Georgia Foreign Corporation
What is a foreign Georgia Corporation?
A Georgia foreign corporation is a corporation that conducts business in Georgia but was initially formed in another state.
To expand your business into Georgia, you must file an Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Profit or Nonprofit Corporation. For just $355, we’ll register your corporation and provide a year of local registered agent service.
If you’d rather file yourself, keep reading to learn how to register your foreign Georgia corporation.
Register your out-of-state corporation today
$355 total
● A Year of Registered Agent Service
● 90 days free of phone service
● Lifetime support
How to Register an Out-of-State Corporation
To register your foreign corporation in Georgia, you must file an Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Professional Corporation with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $230 (online) or $235 (paper).
Here’s a complete list of everything you’ll need to include:
- Business name
- Principal mailing address
- Name and address of your Georgia registered agent
- Jurisdiction and date you initially incorporated
- Names and addresses of your corporation’s CEO, CFO, and Secretary
- Effective date. Choose “upon filing” or enter a future date (up to 90 days)
- Signature of the person filing your application
You’ll also need to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Existence from your home state. You can get a certificate by contacting the state department where you initially filed your incorporation documents. The filing fee will vary between states. For example, Alabama charges $28 whereas Florida assesses $9.
Once you have your certificate, you have 90 days to file an Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Profit or Nonprofit Corporation with the Georgia Secretary of State.
Online:
Georgia Online Services
Mail:
Office of Secretary of State, Corporations Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
Suite 313 West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Our Georgia Foreign Corporation Service
When you hire us to register your foreign corporation in Georgia, we’ll submit your Application for Certificate of Authority on your behalf and provide a year of local registered agent service for just $355. You’ll also get everything listed below:
- A secure online account
- Same-day mail scans
- Compliance service enrollment (no upfront fees)
- Unlimited access to our library of business resources
- A free 90-day trial of phone service
- Lifetime business support
I’m ready to register my foreign corporation.
How can I get started?
- Sign up for Georgia Registered Agent Service
- Then, take a look at the Foreign Corporations Form and the filing tips in your online account. If you decide that you don’t want to file it yourself, click the “Add Services” tab and add the Foreign Corporation Filing Services to your order.
- At any time, you can login into your account and check the read time status on the progress of your foreign corporation filing.
- Once the filing is complete, we store your official documents online in your secure client portal, email you a status update, and send you the original filed documents by mail.
FAQ
How long does it take to register a foreign corporation in Georgia?
Standard processing in Georgia typically takes 7-15 business days. If you need faster turnaround, you can pay for expedited service:
- $120 (two days)
- $275 (same day)
- $1200 (one hour)
What if my corporation’s name isn’t available in Georgia?
If your corporation’s name isn’t available in Georgia, you’ll need to register a DBA (doing business as) name for transacting business in Georgia. You can register a DBA by filing an application with the Clerk’s Office of the county where your corporation is located. Most counties charge a $175 filing fee.
Once you’ve submitted your application, you must publish a copy of your registration in a local newspaper (at minimum) once a week for two consecutive weeks.
Do I need to register as a foreign corporation in Georgia?
You’ll have to register your corporation as foreign in Georgia if your business is “conducting activities” in Georgia. If you have an online business that statement may seem very vague. Typically, what the state means by “conducting activities” or “transacting business” is that you are physically doing business in the state in one of the following capacities:
- You have a business location in Georgia
- You have contractors physically doing work or selling items in Georgia
- You employ a sales rep in the state who services customers in Georgia
Most online companies who ship items to every state in the US do not need to register as foreign corporations in Georgia. However, if you’re unsure, you may want to consult a business attorney.
What happens if I don’t register as a foreign corporation?
If you conduct business in Georgia without registering as a foreign corporation, you’ll likely have to pay upwards of $500 in penalty fees. You also won’t be able to sue individuals to collect debts or represent your business in any Georgia courts.
Foreign Corporation Service in Georgia