Can I change the name of my LLC in New Jersey?
Absolutely! You can easily change your New Jersey 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 Certificate of Amendment with the Division of Revenue and wait for it to be approved. This is how you officially change your LLC name in New Jersey.
The filing fee for a Certificate of Amendment in New Jersey 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.
What are the steps for changing an LLC name in New Jersey?
- Check if your new LLC name is available
- File the Amendment form (and wait for approval)
- Update the IRS
- Update the NJ Division of Taxation
- 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 Jersey?
It costs $100 to change your LLC name in New Jersey. 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 Jersey LLC name?
In order to change your LLC name, you must file a Certificate of Amendment with the New Jersey Division of Revenue. This officially updates your legal entity (your Limited Liability Company) on the state records.
Note: The New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services responsible for LLC formation and administration, including name changes. (In most states, it’s the Secretary of State. New Jersey is different.)
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 Jersey allows a business owner to file their own amendment forms.
But, because the Amendment filing in New Jersey 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.
The cost for an amendment filing service (aka business charter amendment service) varies, but we think $99 is a good deal for the quality of service you get from MyCompanyWorks.
Step 1: Make sure your new New Jersey LLC name is available
Before filing your New Jersey amendment form (the Certificate of Amendment), you should check that your new LLC name is available in New Jersey.
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 Jersey LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search.
Check name availability: Our New Jersey LLC Name page has information about how to use the business entity search tool. It also explains details about name rules in New Jersey.
Step 2: File the New Jersey LLC name change form
The New Jersey LLC name change form is called the Certificate of Amendment.
(It’s called this because you’re amending your New Jersey Certificate of Formation, the business formation documents you filed to start the NJ LLC.)
How to file a Certificate of Amendment in New Jersey
Before you begin:
To start the Amendment filing, you’ll need your NJ Business Entity Identification Number and the date your LLC was originally formed in New Jersey.
Here’s how to find this information:
- Go to the New Jersey Business Name Search
- Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name and click Search).
- Find your LLC in the search results.
You’ll need the following information:
- the Entity ID (this will be a 10 digit number)
- the Incorporated Date (only the month and year)
Get Started
Go to the Business Charter Amendment Service.
Under File an Amendment or an Alternate Business Name, click the Start the filing process button.
Identify Business
First, you’ll locate your LLC’s record.
NJ Business Entity Identification Number
Enter your NJ LLC’s Entity ID (Business Entity Identification Number).
Business Type
Select NJ Limited Liability Company (LLC) from the dropdown menu.
Incorporation/Formation/Authorization Date
Enter your LLC’s Incorporated Date (date of formation).
Click Continue to proceed.
Business Amendments
Next, you’ll select the form you want to file.
Click the button L-102 for the Certificate of Amendment form.
Note: In New Jersey, an “Alternate Name” is a DBA. Learn more about DBAs for LLCs.
Filing Method Acknowledgement
Click I Agree to continue.
This warning is letting you know that if you upload any documents (like a PDF of an Amendment drafted by your business attorney), the information on that document must match what you enter in the online filing system.
Business Information
There’s nothing to do in this section.
It simply displays your LLC’s information in the NJ state records.
Amendment Information
Do you wish to change your Business Name?
Click Yes.
If you only need to change your LLC’s name, click No under the other questions in this section.
If you want to make other changes, click Yes under the appropriate question(s).
Name Change Only:
Our step-by-step instructions only describe how to change your LLC’s name.
You can use the Certificate of Amendment to make other changes to your LLC (like the Registered Agent, Members and Addresses). But to keep things simple, we only discuss the name change process.
Click Continue to proceed.
Business Information
Click the Change Business Name button under your LLC’s name.
In the popup window, you’ll check whether the new LLC name is available.
Enter the new business name in the box.
And then select a designator from the dropdown menu. (A designator is the ending, like “LLC”.)
Click Search to check if the name is available for use in New Jersey.
If the name is available, you can click Save to continue the Amendment filing with the name you entered.
If the name isn’t available, you’ll need to enter a different name and try again.
Back on the Business Information page, click Continue to proceed.
Additional Article Changes
You can skip this page. You don’t need to add any other Articles, Other Provisions, or Upload any files for an LLC name change. Click Continue at the bottom of the page.
Review
Check the information you entered to make sure there are no typos. Click Edit if you need to make changes.
When everything looks good, click Continue to proceed.
Signer Information
Click the box to agree to the terms.
Then enter your First Name and Last Name to electronically sign the filing.
Order Total
Payment Type
Select your payment method from the dropdown menu (credit card or e-check).
Then click Continue to proceed.
Payment
Enter your billing information and credit card or bank details. Submit your payment to the state.
Congratulations, your New Jersey Certificate of Amendment has been submitted for processing!
Wait for approval from the Division of Revenue
After submitting your Certificate of Amendment to the state, please wait for approval.
Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 1 business day for your New Jersey 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 Division of Revenue 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 Jersey LLC name with the IRS
After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your New Jersey 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 Division of Taxation
After your new LLC name is approved, you need to update your business’s account with the state’s tax department (the New Jersey Division of Taxation).
Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. In New Jersey it’s called the Division of Taxation, and this is who you’ll update with your new LLC name.
The New Jersey Business Registration is required for every LLC in New Jersey. You must update your Business Registration Certificate with your new LLC name.
For more information, check out the NJ Department of Taxation Changing Business Information page.
The process to update your LLC name varies depending on what type of Business Registration(s) you have, so we recommend you call the Division of Taxation. You can ask about the process to update your business registration.
Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name
Besides updating your New Jersey LLC name with the IRS and New Jersey Division of Taxation Business Registration, 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 Jersey doesn’t have a general state business license requirement (other than the Business Registration through the Division of Taxation, which we discussed above in Step 4). 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:
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 and city clerk on the NJ.gov County and Municipal Web Sites website.
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 Jersey 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 NJ 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 Jersey FAQs
How much does an LLC name change cost in New Jersey?
An LLC name change in New Jersey costs $100.
This is the filing fee for the Certificate of Amendment, the official form used to change your New Jersey LLC name.
If you’d like to learn about all the New Jersey LLC costs, please see New Jersey LLC Costs.
Can I file my New Jersey LLC name change by mail?
Yes, you can file the Certificate of Amendment by mail to change your New Jersey LLC name.
Download and complete the Certificate of Amendment form and mail to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.
How many times can I change my New Jersey LLC name?
You can change the name of your New Jersey 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 Jersey law limits when you can file an Amendment to change the name of a company.
Who can change the New Jersey 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 Jersey 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 Jersey LLC name with the IRS (see above for instructions).
Do I need a lawyer to change the New Jersey 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.
