Georgia Business Entity Search: Free SOS Lookup (2026)

Q: Is the Georgia business entity search free?

Yes. The Georgia Corporations Division Business Search at ecorp.sos.ga.gov is free to use with no account. You only pay if you order a certificate of existence (good standing) or certified copies, which are separate services.

Q: How do I check if a business name is available in Georgia?

Search your desired name in the Georgia Corporations Division Business Search. If no active entity has a name that is not distinguishable from yours, the name is likely available. You can reserve an available name for 30 days for a $25 fee.

Q: What is a Georgia control number?

The control number is the unique identifier the Georgia Corporations Division assigns to each registered business. You can search by it in the Business Search, and it appears on your filing confirmation and on the entity's record.

Q: Does the Georgia business search show who owns an LLC?

It shows the registered agent and the officers or organizers listed in filings, but Georgia LLCs are not required to publicly list all members, so the search may not reveal every owner of an LLC.

Q: Does an available name mean I own the trademark?

No. Name availability in the Corporations Division only means no conflicting Georgia entity exists. Trademark rights are separate; you should also search the USPTO database before you rely on a name for branding.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You run a Georgia business entity search for free on the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division eCorp Business Search at ecorp.sos.ga.gov. Search by business name or control number to confirm a name is available, check an entity's active status, and review its registered agent and filings before you file Articles of Organization (Form CD 030, $100 online).

Quick Answer

Tool: Georgia Corporations Division eCorp Business Search
Cost: Free - no account required
Where: ecorp.sos.ga.gov (Business Search)
Search by: Business name, control number, or registered agent
Name rule: Must be distinguishable - Georgia LLC Act, O.C.G.A. 14-11
Next step: File Articles of Organization, $100 online

What the Georgia Business Search Tells You

The Georgia Corporations Division Business Search, part of the Secretary of State's eCorp system, is the official public database of every business entity registered in Georgia - LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, nonprofits, and foreign entities authorized to do business in the state. It is free to search without an account. Because it is the same registry that accepts your Georgia LLC formation, it is the authoritative place to confirm whether a business name is already taken.

For each entity, the search returns the exact legal name, entity type, current status (active, admin. dissolved, terminated, or withdrawn), the control number, the date of formation or registration, the registered agent and agent address, the principal office, and a list of filings. You can use it to verify a vendor is a real registered entity, to look up your own control number, to confirm a competitor's status, or - most commonly - to check that the name you want for a new LLC is available before you pay the filing fee.

How to Run a Georgia Business Entity Search

The search is quick and free. You do not need to log in to search or view results.

Open the Business Search. Go to the Corporations Division Business Search at ecorp.sos.ga.gov and select the Business Search option.
Choose a search type. You can search by business name, by control number, or by registered agent or officer name, and you can filter by entity status.
Use "starts with" or "contains" matching. Enter the distinctive core of the name rather than the full designator. Searching "peachtree" surfaces more potential conflicts than "Peachtree Coffee LLC," because the state compares the distinguishable core of the name.
Review the results. Each row shows the entity name, control number, type, and status. Click an entity to open its detail page and filing history.
Open filings. From the detail page you can view images of documents such as the Articles of Organization, amendments, and annual registrations.

Search Tips: Name, Control Number, and Agent

Georgia compares names on a distinguishable standard, not identical-match, so small tweaks do not free up a taken name. Entity designators ("LLC" vs "L.L.C."), capitalization, punctuation, and filler words like "the" and "company" are generally disregarded when the state decides whether two names conflict. To search thoroughly, run several variations - singular and plural, alternate spellings, and the name with and without a middle word. If any active entity's core name matches yours, pick a different name.

Searching by control number is the fastest way to pull up a specific entity when you already have the number from a contract or prior filing. Searching by registered agent or officer name helps with due diligence, letting you find entities connected to a particular agent or person. Remember that a name available today can be claimed tomorrow, so re-check right before you file.

Checking Name Availability Before You File

A clear result is a strong signal, but availability is only final when the Corporations Division accepts your filing. Under the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act (O.C.G.A. Title 14, Chapter 11), an LLC name must be distinguishable on the record from existing and reserved names and must include an LLC designator. If your name clears the search but you are not ready to file, you can reserve it: a Georgia name reservation holds a name for 30 days for a $25 fee through eCorp.

The search does not check trademarks, domain names, or local business-license records, so clearing the Business Search is necessary but not sufficient. Once your chosen name is confirmed, the next step is to file the Articles of Organization (Form CD 030) for the $100 online fee, which is the document that creates the LLC. See Georgia LLC cost for the full fee picture.

Reading the Results: Status, Type, and Filings

Entity status is the most important field. "Active/Compliance" (or similar) means the entity is in good standing. "Admin. Dissolved" means the Corporations Division dissolved it - often for failing to file the annual registration or maintain a registered agent. "Terminated" or "Withdrawn" reflects a voluntary close or a foreign entity that stopped doing business in Georgia. Status directly affects whether you should contract with an entity, so read it carefully.

The entity type field distinguishes a domestic LLC from a corporation, nonprofit, partnership, or a foreign entity registered in Georgia. The filing history lists each document filed, with dates, so you can see when the entity formed, whether it has filed its annual registrations, and whether it has updated its registered agent. Banks, courts, and other states rely on this record to confirm an entity exists and is current. If a filing you expect is missing, it may still be processing, or the entity may have registered under a slightly different legal name, so search a few variations before concluding a document was never filed. When an entity shows as admin. dissolved, its filing history will usually show the last annual registration it filed, which tells you roughly when it fell out of compliance.

Certificates of Existence and Certified Copies

The free search shows entity data on screen, but some transactions - opening certain bank accounts, registering to do business in another state, or closing a loan - require an official document. The Georgia Corporations Division issues a Certificate of Existence (the Georgia term for a certificate of good standing) and certified copies of filings. These are paid services ordered through eCorp; the free Business Search is where you find the entity first, then request the certificate. Confirm current certificate and copy fees on the Secretary of State's business forms page before ordering.

Trademark Searches Beyond the SOS

Clearing the Business Search does not give you exclusive rights to a name. To protect a brand, also search federal trademarks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database and consider a Georgia state trademark or trade name where appropriate. An available entity name can still conflict with a registered trademark, which could force a costly rebrand later. Run these checks before printing signage or buying a domain. See our trademark overview for how the federal and state systems interact, and our DBA guide for operating under a different public name.

Limitations of the Business Search

The Business Search is a naming and status tool, not a complete public-records portal. It shows the registered agent and officers listed in filings, but because Georgia LLCs are not required to publicly list every member, it may not reveal all owners. It also does not show tax standing with the Georgia Department of Revenue, local business-license status, or professional licensing. And a name available today can be taken tomorrow, so re-check immediately before filing. When you are ready to move from research to filing, follow our step-by-step Georgia LLC guide and get a federal EIN for the new entity. Treat the search as the first of several clearance checks rather than the last word: confirm the entity name, then clear the federal trademark database, secure a domain, and verify any local license requirements before you commit to a name and start spending money on branding. Doing all of these in the same sitting saves you from discovering a conflict only after you have filed and printed materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Georgia business entity search free?

Yes. The Corporations Division Business Search at ecorp.sos.ga.gov is free with no account. You only pay if you order a certificate of existence or certified copies.

How do I check if a business name is available in Georgia?

Search the name in the Business Search. If no active entity has a name that is not distinguishable from yours, it is likely available. You can reserve it for 30 days for $25. See how to form a Georgia LLC.

What is a Georgia control number?

It is the unique identifier the Corporations Division assigns each entity. You can search by it, and it appears on your filing confirmation and the entity's record.

Does the Georgia business search show who owns an LLC?

It shows the registered agent and listed officers or organizers, but Georgia LLC filings do not require listing every member, so it may not reveal all owners.

Does an available name mean I own the trademark?

No. Availability only means no conflicting Georgia entity exists. Also search the USPTO database - see trademarking a business name.

Sources

Georgia Corporations Division - eCorp Business Search (free public entity lookup).
Georgia Secretary of State - Corporations Division FAQ (name distinguishability; certificates).
Georgia Secretary of State - Georgia Business Forms (Form CD 030; certified copies).
Georgia Secretary of State - How to Reserve a Name ($25 reservation; 30 days).
Georgia Secretary of State - How to Register a Domestic Entity ($100 online filing).
Georgia Secretary of State - How to File Annual Registration (status and compliance).
Georgia.gov - Register an LLC (state formation overview).
Georgia Department of Revenue - Register a New Business (tax registration).
Justia - O.C.G.A. Title 14, Chapter 11 (Georgia LLC Act) (name and agent rules).
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Search trademark database (federal name conflicts).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal treatment).
Cornell Law School LII - Limited liability company (legal definition).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Georgia Secretary of State before acting.