Change LLC Name in Alabama

Can I change the name of my LLC in Alabama?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Alabama LLC name.

The first step is to file a form called the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State and wait for it to be approved. This is how you officially change your LLC name in Alabama.

The online filing fee for an Alabama business name change is $132 ($28 for a Name Reservation and $104 for the Certificate of Amendment).

After the state approves your LLC name change, you should then notify the following 3 places:

• the IRS
• state tax department
• your business bank account

Next, you’ll need to get a new business privilege license for the new LLC name.

And finally, you can update your LLC name in other places like your website and marketing materials.

This page will guide you through the process and include helpful tips along the way.

Note: We’ve changed the names of our own LLCs over the years. So we have first-hand experience with filing the paperwork as well as dealing with the IRS and financial institutions.

What are the steps for changing an LLC name in Alabama?

1. File an Alabama Name Reservation Request (and wait for approval)
2. File the Alabama Amendment form (and wait for approval)
3. Update the IRS
4. Update the Department of Revenue
5. Update financial institutions (credit card companies, banks)
6. Update business licenses
7. Update other places (branding materials, business accounts, etc.)

How much does it cost to change an LLC name in Alabama?

It costs $132 to change your LLC name in Alabama.

This is the filing fee for:

• the Name Reservation Request ($28)
• plus the Certificate of Amendment form ($104).

How do I change my Alabama LLC name?

In order to change your LLC name, you must file a Certificate of Amendment with the Alabama Secretary of State. This officially updates your legal entity (your Limited Liability Company) on the state records.

Note: The Alabama Secretary of State is responsible for LLC formation and administration, including name changes.

We provide step-by-step instructions on how to file the Certificate of Amendment online. (Technically, you can also file by mail. However, it’s slower and the state prefers online filings.)

Before you can file the Certificate of Amendment, you need to complete a Name Reservation Request for the new LLC name.

Can I change my LLC name myself?

Yes, you can file the Certificate of Amendment yourself. Or you can hire a company to do this for you.

Because the Amendment filing in Alabama can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

Step 1: File a Name Reservation Request

New LLC Name Must be Available

Before filing the required Name Reservation Request, you should check that your new LLC name is available in Alabama.

This is important because two businesses in the state can’t have the same name, or be too similar. This is called LLC name distinguishability.

Alabama LLCs Must File a Name Reservation

Unlike other states, Alabama requires you to file a Name Reservation Request for your new LLC name. The Name Reservation must be approved before you can file the Certificate of Amendment.

You can file the Name Reservation Request form online and it will be approved immediately. The filing fee is $28.

How to file a Name Reservation Request:

• Alabama Name Reservation

After the Alabama Secretary of State approves your Name Reservation Request, you can then file your Certificate of Amendment.

Step 2: File the Alabama LLC name change form

The Alabama LLC name change form is called the Certificate of Amendment (aka Alabama Domestic LLC Certificate of Amendment).

(It’s called this because you are amending your Alabama LLC Certificate of Formation. The Certificate of Formation is what created your Alabama LLC.)

How to File a Certificate of Amendment in Alabama

Go to the Business Filing Amendment filings page on SOS Online Services. All Alabama LLC Amendment forms are filed through this page.

The first screen has information about filing rules and requirements.

Don’t worry: You don’t have to have a Subscriber Account to file the Certificate of Amendment. You can file as a non-subscriber and pay with a credit or debit card.

Scroll down and click the link to “Continue to Application”

Contact Information

This is who the Secretary of State will contact with any questions about your Amendment filing.

Enter the name, phone number, email address, and mailing address of your LLC’s contact person.

Entity Look-Up

Next, you’ll locate your LLC’s entity record. This tells the Secretary of State which company is changing its name.

Enter your Entity ID and click “Search“.

Your LLC’s record should appear below (confirm the name and formation date are correct).

Click the link “Select” next to your LLC’s record. (Don’t click the big “Back” button at the bottom of the page).

After clicking “Select“, a pop-up window will display your LLC’s information again. It’ll ask you to click a box to confirm you’re filing for the correct entity.

Amendment Options

You can update other information besides the LLC’s name when filing a Certificate of Amendment. This page lets you select what information to update.

If you only need to change the LLC name, click the box for “Legal Name“, and then click the button to Continue.

You can also update these items:

• Nature of Business (aka LLC Business Purpose)
• Principal Office and Address (this doesn’t let you update Registered Agent information)
• Members and Addresses (Who is an LLC Member?)
• Organizers and Addresses (very rare, usually unnecessary)

Note: To update your LLC’s Registered Agent, you must use a different form.

Legal Name Change

This page reminds you that you must already have an approved Name Reservation for the new LLC name.

Enter the new LLC name (exactly as printed on the approved Name Reservation) and the Name Reservation ID Number.

When you click Continue, the system will check for a matching Name Reservation to link to your filing.

A popup will appear asking you to confirm the old LLC name and the new LLC name. Click Confirm to continue.

Document Upload(s)

Most people skip this page. You don’t need to upload anything for a name change filing.

Summary

This screen shows you the information you entered. Review it for accuracy and make any changes, if needed.

Check the box to verify the information you entered. Then check the box to verify you are the person signing.

Type your name into “Electronic Signature“.

Then enter your Title:

• If you are an LLC owner, enter “Member“.
• If you are an LLC Manager, enter “Manager“.
• If you are both an owner and a manager, enter “Managing Member“.
• If you aren’t an owner or manager, but the Members or Managers asked you to file this document for the LLC, you can enter “Authorized Person“.

If these terms are confusing, check out Member-Managed vs Manager-Managed LLC and LLC Officer Titles.

Checkout

This takes you to the payment processing screen.

Enter your contact and payment information. You can pay by credit or debit card.

Wait for approval

After submitting your Certificate of Amendment to the state, please wait for approval.

Approval times can vary, usually your filing will be approved immediately when you file online.

You’ll receive your name change approval by email.

Step 3: Change your Alabama LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Alabama LLC name with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This updates the name connected to your LLC’s EIN number.

We have step-by-step instructions here:
How to change LLC name with IRS

Step 4: Update your LLC’s Account with the Department of Revenue

After your new LLC name is approved, you need to update your business’s account with the state’s tax department (the Alabama Department of Revenue).

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. In Alabama, the Department of Revenue has many different divisions, including the Business Privilege Tax Division and other types of taxes that apply to LLCs like Sales Tax and Use Tax.

Typically, you can update your LLC name in one of three ways:

• online
• by mail
• by phone

But it differs from state to state, so we recommend you call the Department of Revenue. You can ask about the process to update your business name.

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your Alabama LLC name with the IRS and Department of Revenue business tax department, you’ll also want to contact the following places and let them know about the name change.

Financial institutions:

• LLC business bank account
• business checks
• business debit card
• business credit cards
• Paypal or other online banking solutions
• business loans or lines of credit
• brokerage accounts
• bookkeeping software, like Quickbooks

Pro Tip: You don’t have to rush to update these the same day or even the same week. Your existing checks and credit cards will still work, but it’s important to eventually get everything updated to your new LLC name.

Step 6: Update or Get a New Business License

Every Alabama LLC must have a Business Privilege License from the county where the LLC operates.

So after your LLC name change is approved, you’ll need to change the name on the Alabama business license.

The Alabama Department of Revenue has a guide about the Business Privilege License to help.

Sometimes that means applying for a new license and canceling the old one. Or sometimes you can just change the name on your existing license.

You’ll need to contact the county (or city) that issued your Business Privilege License to find out the process for a business name change.

If your LLC also has an occupation- or industry-specific license, you’ll need to contact your state licensing agency or licensing board. And ask for information on how to update the state business license. You can find them here: Alabama Department of Revenue Business License Division.

Step 7: Update marketing materials and other places with your new LLC name

Below are some examples of places to update with your new LLC name.

Branding and online presence:

• online stores (like eBay, Shopify, Amazon)
• website, domain registrar, hosting company
• letterhead, logos, invoices, contracts, and important documents
• social media accounts

Professional services:

• Registered Agent Service (if you hired one)
• accountant
• attorney

Other government agencies:

• local tax office (ex: city, county, township)
• business licenses and permits
• sales tax permit
• utility companies
• Department of Labor (if you have employees)

Stay calm: Don’t stress out thinking you have to change your LLC name everywhere right away. That’s not the case. Take your time and do the important ones first. Give yourself a few days or a few weeks to get them all done. Technically, your old business name will still work for quite some time.

Update your Alabama LLC Operating Agreement

It’s a good idea to update the name on your LLC’s Operating Agreement. Don’t worry, this is a simple process. You can either:

• You can make a new version of the Operating Agreement you already have. Update the document with your new LLC name, and have the LLC Member(s) sign.
• Or, you can use our free template on Alabama LLC Operating Agreement to create a new Operating Agreement with the new LLC name.

Tip: This is a good opportunity to review the other sections in your Operating Agreement and make any needed updates there, too. Have the LLC Member(s) sign, and distribute copies like you did with your initial LLC Operating Agreement.

Change LLC Name in Alabama FAQs

Matt Horwitz

Founder & Educator, LLC University®

Matt Horwitz is the leading expert on LLC education, and has been teaching for 15 years. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.
 
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.