent service.
You can act as the Corporation’s Registered Agent in Georgia, and you are not required to pay for a registered agent. The requirements to be a Registered Agent are generally available during normal business hours and have a physical street address in the state. A PO Box is not allowed.
Related: Do I Need A Registered Agent In Georgia?
Step 3: File the Georgia Articles of Incorporation
Next, you can start filing the Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State. The Articles of Incorporation can be filed on the Secretary of State’s website or with Form BCA-2.10.
The information requested includes:
- The name of the Corporation must contain the words “Corporation,” “Company,” “Incorporated,” “Limited,” or an abbreviation.
- The number of shares to be authorized.
- Registered Agent’s name and physical address (PO Boxes aren’t allowed)
- Name, address, and signature of the incorporator. This can be one of the owners of the Corporation or someone helping with the formation of the entity.
- Mailing address of the corporation’s principal office. This is the mailing address where any correspondence from the Georgia Corporations Division will be sent.
The Georgia Articles of Incorporation can be filed online or submitted by mail. The mailing address is:
Office of Secretary of State
Corporations Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
Suite 313 West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Step 4: File the Publication of Notice to Incorporate
Corporations are required to publish a notice of intent to incorporate in the newspaper, which is the official legal organ (newspaper or journal that publishes public notice advertisements) in the county where the corporation is to be located or in a newspaper that has general circulation in the county where at least 60 percent of its subscriptions are paid. The publication is published once a week for two consecutive weeks.
The notice of intent to incorporate must be sent to the newspaper by the next business day after filing articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State.
Step 5: Create Corporate Bylaws
Bylaws are the general guiding principles and procedures for the business’s operations. For example, the bylaws may include the name of the corporation’s officers, the responsibilities of the board members, terms of office, procedures for removing or adding a new director or shareholder, policies for authorizing new shares, when shareholder and director meetings will be held, and more.
Step 6: Hold the Initial Board of Directors Meeting
During the first board meeting, the board of directors will, at minimum, elect the corporation’s officers (the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary). They will also typically review and approve corporate bylaws, choose a bank, issue shares of stock, and decide whether the Corporation will be taxed as a C corporation or S corporation.
Minutes should be taken at all meetings to protect shareholders from lawsuits and court actions. The minutes provide a written record of all decisions and actions taken during the meeting. Minutes aren’t filed with the state but should be stored along with other corporate documents.
Step 7: Issue Shares of Stock
The corporation can exchange shares of stock in exchange for money or services. The number of stock-issued shares cannot be more than the number of authorized shares listed in the Articles of Incorporation.
Step 8: Obtain an EIN
The EIN or Employer Identification Number (also called a Federal Employer Identification Number, FEIN, or Tax ID Number) is a unique 9-digit tax identification number assigned to a business by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Like an individual’s social security number, the EIN identifies the Corporation for tax purposes. The EIN will be needed to hire employees, open a bank account, register for business licenses and permits, file tax returns, and more.
There is no cost for the EIN when registering through the IRS. The number is available immediately when applying through the IRS website; however, you can also register by phone, fax, or mailing IRS Form SS-4.
Step 9: Elect the Corporation’s Form of Federal Income Taxation
By default, a new corporation will be taxed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) like a C-Corporation. C-Corporations pay corporate taxes on their profits, and the owners pay personal income taxes on their dividends.
A Corporation can elect to be taxed as an S-Corporation. S-Corporations are taxed as “pass-through entities,” meaning the Corporation does not file corporate taxes. Instead, the profits (or losses) “pass through” to the shareholders, who then report this income on their individual taxes.
For most small businesses, the S-Corporation tax election is the most beneficial because it eliminates the double taxation of the C-Corporation. This tax election can be changed; however, it is highly recommended to talk with an accountant before making this decision.
Step 10: Open a Bank Account
Opening a bank account for your Corporation is important for liability protection as the bank account separates the business’s funds from the member’s personal funds.
Several documents will be needed to open a business bank account, such as:
- A banking resolution is a document that authorizes the members to open a business bank account on behalf of the LLC.
- Copies of the original Articles of Incorporation showing the creation of the Corporation in addition to the bylaws.
- Driver’s licenses of the members.
- Depending on the age of the Corporation, a Georgia Certificate of Good Standing may be needed to prove the business entity is active and in good standing with the state.
Step 11: Apply for Business Licenses and Permits
Depending on what your business does and where it is located, various business licenses and permits will likely be needed before starting your business. Some common registrations include:
- Business Licenses – There is no general state of Georgia business license; however, many cities require one.
- Sales Tax Number – Businesses selling products and certain services will need to register for a Sales Tax Number with the Georgia Department of Revenue.
- Professional Licensing – Some services, such as interior designers, accountants, home inspectors, landscapers, and plumbers, require licensing in Georgia. While this isn’t a license for the business, it is required to operate.
Related: How To Register A Business In Georgia
Step 12: File Annual Registration
Corporations are required to submit an annual report to the Georgia Secretary of State.
Corporations that form between October 2 and December 31 must file the initial Annual Registration between January 1 and April 1 of the following calendar year. Annual Registrations are due each year after January 1 and April 1.
