How to Change Your LLC Name in Virginia (2026)
Changing your Virginia LLC's name means filing Form LLC1014N, the Articles of Amendment Changing the Name, with the State Corporation Commission. The fee is $25, and you can file online, by mail or in person.
The SCC doesn't publish a standard turnaround for regular filings. Paid expedited service can get you a same-day or next-day response instead.
A name change updates your LLC's legal identity on file with the state. Your legal structure and ownership stay the same. Your EIN and tax setup carry over, but you'll still need to update your operating agreement, bank accounts, contracts and licenses.
Quick Summary
- Check name availability before you file. A rejected filing has to be corrected and resubmitted.
- Get every member's approval before filing, unless your operating agreement sets a lower threshold. Single-member LLCs only need their own sign-off.
- Plan for extra mail time if you file by paper. Filing online through CIS processes in real time instead.
Virginia LLC Name Change Quick Reference
Use this table for the exact form, fee and filing details before you start. The steps below walk through each part of the process.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Form name | Articles of Amendment Changing the Name (LLC1014N) |
| Filing fee | $25 |
| Filing methods | Online, mail or in person (no fax) |
| Online portal | Clerk's Information System (CIS) |
| Mail address | State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 1197, Richmond, VA 23218-1197 |
| In-person address | 1300 E. Main St, 1st Floor, Richmond, VA 23219 |
| Processing time | Not published for standard filings. Expedited online service guarantees a next- or same-business-day response for an extra fee |
| Name reservation form / fee / period | Form SCC631 / $10 / 120 days |
| Correction form / fee | Form LLC1011.1 / $25 (name or address entry errors only) |
How to change your Virginia LLC name
Here's how the process runs from start to finish under the Virginia State Corporation Commission's own rules. This guide follows the same three-step framework used for changing an LLC's name in any state.
Step 1: Confirm the new name is available
Search the Commission's business name records in CIS before you file anything. Your new name must be distinguishable from other entities and include an LLC designator, the same rule used when you start an LLC in Virginia.
If you're not ready to file the amendment yet, reserve the name first. Form SCC631 holds it for 120 days for a $10 fee [1]. You can renew it before it expires.
Step 2: Get member approval
All members must approve the amendment unless your articles of organization or a written operating agreement set a lower threshold.
If you're a single-member LLC, you're the only vote needed. Document the decision in writing for your operating agreement records.
Step 3: File the Articles of Amendment
File Form LLC1014N with the SCC once you have member approval. Submit it online through CIS, by mail to the Clerk's Office P.O. Box or in person at the Richmond office, and pay the $25 fee with your filing.
A manager signs the amendment if your LLC has one. Otherwise a member signs, or the organizer if the LLC never appointed managers or members.
Pay online by credit card, or mail a check made out to State Corporation Commission. The Clerk's Office doesn't accept cash by mail.
The SCC either files your amendment and updates the public record, or rejects it and tells you why so you can fix and resubmit.
If you need it faster, online expedited service guarantees a next-business-day response for $50 or $100 or a same-business-day response for $200 [2]. Paper filings can't be expedited.
After your name change is approved: what to update
Once the SCC approves your amendment, update these records so your new name matches everywhere it appears. A few of these are quick fixes, but plan on some calls and paperwork for the rest.
- State agencies: Notify any Virginia agency that issued you a permit, tax account or license under the old name.
- Update local business licenses tied to the old name with the county or city that issued them.
- The IRS: You generally don't need a new EIN. Sole proprietors write a letter to the IRS address where they filed their last return, and partnerships mark the name-change box on their next Form 1065, or write a letter if that return is already filed [3].
- Give the bank a copy of the filed amendment so it can update your business accounts.
- Notify vendors and counterparties so invoices and agreements match your legal name.
- Record the name change and the vote that approved it in your operating agreement.
- Update your registered agent in Virginia so their file matches. Need a new provider? Compare a Virginia registered agent service before you switch.
- Update your website, signage and any public listings so customers see the new name.
Alternatives to a formal name change
Filing a full amendment isn't your only option. One of these might fit better depending on what you're trying to accomplish.
1. DBA / trade name
A DBA lets you operate under a different name without changing your LLC's legal name on file with the state. It costs less and moves faster than a full amendment, and it works well if you just want a new public-facing brand.
File a Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name. Virginia now centralizes trade-name filing at the SCC Clerk's Office, so you no longer file with your county's circuit court [4]. The fee is $10.
2. Articles of Correction
Articles of Correction fix a name or address that was entered incorrectly on your original Articles of Organization. They don't cover an intentional rebrand, so file the amendment instead if you're choosing a new name on purpose.
File Form LLC1011.1 with the SCC for a $25 fee, the same fee as the amendment [5]. The correction route only makes sense when the original filing had a genuine mistake.
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost To Change an LLC Name in Virginia?
It costs $25 to change an LLC name in Virginia by filing Form LLC1014N with the State Corporation Commission. A name reservation is a separate, optional $10 fee for 120 days.
Does Virginia Require Member Approval To Change an LLC Name?
Yes, Virginia requires member approval to change an LLC name. Check your operating agreement, since it can lower the default all-member requirement.
What Happens If the SCC Rejects My Name Change Filing?
If the SCC rejects your name change filing, it's usually because the new name isn't distinguishable from an existing entity or is missing a required LLC designator. Fix the issue and refile.
Do I Need a New EIN After Changing My Virginia LLC's Name?
No, you don't need a new EIN after changing your Virginia LLC's name in most cases. The IRS only requires a new one for specific situations, like a change in ownership or structure, detailed in Publication 1635.
References:
- https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/business-faqs/business-entity-names/
- https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/about-the-clerks-office/expedited-services/
- https://www.irs.gov/businesses/business-name-change
- https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/business-faqs/fictitious-names/
- https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/forms-and-fees/virginia-limited-liability-companies/
