Can I change the name of my LLC in Missouri?
Absolutely! You can easily change your Missouri LLC name.
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.
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.
What are the steps for changing an LLC name in Missouri?
- Check if your new LLC name is available
- File the Amendment form (and wait for approval)
- Update the IRS
- Update the Missouri 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 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.
Need to save time? We recommend hiring MyCompanyWorks ($99 + state fee) to file your LLC name change.
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.
Check name availability: Our Missouri LLC Name page has information about how to use the business entity search tool. It also explains details about name rules in Missouri.
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.
How to get a Missouri LLC’s Charter Number
- Go to the Missouri Business Entity Search.
- Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name in the Business Name field and click Search.
- Find your LLC in the search results. Make a note of the Charter Number (it should start with “LC” followed by several digits.)
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
- Prepare a check or money order for $25 payable to the “Missouri Secretary of State”.
- 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.
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 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
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 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
How much does an LLC name change cost in Missouri?
An LLC name change in Missouri costs $25.
This is the filing fee for the Amendment of Articles of Organization, the official form used to change your Missouri LLC name.
If you’d like to learn about all the Missouri LLC costs, please see Missouri LLC Costs.
Can I file my Missouri LLC name change online?
No, you can’t file the Amendment of Articles of Organization by mail to change your Missouri LLC name.
The Missouri Secretary of State doesn’t offer online filing for the Amendment form yet.
How many times can I change my Missouri LLC name?
You can change the name of your Missouri 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 Missouri law limits when you can file an Amendment to change the name of a company.
Who can change the Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri LLC name with the IRS (see above for instructions).
Do I need a lawyer to change the Missouri LLC legal name?
No, you don’t need to hire a lawyer. You can file the Amendment of Articles of Organization 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.