Change LLC Name in Illinois

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Can I change the name of my LLC in Illinois?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Illinois 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 Illinois.

The filing fee for the Articles of Amendment in Illinois is $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 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 Illinois?

  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 Illinois 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 Illinois?

It costs $50 to change your LLC name in Illinois. 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 Illinois LLC name?

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

Note: The Illinois 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. (Technically, you can also file by mail. However, it’s slower and the state prefers online filings.)

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 Illinois LLC Amendment filing can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

Need to save time? We recommend hiring MyCompanyWorks ($99 + state fee) to file your LLC name change.

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

Before you file Articles of Amendment (the name change form), you should check that your new LLC name is available in Illinois.

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 Illinois LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search.

Check name availability: Our Illinois LLC Name page has information about how to use the business entity search tool. It also explains details about name rules in Illinois.

Step 2: File the Illinois LLC name change form

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

(It’s called this because you’re amending your Illinois Articles of Organization. The Articles of Organization are the original LLC formation documents filed in Illinois.)

How to file the Articles of Amendment in Illinois

First, go to the LLC Articles of Amendment Online Business Services filing.

The first page outlines the filing process and general requirements. There’s nothing to do here, just scroll to the bottom and click “File“.

LLC Articles of Amendment Effecting a Name Change

For the next item, you’ll need to get the Illinois filing number for your LLC. You can find this with a quick Business Entity Search.

How to use the Business Entity Search:
Go to the Business Entity Search.

  1. Choose Name for the search method.
  2. Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name in the Search box. Click Submit.
  3. Find your LLC in the list of results and write down the File Number (it will be an 8-digit number).

Enter your LLC’s File Number and click Continue.

Confirmation of LLC Effecting Name Change

This page shows the business entity record for the File Number you entered.

Confirm this is your LLC by clicking “Yes“.

Then click Continue.

New LLC Name

Enter your new LLC name. Make sure to include a designator (like “LLC”).

Click Continue.

The next page shows you business names that may be the same or similar to the new LLC name you entered. Check this list to make sure your name is unique (distinguishable).

Then click Continue again to proceed.

Attestation (Signature)

On this page, you’ll tell the Secretary of State who is filing and signing the Articles of Amendment.

To make it quicker, the system shows you the Managers and Members that are already listed for your LLC. But you don’t have to be one of those Managers or Members to file this document.

From the list below, please indicate which manager is submitting this report:
You can select one of the existing LLC Members or Managers, or select Other if you aren’t listed.

Is the above selected person a company or entity other than a natural person?
Click No to tell the system you’re an individual.

If you selected “Other” above, you’ll need to enter your name and title. Your title could be: Member, Manager, or Organizer.

(Confused by these terms? Check out LLC Officer Titles and LLC Organizer vs LLC Member for more information.)

Please review the data you entered

This page will show you the current LLC name and the new LLC name that you entered.

Confirm everything is correct, and click Continue.

Select Processing

On this page, you can choose to expedite your filing.

Normal processing time for an Illinois online business filing is 5-10 business days.

If you need your name change approved faster, you can pay extra for expedited processing. The fee is an extra $100 for 24-hour turnaround (total fee = $150).

Choose a processing speed, and click Continue.

Payment Billing Information

Enter your billing information.

Note: Information you enter on this screen isn’t public record. Your email address is only used to send you a receipt.

Click Continue.

Now enter your credit card information and submit your payment 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 vary, but on average, it takes 5-10 business days for an Illinois business name change to be approved.

When you file online, you’ll receive your name change approval by email.

Reminder: Changing your LLC name with the Secretary of State still leaves your old LLC name in place everywhere else. Essentially, you’ve only changed your LLC name with one part of the state government, and you need to update it everywhere else.

Step 3: Change your Illinois LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Illinois 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 Illinois it’s called the Department of Revenue, and this is who you’ll update with your new LLC name.

Illinois requires all businesses to register with the Department of Revenue and obtain a Certificate of Registration.

Typically, you can update your LLC name on the Business Registration in one of three ways:

  • online
  • by mail
  • by phone

But it differs based on your specific business, 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 Illinois 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:

Matt Horwitz, founder of LLC University®
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.

Illinois 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: Illinois Registrations, Licenses and Permits.

And contact your local government (like a city clerk or county clerk) for the process to update any local business permits. You can find your county clerk on the Illinois Association of County Board Members website, and you’ll need to look up your township or city, too.

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

Tip: We recommend making a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. Enter the place you are changing your LLC name, their contact information, and maybe a notes section. Here’s an LLC name change checklist that you can use: Google Docs | Excel

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:

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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois FAQs

How much does an LLC name change cost in Illinois?

An LLC name change in Illinois costs $50.

This is the filing fee for the Articles of Amendment, the official form used to change your Illinois LLC name.

If you’d like to learn about all the Illinois LLC costs, please see Illinois LLC Costs.

Can I file my Illinois LLC name change by mail?

Yes, you can file the Articles of Amendment by mail to change your Illinois LLC name.

Download and complete the Articles of Amendment form and mail to the Secretary of State.

How many times can I change my Illinois LLC name?

You can change the name of your Illinois LLC as many times as you want. The state doesn’t care, as long as you pay the filing fee.

You’re allowed to change the name of your Limited Liability Company for any reason. The Amendment form doesn’t ask you why you want to change the name. No Illinois law limits when you can file an Amendment to change the name of a company.

Who can change the Illinois LLC name?

Generally speaking, the LLC Members (owners) can change the LLC’s name.

So, as long as all the LLC Members agree, you can go ahead and file the Amendment.

Technically, the LLC Members should vote to agree on the new name. However, a vote can be something informal, like an email or phone call.

Do I need a new EIN if I change the name of my Illinois LLC?

No, you don’t need a new EIN number.

Getting a new EIN Number will actually cause confusion at the IRS, and that can create issues for your business.

So don’t get a new EIN number for your LLC.

Instead, you will simply change your Illinois LLC name with the IRS (see above for instructions).

Do I need a lawyer to change the Illinois LLC legal name?

No, you don’t need to hire a lawyer. You can file the Articles of Amendment yourself or you can hire a company to do it for you.

If you want to hire a company, we recommend MyCompanyWorks.

Need to save time? We recommend hiring MyCompanyWorks ($99 + state fee) to file your LLC name change.

How do I change my LLC name in another state?

You can change an LLC name in any state. Click the link below to learn how to change your LLC’s name in that state.

 
Matt Horwitz
Matt Horwitz
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.

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