Change LLC Name in Iowa

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Can I change the name of my LLC in Iowa?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Iowa 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 Iowa.

The filing fee for an Articles of Amendment in Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa?

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

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

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

Note: The Iowa 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 submissions.)

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 Iowa 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 Iowa LLC name is available

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

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

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

Step 2: File the Iowa LLC name change form

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

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

How to file an Articles of Amendment in Iowa

Login and get started

Go to Iowa FastTrack Filing.

You’ll need to login, or create an account if you don’t have one.

Click the “Business Filings” menu at the top of the screen, and then click “File a document“.

Scroll down to the Existing Entities heading and click the form “Articles of Amendment”.

Business Entities Search

In the popup that appears, locate your LLC’s record. Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name in the Business Name field and click Search. Then select your LLC from the search results.

Amended Certificate of Organization

The name of the company is:
This is automatically completed with your current LLC name. You don’t need to do anything.

The amended name of the company:
Enter your new LLC name here.

Next, click Check Name.

You should see a message that the “Corporate Name is Available”.

If the message instead says “Entity Name May not be Available”, review the matching results. You can still file the Amendment with the name you choose. But if the names aren’t different enough (aka distinguishable), your filing will be rejected.

Date of filing of the certificate of organization:
This is automatically completed with your LLC’s information. You don’t need to do anything.

Duration:
This is automatically set with your LLC’s information.

You can change it, but that’s uncommon. Most people choose a Perpetual duration (your LLC exists forever, until you take action to close it down (aka “dissolve” the LLC)).

The principal office is:
This is automatically completed with your LLC’s information.

You can edit this if you need to, or do nothing to keep it the same.

Effective Date
Most people set this to the day they’re filing the Amendment. That means the name change will go into effect as soon as the Secretary of State approves the filing.

Alternatively, you can choose a date up to 90 days in the future. You can’t back-date the filing.

The changes the amendment makes to the certificate as most recently amended or restated:
Enter this text:

The name of the Limited Liability Company is amended.

PDF Upload
This is optional. You don’t have to upload anything to file a name change amendment.

Signature(s)
Click the box to agree to the terms.
Enter your name in the Authorized Person field.

Click Review and Pay.

Review the information you’ve entered, and make changes if needed.

Then, click Setup Payment Method and enter your payment information. Now submit your filing to the state.

Congratulations! Your Iowa LLC name change has been filed for processing.

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, Iowa online business filings are approved in 1 business day. So your business name change should be approved pretty quickly.

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 Iowa LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Iowa 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 Iowa it’s called the Department of Revenue, 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 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 Iowa LLC name with the IRS and Iowa 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.

Iowa 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: IASourceLink Business License Navigator.

And contact your local government (like a city clerk or county clerk) for the process to update any local business permits. Make sure to check with your county as well as the town or city.

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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa FAQs

How much does an LLC name change cost in Iowa?

An LLC name change in Iowa costs $50.

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

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

Can I file my Iowa LLC name change by mail?

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

The State of Iowa doesn’t provide an official Articles of Amendment form. Instead, they accept any Amendment form as long as it meets the requirements of the Iowa LLC Act Chapter 489, Section 202.

We created a Articles of Amendment form you can use that meets these requirements:
Free Iowa LLC Articles of Amendment form

How many times can I change my Iowa LLC name?

You can change the name of your Iowa 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 Iowa law limits when you can file an Amendment to change the name of a company.

Who can change the Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa LLC name with the IRS (see above for instructions).

Do I need a lawyer to change the Iowa 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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