Change LLC Name in Arkansas

Can I change the name of my LLC in Arkansas?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Arkansas 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 Arkansas.

The filing fee for a Certificate of Amendment in Arkansas is $22.50.

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

And finally, you can update your Arkansas business 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 Arkansas?

1. Check if your new LLC name is available
2. File the Arkansas Amendment form (and wait for approval)
3. Update the IRS
4. Update the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
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 Arkansas?

It costs $22.50 to change your LLC name in Arkansas. This is the filing fee for the Certificate of Amendment form.

The fee is the same whether you file the form online or by mail.

How do I change my Arkansas LLC name?

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

Note: The Arkansas 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 much slower and the state prefers online filings.)

Can I change my LLC name myself?

You can file the Certificate of Amendment yourself or you can hire a company to do this for you.

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

Step 1: Make sure your new Arkansas LLC name is available

Before filing your amendment form (the Certificate of Amendment), you should check that your new LLC name is available in Arkansas.

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.

If you file an amendment for a name that’s already taken, the state will reject your filing. And if that happens, you’ll need to re-file with a different name.

To avoid that, look up your desired Arkansas LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search.

Step 2: File the Arkansas LLC name change form

The Arkansas LLC name change form is called the Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form LL-02).

We’ll keep it simple and call it the Certificate of Amendment.

(It’s called this because you’re amending your Arkansas Certificate of Organization.)

How to file a Certificate of Amendment in Arkansas

Before you begin: You’ll need your LLC’s business entity ID number (“filing number”) in order to use the online filing system.

Go to the Arkansas Business Entity Search.

Enter the first few words of your LLC’s name in the first field and click search.

Click on your LLC in the results and make a note of the Filing # (it will be a 9-digit number).

Get Started

Go to the Arkansas Corporations Online Filing System and scroll down to the Domestic LLC section.

Find the form name “Certificate of Amendment to Art. of Organization – LLC-02“.

Enter your LLC’s business entity ID number (aka Filing Number) and click “Start Form”.

Entity Information

First, click the box for “Change Entity Name“.

New LLC Name
A new field will appear after you check the “Change Entity Name” box. Enter your new LLC desired name here.

Be sure to include the designator in your new LLC name. You can use “LLC” or “L.L.C.”. And you can use a comma before the designator, or leave it out.

Amendment

Date of Adoption
Select the date you want your LLC name change to be effective.

Most people leave this set to today’s date. That means your LLC name change will be effective when it’s approved by the Secretary of State.

Amendment
This field asks you to describe what amendment you’re making to the LLC’s Certificate of Organization.

You can simply enter: “Amending name of Domestic Limited Liability Company“.

Submitter Contact Information

The information you enter here won’t go on public record. This just tells the Secretary of State where to return your approved Certificate of Amendment documents.

Enter your name and address. The address doesn’t have to be in Arkansas. It can be in any state or country.

Enter your phone and email address so the Secretary of State can contact you with any questions about the Amendment filing.

Agreement

Click the box to agree to the terms. Then type your name in the Signature field.

Upload documents

If the only Amendment you’re making is changing the LLC name, you don’t need to upload any documents. You can just click Next at the bottom to skip this step.

Review

Review the information you’ve entered and confirm there are no errors or typos. Go back to make any changes, if needed, or click Next to continue.

Payment

Select whether you’ll pay by ECheck or by Credit Card, and click Continue.

Enter your payment information and submit your payment for $22.50 to the state.

Congratulations! Your Arkansas Certificate of Amendment has been submitted to the Secretary of State.

Wait for approval from the Secretary of State

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

Approval times vary, but on average, how long it takes to change an LLC name in Arkansas can take 3-7 business days.

Because you filed online, you’ll receive your name change approval by email.

Step 3: Change your Arkansas LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Arkansas 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 Finance and Administration

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

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. However, in Arkansas it’s called the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, and this is who you’ll update with your new LLC name.

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 Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. You can ask about the process to update your business name.

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your Arkansas LLC name with the IRS and Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration 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

If you have an Arkansas business license or a local business permit, you’ll need to change the name on that license.

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.

Arkansas doesn’t have a general state business license requirement. But your LLC might have an industry- or occupation-specific license.

If that’s the case, contact your state licensing agency or licensing board for information on how to update the state business license. We have more details about how to find this information on Arkansas Business Licenses.

And contact your local government (like a city clerk or county clerk) for the process to update any local business permits. You can look up your county clerk through the Association of Arkansas Counties. And you can find your city or town clerk information through the Arkansas Municipal League.

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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas FAQs

Matt Horwitz

Founder & Educator, LLC University®

Matt Horwitz has been the leading expert on LLC education for the past decade. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. 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.