Change LLC Name in Massachusetts

Can I change the name of my LLC in Massachusetts?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Massachusetts LLC name.

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

The filing fee for a Certificate of Amendment in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?

It costs $100 to change your LLC name in Massachusetts. This is the filing fee for the Certificate of Amendment form.

How do I change my Massachusetts LLC name?

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

Note: The Massachusetts Secretary of State – Corporations Division is responsible for LLC formation and administration, including name changes.

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

Our instructions only describe how to change your LLC’s name. If you want to make other changes to your business information (like a new Registered Agent, or changing the business address (aka principal office address), you’ll need to do other, different steps.

Can I change my LLC name myself?

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

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

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

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

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

Step 2: File the Massachusetts LLC name change form

The Massachusetts LLC name change form is called the Certificate of Amendment.

(It’s called this because you’re amending your Massachusetts Certificate of Organization. The Certificate of Organization is the document which officially created your LLC originally.)

How to file a Certificate of Amendment in Massachusetts

Get Started

Go to the Corporations Online Filing System.

Login with your Customer ID Number (“CID”) and PIN.
(If you don’t have your CID & PIN, you can request them from the Secretary of State via email.)

In the list of forms in the Filing box, select “Certificate of Amendment“.

Click Submit to continue.

Certificate of Amendment

Item 1.a. Exact name of the LLC

There’s nothing to do here. This shows your LLC’s current name.

Item 1.b. The exact name of the LLC as amended

Enter your desired new LLC name here.

Make sure to include an allowable designator (either “LLC” or “L.L.C.”).

If you’re only changing the LLC’s name, you can scroll down to item 10.

If you want to make other changes to your LLC, edit the information in the appropriate place(s).

Item 10. State the amendments

In this box, you’ll state what part(s) of the Certificate of Formation are being amended.

Enter this text:

The name of the Limited Liability Company is amended. 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: Terry wants to change the name of their company to Painting Pros LLC. In Item 3, they will type: “The name of the Limited Liability Company is amended. New Legal Name: Painting Pros LLC.”

Item 11. Effective date

This is optional.

If you leave this blank, your LLC name change will go into effect when the Secretary of State approves it. Most people leave this blank to choose this option.

Alternatively, you can choose a specific future date by entering it here. In that case, your LLC name change won’t go into effect until that date.

Filer’s Contact Information

Enter your name, mailing address, phone and email address.

Don’t worry, this information won’t go on public record. The Division of Corporations will use this to contact you if there are any issues with your filing.

Signature

A person authorized by the LLC must sign documents filed in Massachusetts. You don’t have to be a Member (owner) or Manager, just an authorized person.

Type your name in the box to electronically sign the filing.

Then click the button to Accept the filing terms.

Review Certificate of Amendment

Check the information you’ve entered.

If everything looks good, click Accept to proceed with the filing.

If you need to go back and edit anything, click the Make Corrections button instead.

Payment Screen

Click Enter Payment Details to proceed to the payment process.

Enter your billing and credit card information and submit your filing to the state.

Wait for approval from the Secretary of State

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

Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 1-2 business days for your Massachusetts business name change to be approved.

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

Step 3: Change your Massachusetts LLC name with the IRS

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

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. In Massachusetts 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

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has a guide on How to Update Your Name. But the process differs depending on what registrations your business needs, 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 Massachusetts LLC name with the IRS and Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts 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:

• Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
• Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure

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 city or town clerk on the Massachusetts Municipal Association website.

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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.