Change LLC Name in Colorado

Can I change the name of my LLC in Colorado?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Colorado LLC name.

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

The filing fee for the Articles of Amendment in Colorado is $25.

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 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 Colorado?

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

It costs $25 to change your LLC name in Colorado. This is the filing fee for the Articles of Amendment form.

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

How do I change my Colorado LLC name?

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

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

We provide step-by-step instructions on how to file the Articles of Amendment online.

Can I change my LLC name myself?

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

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

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

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

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 Colorado LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search (called doing an “availability search”).

Your new Colorado business name must include one of the allowed designators (endings). Colorado lets you use the following designators:

• Ltd.
• LLC (most common)
• L.L.C.
• Limited
• Ltd. Liability Co.
• Limited Liability Co.
• Ltd. Liability Company
• Limited Liability Company

Step 2: File the Colorado LLC name change form

The Colorado LLC name change form is called the Articles of Amendment.

This is the appropriate form to change the business name (the legal name, not the DBA or trade name). Other changes to the business information are done using other forms.

And the online filing process is called Amend the Articles of Organization for an LLC.

(It’s called this because you’re amending your Colorado Articles of Organization.)

How to file the Articles of Amendment in Colorado

Find your LLC’s Record

To Amend the Articles of Organization for your Colorado LLC, first go to the Business Entity Search.

Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name and click Search. Select your LLC from the results by clicking on the ID number.

Confirmation

Click Confirm to let the system know that you’re authorized to make changes to your LLC.

Documents Available for Filing

Now you’ll select the form you want to file. Click Amend Articles of Organization for an LLC.

Note: In Colorado, if you want to make other changes to your LLC (like the principal office address or Registered Agent information), you’ll use a different form. The instructions below only explain how to change your LLC name.

Amend Articles of Organization for an LLC

You don’t need to do anything on this page. It just provides an overview of the filing process.

Click Next to continue.

Entity name – Step 1 of 7

Do you need to change the entity name? Click Yes.

The page then explains Colorado business name requirements. Scroll down and enter your new LLC name, including the designator.

Click Next to continue.

Amendments and attachments (optional) – Step 2 of 7

You don’t need to do anything on this page. You can leave the box for additional information blank.

Do you need to attach additional information?
Click No.

A Colorado LLC name change filing doesn’t require any attachments.

Delayed effective date – Step 3 of 7

Do you want this filing to take effect immediately?
Most people click Yes. That means their LLC name change takes effect as soon as it’s approved by the Secretary of State.

You can also date your filing for up to 90 days in the future if you want it to take effect later. In that case, click No and select the new effective date.

Filer information – Step 4 of 7

Click the box to accept the terms.

Enter the Name and Address of the person filing the document. This mailing address can be in any state, or in any country.

Click Next to continue.

When the page refreshes, review the filer information and make changes if needed.

Click Next again to continue.

Notifications – Step 5 of 7

This page lets you sign up for text or email notifications about deadlines for your LLC (like the Colorado LLC Periodic Report).

If you (or someone in your LLC) already get these notifications, you don’t need to sign up again.

If you don’t get these notifications but would like to, feel free to enter your email and/or phone number here. The information doesn’t go on public record. It’s only used by the Secretary of State to send notifications.

Filing Review – Step 6 of 7

Review the information you entered, and click edit next to any sections where you need to make changes.

Click Next to continue.

Payment – Step 7 of 7

Click the button to pay by Credit or Debit.

Then, enter your payment information and submit your $25 filing fee to the state.

Wait for approval from the Secretary of State

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

Approval times can vary, but generally in Colorado online filings are approved immediately.

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

Step 3: Change your Colorado LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Colorado 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 Department of Revenue).

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. In Colorado the Division of Taxation is part of the Department of Revenue, and this is who you’ll update with your new LLC name.

Typically, a business owner can update their 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 Division of Taxation. You can ask about the process to update your business name.

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your Colorado 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

If you have a state 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.

Colorado 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 recommend starting with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. They oversee most professional licenses in the state.

And contact your local government (like a city clerk or county clerk) for the process to update any local business permits. You should look up your municipality and county to get this information. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs has a database that can help you find their contact information.

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 Colorado 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 Colorado 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 Colorado 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.