Georgia Foreign Qualification

Foreign qualification with the Secretary of State in Georgia is the process by which a business that was originally formed in another state or country seeks permission to operate in Georgia. This involves submitting the necessary paperwork and fees to the Secretary of State in order to legally conduct business in the state.

There are 3 different ways to foreign qualify in Georgia depending on your legal entity type and tax classification. Follow the guide below to help you register with the Secretary of State in Georgia or use Mosey to do it.

Use Mosey to register with the Secretary of State in Georgia.

Georgia Foreign Qualification for LLC

If you are "transacting business" in Georgia, you must register with the Secretary of State by filing an Application for Certificate of Authority (Form CD 241). In lieu of defining what is considered as "transacting business," Georgia provides a list of activities not constituting "transacting business." Upon filing, you will be assigned a Control Number as identification.

  1. Establish a Registered Agent

    You must have a registered agent in Georgia designated to accept service of process. Your registered agent can be any individual who resides in Georgia or a business authorized to "transact business" and have a physical location in Georgia.

  2. Create an eCorp Account

    Create an account for the Secretary of State's eCorp service. Note: P.O. boxes are not accepted.

  3. Register Online as a Foreign Business

    Log in to eCorp to register as a foreign business to submit your Application for Certificate of Authority (Form CD 241).

Georgia Foreign Registration for LLP

If you are "transacting business" in Georgia, you must register with the Secretary of State by filing an Application for Certificate of Authority (Form CD 2000). In lieu of defining what is considered as "transacting business," Georgia provides a list of activities not constituting "transacting business." Upon filing, you will be assigned a Control Number as identification.

  1. Establish a Registered Agent

    You must have a registered agent in Georgia designated to accept service of process. Your registered agent can be any individual who resides in Georgia or a business authorized to "transact business" and have a physical location in Georgia.

  2. Create an eCorp Account

    Create an account for the Secretary of State's eCorp service to manage business filings.

  3. Register Online as a Foreign Business

    Log in to your eCorp account to submit your Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Limited Liability Partnership (Form CD 2000) and pay the filing fees with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division.

Georgia Foreign Qualification for Corporation

If you are "transacting business" in Georgia, you must register with the Secretary of State by filing an Application for Certificate of Authority (Dorm CD 236). In lieu of defining what is considered as "transacting business," Georgia provides a list of activities not constituting "transacting business." Upon filing, you will be assigned a Control Number as identification.

  1. Acquire a Certificate of Certificate of Existence

    Georgia requires a Certificate of Existence (also known as a Certificate of Existence) from your home jurisdiction, issued no more than 90 days before the date of submission, to be uploaded with your Application for Certificate of Authority.

  2. Establish a Registered Agent

    You must have a registered agent in Georgia designated to accept service of process. Your registered agent can be any individual who resides in Georgia or a business authorized to "transact business" and have a physical location in Georgia. Note: P.O. boxes are not accepted.

  3. Create an eCorp Account

    Create an account for the Secretary of State's eCorp service.

  4. Register Online as a Foreign Business

    Log in to eCorp to submit your Application for Certificate of Authority (Form CD 236).

What else do I need to know?

Once you are registered with the Secretary of State, you may have additional requirements to maintain your "good standing" in the state. Failing to do so can result in fines, back taxes, and forfeiting certain priveleges within the state.

Maintaining a Registered Agent

Most states require that you have a registered agent that can receive important mail from the Secretary of State should they need to contact you. There are many commercial options available or you can use Mosey to be your registered agent and keep your information private in Georgia.

Annual Reports and Taxes

In addition to maintaining a registered agent, most states require you to file a report annually. Registration can also trigger state taxes such as a franchise tax or income tax. You can use Mosey to identify these additional requirements to maintain good standing in Georgia.

Georgia's Foreign Qualification Agencies

Review your compliance risks, free.

More from the blog

Learn how to keep your business compliant in all 50 states across payroll, HR, Secretary of State, and tax.

What Is a C Corporation (C Corp)?

In the corporate landscape, C corporations stand out as a common corporate structure for entrepreneurs. Small business owners and individuals in finance or HR roles need a comprehensive understanding of what sets C corporations apart. Here, we unravel the complexities of C corps, shedding light on their structure, tax implications, and the liability protections they provide to businesses. What Is a C Corp? A C corporation, commonly referred to as a C corp, stands as a separate legal entity from its owners or shareholders.

Gabrielle Sinacola | Nov 12, 2023

Do I Need Labor Law Posters? Complete Compliance Guide

Labor law posters are federal and state documents that contain information about employee rights and responsibilities. Businesses are required to display labor law posters in their place of business and distribute notices electronically to remote workers. Do I need labor law posters? Whether or not you are required to post state and federal labor law posters depends on whether or not you have employees. If… Your business has at least one employee on payroll (including part-time employees), then you are required to post labor law posters in their place of work.

Gabrielle Sinacola | Jun 9, 2023

Mosey partners with Remote, unifying State Compliance and Global HR

Remote and Mosey are partnering to make it simple for global businesses to streamline their compliance by giving them everything they need to get compliant in all 50 US states. In the aftermath of the global pandemic, our lifestyles and work dynamics have undergone a profound transformation. The workforce has fully embraced remote work, transcending geographical boundaries within the United States and on a global scale. While this shift brings substantial advantages for both employees and businesses in terms of talent accessibility, it concurrently poses significant challenges.

Alex Kehayias | Mar 7, 2024

Ready to get started?

Schedule a free consultation to see how Mosey transforms business compliance.