Change LLC Name in Kentucky

Can I change the name of my LLC in Kentucky?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

The filing fee for the Kentucky LLC Articles of Amendment is $40.

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 Kentucky?

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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky?

It costs $40 to change your LLC name in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky LLC name?

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

Note: The Kentucky 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 by mail. (Kentucky doesn’t currently allow the Articles of Amendment to be filed online. You can make changes to the Registered Agent or principal office address online, but not the entity’s name.)

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 Kentucky can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

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

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

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

Step 2: File the Kentucky LLC name change form

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

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

How to file the Articles of Amendment in Kentucky

Download the Articles of Amendment (Form LLA).

Tip: You can complete this form on the computer, and then print it out to sign. Or, you can print out the form and complete it by hand using black ink.

Name Amendment

1. The name of the limited liability company on record with the Office of the Secretary of State is:
Enter the current name of your LLC. (Not the name you’re changing it to.)

2. The text of each amendment adopted:
Enter the following text:

Article 1. Name of the Limited Liability Company. New Legal Name: [new name of LLC].

Just replace “[new name of LLC]” with the name you want to use. And make sure to include an appropriate designator (like “LLC”) at the end of your LLC’s name.

For example: Jonas wants to change the name of his company to Wheeze Sports LLC. In Item 2, he would type or write: “Article 1. Name of the Limited Liability Company. New Legal Name: Wheeze Sports LLC.”

Amendment Adoption

3. The date of adoption of each amendment was:
Enter today’s date (the date you’re completing or filing the form).

4. Adoption of the amendment:
Check the correct box to indicate who adopted this amendment.

• If your LLC is Manager-managed, check the box for Managers.
  If your LLC is Member-managed, check the box for Members.

(If you’re not sure or these terms are confusing, check out Member-managed vs. Manager-managed LLC for help.)

Signatures

6. The individual signing these articles of amendment is:
Check the correct box to indicate who is signing the filing (a Manager or a Member).

Signatures
Print your name in Printed Name.

Enter your Title:

• If you’re a business owner of the LLC and the LLC is Member-managed, enter “Member“
• If you’re an LLC Manager and the LLC is Manager-managed, enter “Manager“.

Enter the Date that you’re signing the form.

After you print the form, sign it.

File by mail

1. Prepare a check or money order for $40 payable to the “Kentucky State Treasurer”.
2. Send the payment, and the signed Articles of Amendment, to:

Secretary of State
Division of Business Filings
PO Box 718
Frankfort KY 40602-0718

Wait for approval from the Secretary of State

After submitting your Kentucky LLC Amendment to the state, please wait for approval.

Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 1 business day (plus mail time) for your Kentucky business name change to be approved.

When you file by mail, you’ll receive your name change approval back via mail.

Step 3: Change your Kentucky LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky LLC name with the IRS and Kentucky 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.

Kentucky 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:

• Kentucky Occupational Licenses and Permits
• Kentucky Department of Professional Licensing

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 and town or city government on the Kentucky Local Governments page.

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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.