Change LLC Name in Missouri

Can I change the name of my LLC in Missouri?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Missouri LLC name.

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

The filing fee for the Amendment of Articles of Organization in Missouri is $25.

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 Missouri?

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 Missouri 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 Missouri?

It costs $25 to change your LLC name in Missouri. This is the filing fee for the Amendment of Articles of Organization form.

How do I change my Missouri LLC name?

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

Note: The Missouri Secretary of State is responsible for LLC formation and administration, including name changes.

We provide step-by-step instructions on how to file the Amendment of Articles of Organization by mail. (Missouri doesn’t have online business filings for the Amendment form.)

Can I change my LLC name myself?

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

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

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

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

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

Step 2: File the Missouri LLC name change form

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

(It’s called this because you’re amending your Missouri Articles of Organization. Your company’s initial Articles of Organization is the Missouri Limited Liability Company form that creates the business entity.)

How to file the Amendment of Articles of Organization in Missouri

Get started

Download the Amendment of Articles of Organization form.

You can complete the form on your computer (type in your answers) and then print it out to sign. Or, you can print it out and complete by hand in black ink.

Before you start the form, you’ll need your LLC’s Charter Number.

Charter #

Enter your LLC’s Charter Number.

1. Current name of LLC

Enter LLC’s current name. (Not what you’re changing it to.)

2. Effective date of Amendment

Enter the date you want the LLC name change to be effective.

If you leave this blank, the filing will be effective when the Missouri Secretary of State approves it. (Most people do this.)

Alternatively, you can date your filing for up to 90 days in the future. (You can’t backdate the filing.)

3. Date of occurrence

This means the date the LLC Members voted to approve the new name. To keep things simple, you can just enter the date you’re completing the form.

Remember, the vote to approve the new name can be as informal as a phone call or email chain where everyone agrees.

4. The Articles of Organization hereby amended as follows:

Enter this text

1. The name of the limited liability company is amended. The new legal name is: [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: Annemarie wants to change the name of her company to KC Kitchen LLC. In Item 4, she will type: “1. The name of the limited liability company is amended. The new legal name is: KC Kitchen LLC.”

5. Amendment is required to be filed because:

Check the box for “a change in the name of the limited liability company“.

6. This amendment is:

Check the box for “required to be filed under the provisions of RSMO Chapter 347“.

Why? The Missouri LLC Act (Chapter 347, Section 041) says you have to file an Amendment if the name of the LLC changes.

Name and address to return filed document:

Make sure you fill out this box, or the Secretary of State won’t know where to send your approved copy.

Enter your name and address.

Signatures

At least one person (an LLC Member, or Manager if the LLC is Manager-managed) must sign the Amendment.

Sign, print your name and date.

File by Mail

1. Prepare a check or money order for $25 payable to the “Missouri Secretary of State”.
2. Send the payment, and the signed Amendment of Articles of Organization, to:

Missouri Secretary of State
Corporations Division
PO Box 778
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Wait for approval from the Secretary of State

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

Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 3-4 weeks (plus mail time) for your Missouri business name change to be approved.

When you file by mail, you’ll receive your name change approval back in the mail. The Secretary of State will send a stamped, approved copy of the Amendment.

Step 3: Change your Missouri LLC name with the IRS

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

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. In Missouri 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 Missouri LLC name with the IRS and Missouri Department of Revenue business tax department, you’ll also want to contact the following places and let them know about the name change. Your company bank account is the most important one.

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.

Missouri 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:

• Missouri Division of Professional Registration: List of Boards
• Missouri Dept. of Agriculture: Business Licenses

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 Missouri Association of Counties 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

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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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.