Can I change the name of my LLC in Louisiana?
Absolutely! You can easily change your Louisiana LLC name.
The first step is to file a form called the Name Change Amendment with the Secretary of State and wait for it to be approved. This is how you officially change your LLC name in Louisiana.
The filing fee for a Name Change Amendment in Louisiana is $100.
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 Louisiana?
- Check if your new LLC name is available
- File the Louisiana LLC Amendment form (and wait for approval)
- Update the IRS
- Update the Louisiana Department of Revenue
- Update financial institutions (credit card companies, banks)
- Update business licenses
- Update other places (branding materials, business accounts, etc.)
How much does it cost to change an LLC name in Louisiana?
It costs $100 to change your LLC name in Louisiana. This is the filing fee for the Name Change Amendment form.
How do I change my Louisiana LLC name?
In order to change your LLC name, you must file a Name Change Amendment with the Louisiana Secretary of State. This officially updates your legal entity (your Limited Liability Company) on the state records.
Note: The Louisiana Secretary of State is responsible for formation and administration of Limited Liability Companies, including name changes.
We provide step-by-step instructions on how to file the Name Change Amendment online.
Our instructions only describe how to change your LLC’s name. If you want to change other business entity details (like the mailing address, Registered Agent, etc.) you will need to use a different form.
Can I change my LLC name myself?
You can file the Name Change Amendment yourself or you can hire a company to do this for you.
Because the process to file Amendments in Louisiana 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 Louisiana LLC name is available
Before filing your amendment form (the Name Change Amendment), you should check that your new LLC name is available in Louisiana.
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 Louisiana LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entities search.
Check name availability: Our Louisiana LLC Name page has information about how to use the business entity search tool. It also explains details about name rules in Louisiana.
Step 2: File the Louisiana LLC name change form
The Louisiana LLC name change form is called the Name Change Amendment.
(It’s called this because you’re amending your Louisiana Articles of Organization.)
How to file a Name Change Amendment in Louisiana
Get Started
Go to the Louisiana geauxBIZ filing page.
You’ll need to sign in, or create an account if you don’t have one.
On the geauxBIZ dashboard, click the Get Started button.
Next, click the button for File an amendment with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Look Up Your LLC
Now you’ll locate your LLC’s record in the Secretary of State system.
Before you continue: Use the Louisiana Business Entity Search to find your LLC’s charter number.
This will be an 8-digit number with the letter K at the end.
On the geauxBIZ screen, enter your LLC’s Charter Number and click Search.
Now the system will show you a page with your LLC’s name at the top. It contains your LLC’s business entity information as well as several links for filings and activities.
Click File Name Change.
Name Change Amendment Information
There’s nothing to do on this first page. It simply shows your LLC’s current information.
Click Next to continue.
Name Change Amendment Form
New Name
Enter the new LLC name. Make sure to include a designator (ending).
In Louisiana, you can use these designators:
- LC
- L.C.
- LLC (most common)
- L.L.C.
- Limited Liability Company
Date Amendment Adopted
Enter today’s date.
Tip: You could enter a different date if you wanted to. Sometimes a business attorney will tell you to enter a specific date (like the first of the month, for example). But most people just enter today’s date.
Manner of Adoption
Choose the appropriate option for who adopted the amendment.
- If your LLC is Member-managed, select Unanimously approved by Members.
- If your LLC is Manager-managed, select Unanimously approved by Managers.
(If you’re not sure, or these terms are confusing, check out Member-managed vs Manager-managed LLCs.)
Electronic Signature
Type your name to electronically sign the filing.
Title
You must sign as either a Member (for a Member-managed LLC) or a Manager (for a Manager-managed LLC).
Enter your title.
Click Next to continue.
Review & Confirmation
Review the information you’ve entered. Make changes if needed, and then click Next to proceed.
Optional: Secure Business Filings PIN If you have one, you can enter your Secure Business Filing (SBF) PIN here.
Note: You can register for an SBF PIN (an extra layer of security) if you’d like, however, this isn’t required.
If you don’t have an SBF PIN, that’s okay. You can still file the Name Change Amendment. Just leave this field blank.
Expedite Filing
You can choose to expedite your LLC name change filing.
Normal processing time is 3-5 business days. If you need your LLC name change approved faster, you can pay an extra $50 to have it approved in 3 hours (during business hours).
Select No if you want to keep the normal processing time and pay only $100.
Select Yes if you want your LLC name change approved today (you’ll pay $150 total).
Payment
Choose your payment method: Credit Card or Bank Account.
Click Checkout & File.
Enter your payment information and submit your filing.
Wait for approval from the Secretary of State
After submitting your Name Change Amendment to the state, please wait for approval.
Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 3-5 business days for your Louisiana 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 Louisiana LLC name with the IRS
After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana LLC name with the IRS and Louisiana 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.
Louisiana 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: Louisiana Occupational Licenses.
And contact your local government (like a city clerk or parish clerk) for the process to update any local business permits. You can find your parish clerk on the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association website, and you’ll need to look up your town 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:
- 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana FAQs
How much does an LLC name change cost in Louisiana?
An LLC name change in Louisiana costs $100.
This is the required filing fee for the Name Change Amendment, the official form used to change your Louisiana LLC name.
If you’d like to learn about all the Louisiana LLC costs, please see Louisiana LLC Costs.
Can I file my Louisiana LLC name change by mail?
No, you can’t file the Name Change Amendment by mail to change your Louisiana LLC name.
The state only accepts online filings for Name Change Amendments.
How many times can I change my Louisiana LLC name?
You can change the name of your Louisiana 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 Louisiana law limits when you can file an Amendment to change the name of a company.
Who can change the Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana LLC name with the IRS (see above for instructions).
Do I need a lawyer to change the Louisiana LLC legal name?
No, you don’t need to hire a lawyer. You can file the Name Change 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.
Alabama LLC Name Change
Alaska LLC Name Change
Arizona LLC Name Change
Arkansas LLC Name Change
California LLC Name Change
Colorado LLC Name Change
Connecticut LLC Name Change
Delaware LLC Name Change
DC LLC Name Change
Florida LLC Name Change
Georgia LLC Name Change
Hawaii LLC Name Change
Idaho LLC Name Change
Illinois LLC Name Change
Indiana LLC Name Change
Iowa LLC Name Change
Kansas LLC Name Change
Kentucky LLC Name Change
Louisiana LLC Name Change
Maine LLC Name Change
Maryland LLC Name Change
Massachusetts LLC Name Change
Michigan LLC Name Change
Minnesota LLC Name Change
Mississippi LLC Name Change
Missouri LLC Name Change
Montana LLC Name Change
Nebraska LLC Name Change
Nevada LLC Name Change
New Hampshire LLC Name Change
New Jersey LLC Name Change
New Mexico LLC Name Change
New York LLC Name Change
North Carolina LLC Name Change
North Dakota LLC Name Change
Ohio LLC Name Change
Oklahoma LLC Name Change
Oregon LLC Name Change
Pennsylvania LLC Name Change
Rhode Island LLC Name Change
South Carolina LLC Name Change
South Dakota LLC Name Change
Tennessee LLC Name Change
Texas LLC Name Change
Utah LLC Name Change
Vermont LLC Name Change
Virginia LLC Name Change
Washington LLC Name Change
West Virginia LLC Name Change
Wisconsin LLC Name Change
Wyoming LLC Name Change
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.