How to Change Your LLC Name (Step-by-Step Guide)
Changing your LLC name means filing Articles of Amendment with your state's Secretary of State office and paying a filing fee, usually between $25 and $200, depending on where you're registered.
I've guided over 40 LLC owners through name changes and rebranding decisions across multiple states, so I've seen firsthand where people get tripped up and what makes the process go smoothly.
Here's exactly what to do, and what to update once your new name is approved.
Quick Summary
- In most states, you can submit the Articles of Amendment online, by mail, or in person.
- Filing fees range from $25 (Colorado, New York) to $200 (Delaware, Texas). Most states process the amendment in 1-7 business days online.
- After approval, update your EIN records with the IRS (Form 8822-B), your state business license, bank accounts, and contracts. The name change is only half the work.
How to change your LLC name in 3 steps
To change your LLC's name, you'll follow three steps:
Step 1 - Choose and verify your new name
Before you file anything, you need a name that's actually available, and legally valid in your state.
Every state has its own naming rules, but the core requirement is the same across the board, your name has to signal its limited liability status.
That means including one of the following:
- LLC
- L.L.C.
- Limited Liability Company
Your new name also has to be distinguishable from other businesses already registered in your state.
Before settling on a name, verify it's available in your state's business name database. Most Secretary of State websites offer a free name search tool. Also check:
- USPTO trademark database for conflicting registered trademarks [1].
- Domain name availability for your preferred .com
- Social media handle availability on the platforms you use
Locking the name down across all four (state registration, trademark, domain, handles) before you file the amendment saves you from finishing the legal change only to discover the name is unusable in practice.
Step 2 - Get member approval (skip if single-member LLC)
If you're a single-member LLC, skip the vote, you're the only member, so you can proceed to Step 3 directly. Multi-member LLCs need formal member approval.
A multi-member name change isn't a solo decision. You'll need formal approval from your LLC members before filing anything.
Start by calling a member meeting, check your operating agreement for the notice requirements, or follow your state's default rules if you don't have one. Send the notice in advance and include the proposed name, your reasoning, and the meeting agenda. At the meeting itself, walk members through the rationale and give everyone a chance to weigh in.
You'll need a majority vote to move forward, though some operating agreements require a supermajority, check yours before the meeting so there are no surprises. Record the decision in your meeting minutes, and make note that the Articles of Organization will need to reflect the new name once it's filed.
Step 3 - File Articles of Amendment with your state
This is the official step that makes the name change real. Filing Articles of Amendment is what legally updates your LLC's name on record with the state.
The document itself tells the state: here's what our LLC is currently called, and here's what we want it called going forward. When we went through this process for our Limited Liability Company name change, the form was straightforward, but the details matter.
Beyond the old and new names, you'll typically need to include:
- Date of the original Articles of Organization
- The effective date of the name change
- A statement confirming member approval
The form name varies by state, California uses Form LLC-2 (Amendment to Articles of Organization), Texas and New York use a Certificate of Amendment, and Florida uses Articles of Amendment. Search "[your state] LLC Articles of Amendment" to find the current form on your state's Secretary of State website.
Filing fees vary by state. For our Colorado LLC, the fee came out to $25. Other examples: Texas charges $150, California $30, New York $30, and Delaware $200. You can usually file online, by mail, or in person through the Secretary of State's office, online is almost always the fastest route.
If you use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or Northwest, they can file the Articles of Amendment on your behalf, usually for a small service fee on top of the state filing fee. See our Best LLC Services guide if you want help with the paperwork.
Once filed, get a stamped confirmation copy and keep it somewhere safe. That document is your legal proof the name change happened.
State-specific filing fees and forms
Fees and form names vary by state. The table below covers all 50 states plus Washington, DC.
| State | Form name | Filing fee | Online filing? | Processing time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Domestic LLC Amendment | $100 | Yes (Alabama Interactive) | 1-2 business days |
| Alaska | Articles of Amendment (Form 08-485) | $25 | No (mail/in-person/fax) | 10-15 business days |
| Arizona | Articles of Amendment (Form L015) | $25 | Yes (eCorp) | 11-13 business days |
| Arkansas | Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Organization (Form LL-02) | $25 (mail) / $22.50 (online) | Yes | 1-5 business days |
| California | Form LLC-2 (Amendment to Articles of Organization) | $30 | Yes (bizfileOnline) | 3-5 business days |
| Colorado | Articles of Amendment | $25 | Yes | Immediate (online) |
| Connecticut | Certificate of Amendment | $120 | Yes (Business.CT.gov) | 2-3 business days |
| Delaware | Certificate of Amendment | $200 | Yes | 1 business day |
| District of Columbia | DLC-2 Certificate of Amendment for Domestic Limited Liability Company | $220 | Yes (corponline.dlcp.dc.gov) | 5 business days |
| Florida | Articles of Amendment | $25 | Yes (Sunbiz) | 1-2 business days |
| Georgia | Articles of Amendment (Form CD 115) | $30 | Yes (eCorp) | 1-2 business days (online) |
| Hawaii | Articles of Amendment to Change LLC Name (Form LLC-2) | $25 | Yes (Hawaii Business Express) | 1-5 business days |
| Idaho | Amendment to Certificate of Organization | $30 | Yes (SOSBiz) | 1-5 business days |
| Illinois | LLC Articles of Amendment (Form LLC-5.25) | $50 | Yes (name change only) | 10 business days (standard) |
| Indiana | Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Organization (Form 49460) | $30 (mail) / $20 (online) | Yes (INBiz) | 3-5 business days (mail) / 24 hours (online) |
| Iowa | Articles of Amendment | $50 | Yes | 1-5 business days |
| Kansas | Business Entity Certificate of Amendment (Form BEA) | $35 (mail) / $30 (online) | Yes | 1-5 business days |
| Kentucky | Articles of Amendment for a Limited Liability Company (Form LLA) | $40 | Yes (FastTrack) | 1-5 business days |
| Louisiana | Name Change Amendment | $100 | Yes (geauxBIZ) | 3-5 business days |
| Maine | Certificate of Amendment (Form MLLC-9) | $50 | No (mail/in-person) | 5-10 business days |
| Maryland | Articles of Amendment for a Limited Liability Company | $100 | Yes (Maryland Business Express) | 1 business day (online) / 4-6 weeks (mail) |
| Massachusetts | Certificate of Amendment | $100 | Yes | 1-5 business days |
| Michigan | Certificate of Amendment (Form CSCL/CD-715) | $25 | Yes | 3-5 business days |
| Minnesota | Amendment of Articles (LLC) | $35 (mail) / $55 (online) | Yes | 5-7 business days (mail) / 1-2 business days (online) |
| Mississippi | Certificate of Amendment | $50 | Yes | 1-5 business days |
| Missouri | Amendment of Articles of Organization (Form LLC 12) | $25 | Yes (Online Business Services) | 4-7 business days |
| Montana | Articles of Amendment for Domestic Limited Liability Company | $15 | Yes (Montana Business Services) | 7-10 business days |
| Nebraska | Amended Certificate of Organization | $30 (in-office) / $25 (online) | Yes (eDelivery) | 1-5 business days |
| Nevada | Articles of Amendment | $175 | Yes (SilverFlume) | 1 business day (online) |
| New Hampshire | Certificate of Amendment (Form LLC-3) | $35 | Yes | 5-8 business days |
| New Jersey | Certificate of Amendment (Form L-102) | $100 | Yes (Business Charter Amendment Service) | 1-5 business days |
| New Mexico | Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Organization (Form DLLC-AM) | $50 | Yes | 15 business days |
| New York | Certificate of Amendment | $30 | Yes | 7 business days |
| North Carolina | Articles of Amendment (Form L-17) | $50 | Yes | 5-7 business days |
| North Dakota | Articles of Amendment | $50 | Yes (FirstStop) | 5 business days |
| Ohio | Certificate of Amendment | $50 | Yes (Ohio Business Central) | 3-7 business days |
| Oklahoma | Amended Articles of Organization | $100 | Yes | Not stated by SOS |
| Oregon | Articles of Amendment/Dissolution - Limited Liability Company | $100 | Yes (Oregon Business Registry) | 1-5 business days |
| Pennsylvania | Certificate of Amendment (DSCB:15-8622/8822) | $70 | Yes (Business Filing Services) | 1-5 business days |
| Rhode Island | Articles of Amendment (Form 401) | $50 | Yes (Business Services Online Filing System) | 1-5 business days |
| South Carolina | Amended Articles of Organization | $110 | Yes (Business Entities Online) | 1-5 business days |
| South Dakota | Application for Amended Articles of Organization | $60 | No (paper form) | 1-5 business days |
| Tennessee | Articles of Amendment to LLC Articles of Organization (SS-4451) | $20 | Yes (TN CAB) | 1-5 business days |
| Texas | Certificate of Amendment (Form 424) | $150 | Yes (SOSDirect) | 7-10 business days |
| Utah | Amendment to Limited Liability Company Certificate of Organization | $17 | Yes (Business Registration System) | 1-5 business days |
| Vermont | Articles of Amendment | $35 | Yes (Vermont Business Services Online) | 1-5 business days |
| Virginia | Articles of Amendment of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC1014) | $25 | Yes (CIS) | Real-time online |
| Washington | Amended Certificate of Formation | $30 | Yes (CCFS) | 1-5 business days |
| West Virginia | Amendments and Corrections | $25 | Yes (One Stop Business Portal) | 1-5 business days |
| Wisconsin | Articles of Amendment | $40 | No (mail) | 1-5 business days |
| Wyoming | Limited Liability Company Articles of Amendment | $60 | No (mail) | 1-5 business days |
What to update after your LLC name change
Approval from the state is just the beginning. Here's what you'll need to update:
- Update your operating agreement: If you have the LLC's operating agreement, it is important to file an Amendment to Operating Agreement with your state.
- Notify clients and customers: Let your customers know about the new legal name before billing issues pop up. An email or formal notice ahead of the change goes a long way.
- Inform banks and financial institutions: Your bank needs to know. Updating the name on your business bank accounts lets you order new checks and cards under the correct name, and keeps transactions from getting flagged.
- Notify government agencies: File IRS Form 8822-B to update your EIN records within 60 days of the change [2]. Update your state tax authority records. If you have employees, update payroll records and W-2 setup so year-end forms reflect the new name.
- Update licenses and permits: Any business license or permit issued under the old name should be revised. Operating under a name that doesn't match your license can create regulatory headaches down the road.
- Update contracts and agreements: Existing contracts that reference the old name remain enforceable, the LLC is the same legal entity, but it's cleaner to notify contract counterparties of the name change and execute a brief amendment or acknowledgment for active contracts.
- Update your foreign-state registrations: If you've registered as a foreign LLC in other states, each of those Secretary of State offices needs a separate filing to update the name. Skipping this can pause your good-standing status in those states.
- Update your website, email signatures, and online business profiles: Refresh your Google Business Profile, Yelp, LinkedIn, and any directory listings. Stale listings under the old name will confuse customers searching for you.
- Update active trademark registrations: If you have a registered trademark with the USPTO under the old LLC name, file the appropriate name-change request through TEAS so ownership records stay consistent.
Alternatives to a full LLC name change
Filing an amendment isn't your only option. Here are two other routes worth knowing about.
DBA (Doing Business As)
A DBA (Doing Business As), sometimes called a Fictitious Name, lets you operate under a different name without changing your LLC's legal name. You register it through your local business license office, and the name has to be distinguishable from other registered entities in your area.
A DBA makes more sense than a full name change when:
- You want to test a new brand before committing to it legally
- You operate multiple business lines under one LLC
- You want to operate under a name in a specific market without changing the entire legal entity
"Ensure the Fictitious Name or DBA document is filed before you file Articles of Amendment, Articles of Organization, or Articles of Incorporation."
- Jon Morgan, Co-Editor & Co-Founder of Venture Smarter**
Certificate of Correction
A Certificate of Correction is a narrower tool, it's designed to fix errors or omissions in your original formation documents, like a typo in your LLC's name. It's not a mechanism for a full name change.
To file one, you submit a form to your state's business filing agency that identifies the error and provides the correct information. That's it. It won't work if you're trying to rebrand or change the substance of your business, for that, you need Articles of Amendment.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take for a Business Name to Be Approved by the State After Filing Forms?
It takes 1-30 business days for a business name to be approved by the state after filing forms. Online filings are typically processed within 5-10 business days, while mail filings can take 2-6 weeks depending on the state.
How Much Does It Cost to Rename My LLC?
It costs $25 to $200 or more to rename your LLC, depending on your state, amendment filing fee, and whether you choose standard or expedited processing.
Is It Possible to Update the Name on Your EIN?
It is possible to update the name on your EIN by filing IRS Form 8822-B within 60 days of the name change. The IRS keeps your existing EIN and updates only the name on record.
Are There Tax or Other Consequences to Changing Your LLC Name?
Changing your LLC name usually has no direct tax or liability consequences because the LLC remains the same legal entity. You still need to update state, IRS, bank, license, and contract records.
Does Changing My LLC Name Affect My Existing Contracts?
Changing your LLC name does not usually affect existing contracts because the LLC is the same legal entity. Notify counterparties and consider a short amendment so names, signatures, and payment records stay consistent.
Can I Change My LLC Name to Be the Same as Another LLC in a Different State?
You can change your LLC name to match another LLC in a different state if the name is distinguishable in your own state. Each state checks names within its own business registry.
References:
- https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/search
- https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8822-b
