How to Change Your Business Name

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To change the legal business name, LLCs and corporations typically need to file articles of amendment with the Secretary of State (or equivalent state agency). They also need to update their business name with the IRS, bank, and local government, as well as on contracts and marketing materials.

In this article:

• • Business Name Change Guide
  • Business Name Checklist
  • How Long Does It Take?
  • How Much Does It Cost?

• DBA vs. Legal Business Name Change
• Frequently Asked Questions

6-Step Guide to Changing Your Business Name

Changing your business name is fairly simple, but it requires a few steps that are easy to overlook. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Check name availability
2. File paperwork
3. Inform the IRS
4. Update licenses & bank accounts
5. Amend contracts & internal documents
6. Update website & social media

1. Check name availability

Before you commit to a new business name, make certain your desired name isn’t already in use. Business name availability can be checked on most Secretary of State websites. Northwest offers a Free Business Name Search guide you can use to check name availability in your state.

Look up your preferred new name online and see if anything pops up.  Make sure you can get a domain name (web address) for your company website that matches or incorporates your new name. Your domain should be distinct, short, and easy for your customers to remember. That also goes for your social media handle.

Pro tip: Northwest’s experts recommend doing a trademark search to find out if someone has registered your desired business name with the USPTO.

2. File name change paperwork

If you own a corporation or LLC, you’ll have to register the business name change with your state. In most states, you’ll have to file articles of amendment with the Secretary of State—though the name of the form and the relevant state agency can vary.

Some states require a specific name change form to be filed, rather than articles of amendment.

Prefer to have someone else handle the paperwork? Northwest handles amendment filings in all 50 states. After you hire us as your registered agent, you can order an amendment filing in your online account.

3. Inform the IRS

Once you’ve formally changed your business name, you’ll need to notify the IRS. The way you report your name change to the IRS will depend on the type of business you own:

• Sole proprietors (including single-member LLCs) must send a signed letter to the address where their tax return was filed.
• Partnerships (including multi-member LLCs) can check the name change box when they file their tax return, Form 1065 (Page 1, Line G, Box 3).
• Corporations can check the name change box when filing Form 1120 (Page 1, Line E, Box 3) or Form 1120-S (Page 1, Line H, Box 2).

If your partnership or corporation has already filed its tax returns for the year, you can instead send a signed letter to the address where you filed your return.

4. Update licenses, permits, and bank accounts

Contact your local government offices (such as city or county government) to update any permits or business licenses registered with your old company name. You’ll also need to update your state tax account with the Department of Revenue (or the equivalent in your state).

Additionally, update all business bank accounts. Your bank should be able to walk you through the process.

5. Amend contracts and internal documents

Notify vendors, business partners, and landlords of the change, and update all contracts and vendor agreements that use the old name.

Don’t forget to update your company’s internal documents to reflect the name change, such as your corporate bylaws and LLC operating agreement.

6. Update your website, social media, & marketing materials

Finally, you should update your business name wherever it has a public presence. This includes signage, social media accounts, websites, email addresses, merchandise, business cards, as well as any other specialized public presence that may pertain to your business.

It’s a good idea to announce your name change in a press release or marketing email, so your customers are aware of the change.

Business Name Change Checklist

Many small business owners forget to update their name everywhere they need to. Here’s a checklist of things to remember after you change your business name:

• Update all business bank accounts
• Notify the IRS on your tax return or a signed letter
• Update state or local business licenses, permits, and tax registration
• Update foreign registrations if doing business in multiple states
• Update contracts and vendor agreements
• Amend or file a new DBA if using a fictitious name
• Inform payment processors and other services (like your registered agent)
• Update website, email, social media, and invoices
• Send a press release or marketing email announcing the name change
• Update USPTO records if you have a registered trademark
• Amend LLC operating agreement or bylaws

Northwest’s Corporate Guides can walk you through the entire name change process. Just give us a call or send us a message to get help from a real human.

How Long Does It Take to Change Your Business Name?

A business name change can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on your state’s processing time and whether you opt for expedited processing. Typically, filing online or in person will be faster than filing by mail.

How Much Does Changing Your Business Name Cost?

The fee for changing your business name ranges from $20 to $150, depending on the state. The cost may also vary depending on your business type. For example, in Florida, the fee for filing articles of amendment is $25 for LLCs and $35 for corporations.

Some states also offer expedited processing for an additional fee.

DBA vs. Legal Business Name Change

An alternative to legally changing your business name is getting a DBA. A DBA (“doing business as”) is a fictitious name given to business entities that file paperwork with the state under one name (their legal business name), but do business under another. For example, a business with the legal name “Angela Woodson Flower Corp.” might use the DBA “Angie’s Flowers.”

Sole proprietors and general partnerships often register DBAs in order to use a creative business name. That’s because their legal business name is the owner’s name (for sole proprietors) or a list of the partners’ names (for partnerships). Any other business name they use is a DBA. However, DBAs are used by LLCs and corporations, too.

DBA Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Can use multiple DBAs for different brands or services, without forming a new company
• No need to update your business name with the IRS, banks, or government agencies
• Usually cheaper than a legal name change

Cons:

• DBAs are not exclusive in most states, so another business could use the same name
• Doesn’t provide liability protection on its own, unlike an LLC or corporation

Each state has its own requirements for DBAs, but in most states you’ll need to register your DBA with your state and/or county government.