1. Choose the legal form
The most common choice is a limited liability company (LLC), where the partners’ liability is generally limited to their contributions. Georgian law also provides for joint stock companies, partnerships and cooperatives, and a natural person can register as an individual entrepreneur. The right form depends on the number of partners, the planned activity and how you intend to attract investment.
2. Decide who owns and who manages
A company may have one or several partners, natural persons or legal entities, and the law does not, as a rule, require the director to be a Georgian citizen. We will confirm the requirements for your case. Decide in advance who holds which share, who represents the company and which decisions require the partners’ consent. These rules belong in the charter and, where there are several partners, in a partners’ agreement.
3. Prepare the documents
You will typically need identity documents of the partners and the director, the charter, the partners’ decision on founding the company and appointing the director, and a legal address in Georgia with the consent of the property owner. If the founder is a foreign company, its registry extract and corporate decisions are required as well. Documents issued abroad must be properly certified and translated into Georgian.
4. Registering without travelling to Georgia
Companies are registered by the National Agency of Public Registry. You do not have to be present in person: a representative can act for you under a power of attorney, which must be certified and translated in line with Georgian requirements. We will tell you exactly how the power of attorney should be prepared in your country.
5. After registration
Registration is only the first step. A company needs a bank account, and banks carry out their own checks of the owners and the planned activity, so it is worth preparing for them in advance. Some activities require a licence or a permit. Note that restrictions apply to the acquisition of agricultural land by foreigners and by companies with foreign ownership, so check this in advance if your business needs such land. If you plan to live in Georgia, questions of residence should be considered together with the business plan.
Common mistakes
- Using a template charter that does not reflect the partners’ real arrangements;
- Starting with several partners and no partners’ agreement;
- Leaving the director’s powers and their limits undefined;
- Submitting foreign documents without proper certification or translation;
- Starting a licensed activity before obtaining the licence or permit.
How we can help
We advise on the legal form, draft the charter and the partners’ agreement, prepare the documents, register the company on your behalf under a power of attorney and support it afterwards with contracts and corporate matters. See also: Corporate Legal Services, Business and Contract Law, Residence Permit in Georgia.
Contact us
If you are planning to start a business in Georgia, contact us and we will discuss your case in detail. Call +995 577 404 750 (WhatsApp), email info@lcglegal.ge or request a consultation. Meetings by appointment — 25 Al. Kazbegi Ave., Tbilisi. Consultations are also available online by video call.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Laws and practice may change; please contact us for advice on your specific situation.