How to Change an LLC Name

Check Your New Name's Availability First

Before filing anything, search your state's business entity database to confirm the new name is available and meets your state's naming rules, typically including an LLC designator such as "LLC" or "L.L.C." and language that isn't already in use by another registered business. Filing an amendment with a name that's already taken gets rejected, costing you the fee and the processing time.

Get Member Approval Under Your Operating Agreement

A name change is a formal change to the LLC, so follow whatever approval process your operating agreement sets for amendments, commonly a majority or unanimous vote of members. Document the vote in writing even if your agreement doesn't explicitly require it, so there's a clear record that the change was properly authorized.

File a Certificate or Articles of Amendment With the State

File the amendment form with your state's Secretary of State or equivalent filing agency, listing the LLC's current name, its new name, and any other information the state requires, such as confirmation the change was approved by the members. Most states process this as a standalone filing separate from your annual report.

Amendment Fees Range Widely by State

As of late September 2026, the fee to file an amendment to Articles of Organization ranges from $15 in Montana to $220 in Delaware and the District of Columbia, according to each state's filing agency. Many states fall in the $25 to $100 range. Check your own state's current fee before filing, since it's a separate charge from whatever you paid to form the LLC originally.

Tell the IRS, But You Likely Don't Need a New EIN

Per the IRS, you keep the same EIN when your business changes its name; a new EIN isn't required for a name change alone. How you notify the IRS depends on your LLC's tax filing: if you haven't yet filed a return under the new name, mark the name change box on your next return, Form 1065 for a partnership-taxed LLC (page 1, line G, box 3) or Form 1120 or 1120-S for a corporation-taxed LLC. If you've already filed a return for the year under the old name, write to the IRS at the address where you filed that return, including your EIN, the old name, and the new name.

Update Everything Else That Uses the Old Name

After the state approves the amendment, update your bank accounts, business licenses and permits, contracts, insurance policies, and any registered DBA that references the old LLC name. Order a certified copy of the approved amendment from your state if a bank or vendor asks for proof of the change.

A DBA Can Be a Faster, Cheaper Alternative

If you want to operate under a different public-facing name but don't need to change your LLC's actual legal name on file with the state, registering a DBA ("doing business as") is usually faster and cheaper than a full amendment. The LLC's legal name and EIN stay the same; only the name customers see changes. A full legal name change makes more sense when you want the new name on your Articles of Organization, contracts, and tax filings themselves.

A State Name Check Doesn't Clear Trademark Risk

Your state only checks whether the new name is distinguishable from other registered business names in that state, not whether it conflicts with a federal or state trademark someone else already holds. Search the USPTO's trademark database before committing to a new name, especially if you plan to use it as a product or service brand beyond your LLC's legal registration.

Update Licenses and Contracts Promptly to Avoid Confusion

A mismatch between your LLC's legal name on file with the state and the name on a business license, lease, or loan agreement can cause delays or disputes later, particularly if a lender or landlord needs to verify your entity's identity. Update these records as soon as the state approves the amendment rather than waiting until a problem comes up.

None of This Is Tax or Legal Advice

A name change can have downstream effects on existing contracts, licenses, or a pending loan application; review anything with a "assignment" or "change of control" clause before you file. Talk to a business attorney if the LLC has significant existing contracts, and a tax professional if the name change coincides with any other change to the business.