Can I change the name of my LLC in New Hampshire?
Absolutely! You can easily change your New Hampshire LLC name.
The first step is to file a form called the Certificate of Amendment with the Department of State and wait for it to be approved. This is how you officially change your LLC name in New Hampshire.
The filing fee for a Certificate of Amendment in New Hampshire is $35.
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 New Hampshire?
- Check if your new LLC name is available
- File the New Hampshire LLC Amendment form (and wait for approval)
- Update the IRS
- Update the NH Department of Revenue Administration
- 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 New Hampshire?
It costs $35 to change your LLC name in New Hampshire. This is the filing fee for the Certificate of Amendment form.
The fee is the same whether you file the form online or by mail.
How do I change my New Hampshire LLC name?
In order to change your LLC name, you must file a Certificate of Amendment with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. This officially updates your legal entity (your Limited Liability Company) on the state records.
Note: The New Hampshire Secretary of State 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. (Technically, you can also file by mail. However, it’s slower and the state prefers online filings.)
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.
New Hampshire business owners can file documents for their own companies online.
But, because filing New Hampshire LLC amendments 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 New Hampshire LLC name is available
Before filing your New Hampshire amendment form (the Certificate of Amendment), you should check that your new LLC name is available in New Hampshire.
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 New Hampshire LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search.
Check name availability: Our New Hampshire LLC Name page has information about how to use the business entity search tool. It also explains details about name rules in New Hampshire.
Step 2: File the New Hampshire LLC name change form
The New Hampshire LLC name change form is called the Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Formation.
(It’s called this because you’re amending your New Hampshire Certificate of Formation.)
How to file a Certificate of Amendment in New Hampshire
Get Started
Go to the New Hampshire Online Filing System: NH QuickStart
Login or create an account if you don’t have one.
From the dashboard, click Business Amendment.
(If you can’t find it, or your dashboard looks different, try this link: Business Amendment Filing)
Business Search
Look up your LLC’s record. Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name and click Search.
Select your LLC in the search results, and click Continue.
File a Business Information Change instead?
An Alert will pop up letting you know that certain changes can be made using a Business Information Change form instead of the Amendment filing. But you can’t use that form to change the name of your LLC. So just click OK to close the popup.
Article First: Business Name
This shows your current LLC name. There’s nothing to do here.
New Business Name
Enter the desired new LLC name in the New Business Name field. Make sure to include a designator (ending).
In New Hampshire, you can use these designators: LLC or L.L.C.
Principal Purpose
You can skip this section.
Or you can change your LLC’s NAICS code here if you want.
Duration
You can skip this section.
Most people choose a Perpetual duration. This means your LLC exists forever, until you choose to shut it down. You can change that selection here, if you want.
Management Style
You can skip this section.
If you want, you can change the management type of your LLC.
A New Hampshire LLC can be Member-managed or Manager-managed.
Manager/Member Information
You can skip this section.
Or, you can add, edit or remove Managers and Members of your LLC here if you need to. (Learn more about LLC Officer Titles)
Professional Limited Liability Company
Skip this section.
Check the box only if you are changing from a regular LLC to a PLLC. That’s very uncommon, however.
Principal Office Information
You can skip this section.
Or, you can update the Business Address (Principal Office) and Mailing Address, if you need to.
Business Email Address
You can skip this section.
Or, you can update the business email address and phone number, if you want to. You can also add an alternate email address for the New Hampshire Department of State to send notifications about deadlines and filings.
General Upload
You can skip this section.
A normal LLC name change doesn’t need any uploaded documents.
Certify
Click the box to certify that you’re authorized to file the Amendment.
Effective Date
Most people choose: This statement will be effective on the date/time of electronic submission.
That means your LLC name change will go into effect when it’s approved by the Department of State.
Alternatively, you can click the second option and set a specific date up to 90 days in the future.
Signature
Click Individual.
Select your Title from the dropdown menu:
- If your LLC is Member-managed, a Member must sign the filing.
- If your LLC is Manager-managed, a Manager must sign the filing.
- If you aren’t a Member or Manager but were authorized to file the Amendment on the LLC’s behalf, select Authorized Signer.
Enter your First Name and Last Name to electronically sign the filing.
Click Continue to proceed.
Business Amendment – Review
Review the information you’ve provided and make sure there are no typos. Click the Back button if you need to make changes.
If everything looks good, click Add To Shopping Cart and Check Out to continue.
Order a Certificate of Good Standing?
A popup will appear asking if you also want to order a Certificate of Good Standing. You can select Yes or No. There is an extra fee ($5) for a Certificate of Good Standing.
Shopping Cart
Click Proceed to Checkout.
Pay using your credit card, and submit your filing to the state.
Wait for approval from the Department of State
After submitting your Certificate of Amendment to the state, please wait for approval.
Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 7-10 business days for your New Hampshire 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 Department 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 New Hampshire LLC name with the IRS
After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your New Hampshire 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 Administration
After your new LLC name is approved, you need to update your business’s account with the state’s tax department (the NH Dept. of Revenue Administration).
Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. However, in New Hampshire it’s called the Department of Revenue Administration, 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 Administration. You can ask about the process to update your business name.
Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name
Besides updating your New Hampshire LLC name with the IRS and Department of Revenue Administration 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.
New Hampshire 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: NH Licensed, Certified and Registered Occupations
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 NH 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire FAQs
How much does an LLC name change cost in New Hampshire?
An LLC name change in New Hampshire costs $35.
This is the filing fee for the Certificate of Amendment, the official form used to change your New Hampshire LLC name.
If you’d like to learn about all the New Hampshire LLC costs, please see New Hampshire LLC Costs.
Can I file my New Hampshire LLC name change by mail?
Yes, you can file the Certificate of Amendment by mail to change your New Hampshire LLC name.
Download and complete the Certificate of Amendment form and mail to the Department of State.
How many times can I change my New Hampshire LLC name?
You can change the name of your New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire law limits when you can file an Amendment to change the name of a company.
Who can change the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire LLC name with the IRS (see above for instructions).
Do I need a lawyer to change the New Hampshire LLC legal name?
No, you don’t need to hire a lawyer. You can file the Certificate of 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.