How to Look Up a Business License in Georgia?
In Georgia, a business license lookup requires an understanding that licenses are issued by different authorities depending on the business and industry. Georgia does not issue a single business license for the entire state; rather, this is spread across three channels: state registration, professional license, and local business licenses.
1. Check With the Georgia Secretary of State
If you are verifying a corporation, LLC, or partnership, you should first check the business registry of the Georgia Secretary of State. This official database engineer lets you make sure the business is properly registered in the state. You can search by business name, registration number, and name of the registered agent.
The search results include some useful facts about the subject business, including the legal name, status (active/inactive/dissolved), date of formation, and principal office address. Through this search, you confirm that a business entity is legally recognized in Georgia. However, this does not confirm if it has some sort of business license.
2. Verify Professional or Regulated License
For the professional ones or the regulated industries, such as healthcare, real estate, construction, legal services, and cosmetology, the Georgia Professional Licensing Boards are to be consulted. They keep a record of persons and firms that hold professional licenses issued by the State.
You are allowed to search by business name, license number, or name of license holder. The utility helps identify whether the license is revoked, suspended, expired, or active. It is especially crucial for service provider recruitment within sectors that require certification.
3. Phone the Local Business License Office
Most businesses in Georgia are also required to obtain a business license or occupational tax certificate from the city or county where they operate. These licenses are not issued by the state but by local governments.
Each city or county has its own application process, renewal process, and access to public records. In order to find out whether a business has a valid current local license, you must telephone the business license office of the relevant city or county, such as Atlanta, Savannah, or Cobb County.
