How to Change Your LLC Name in Tennessee (2026)

Published by Jon Morgan | Co-Founder & Chief Editor

Last updated: August 28, 2026

FACT CHECKED by Jon Tobin, Business Attorney

Methodology
We meticulously research and verify the information presented in our articles. By consulting reliable sources and ensuring factual accuracy, we are committed to providing readers with well-informed, trustworthy content.

To change your Tennessee LLC's name, you file Articles of Amendment to LLC Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. It costs $20, whether you file online, by mail or in person. Tennessee sets no fixed processing time.

The amendment only updates your LLC's name on the state's records. It doesn't touch your EIN, your formation date or your LLC's legal structure. You'll still need to update that new name with the IRS, your bank and anyone else who has it on file.

Quick Summary

Tennessee LLC Name Change Quick Reference

Here's the quick-reference version of the form, fee, filing methods and mailing details you'll need for a Tennessee LLC name change, all in one place.

How to Change Your Tennessee LLC Name

Step 1: Confirm the New Name Is Available

Search the TNCaB business entity search before you file anything. Tennessee requires your new name to include "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "limited liability company," and to be distinguishable from every other name already on file [1].

If you're not ready to file the amendment yet, you can hold the name for four months with an Application for Name Reservation. It costs $20 and keeps other filers from claiming it while you line up member approval.

This is the same rule your LLC met when you first filed. If you haven't formed your LLC yet, see how to start an LLC in Tennessee first.

This page covers the process just for Tennessee. If you're dealing with a different state, the hub walks through how to change an LLC's name everywhere else.

Step 2: Get Member Approval

If you're a single-member LLC, you're the only vote that matters. Document the decision in writing and update your operating agreement to match.

With more than one member, Tennessee law sets the bar at a simple majority vote to approve a name change instead of requiring unanimous approval [2].

Check your operating agreement first, since it can set a higher threshold. Get that approval in writing and keep it with your company records before you file.

Step 3: File the Articles of Amendment to LLC Articles of Organization

File the amendment with the Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. E-file through TNCaB and pay by card or e-check. Or mail the form in with a check or money order, or bring it in person and pay by cash, check or money order.

Make checks and money orders payable to the Tennessee Secretary of State. Mailed filings go to the Corporate Filing address in Nashville, and walk-in filings go to the Secretary of State's customer service counter at the same building.

Tennessee doesn't publish a fixed number of business days for processing an amendment. The office delivers filed documents the same day it processes them, and TNCaB accepts online submissions at any time.

Once the amendment is filed, the state's record shows your new LLC name. The next step is updating that name everywhere else it's on file, starting with the sections below.

Filing this yourself just takes the form and the fee. If you'd rather hand it off, compare the best LLC services that also handle amendment filings.

After Your Name Change Is Approved: What to Update

Once your amendment is approved, work through this list so your new name matches everywhere it needs to, from state and federal agencies to your own paperwork.

1. State and local agencies: Notify any Tennessee agency that has your LLC on file under the old name, including your city or county licensing office.
2. Licenses and permits: Update your city and county business licenses and any professional permits tied to the old name.
3. The IRS: Send a signed letter to the address where you file your return, or change your business name by checking the box on your next return. In most cases, a name change alone doesn't need a new EIN. The IRS says a few situations still call for one (Publication 1635).
4. Your bank: Update your business bank accounts and any loan or credit documents.
5. Contracts and vendors: Notify clients, vendors and anyone with a signed contract under your old name.
6. Your operating agreement: Amend it to reflect the new name and keep it with your company records.
7. Your registered agent: Confirm your registered agent in Tennessee has your updated name on file. Ready to switch providers instead? Compare the best registered agent services in Tennessee.

Alternatives to a Formal Name Change

Not ready for a full amendment? Tennessee gives you two lighter options depending on what you actually need to fix.

1. DBA / Trade Name

You can register an assumed name instead of changing your LLC's legal name. Tennessee handles this at the state level rather than through a county clerk.

File an Application for Registration of Assumed Name ($20) with the Secretary of State. This lets you operate under a new name without touching your Articles of Organization.

2. Articles of Correction

If your original filing has a typo or another clerical error, use an Articles of Correction ($20) instead of an amendment. It only fixes mistakes in a document you already filed. It isn't a way to give your LLC a new name on purpose.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A few missteps can slow down or derail your Tennessee name change, and most of them are easy to avoid once you know what to watch for.

• Skipping the availability search: Your name has to be distinguishable from every name already on file. TNCaB is where you confirm that before you submit anything.
• Confusing the correction form with an amendment: Articles of Correction only fix a mistake in a filing you already made. File the SS-4451 amendment if you actually want a new name.
• Leaving old records unchanged: The amendment only updates the state's own file. Nothing else updates on its own, so work through the checklist above to update your other records too.

FAQs

References:

1. https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-48-corporations-and-associations/tn-code-sect-48-249-106/
2. https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-48-corporations-and-associations/tn-code-sect-48-249-204/