Change LLC Name in North Carolina

Can I change the name of my LLC in North Carolina?

Absolutely! You can easily change your North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

The filing fee for an Amendment of Articles of Organization in North Carolina is $50.

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 North Carolina company 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 North Carolina?

1. Check if your new LLC name is available
2. File the North Carolina LLC Amendment form (and wait for approval)
3. Update the IRS
4. Update the NC 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 North Carolina?

It costs $50 to change your LLC name in North Carolina. This is the filing fee for the Amendment of Articles of Organization form.

The fee is the same whether you file the form online or by mail.

How do I change my North Carolina LLC name?

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

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

The Amendment of Articles of Organization is a PDF download. After you complete the form, you can file it online or by mail.

Our step-by-step instructions describe the corporate filings process to change your North Carolina LLC name. If you want to make other changes, like the principal office address or Registered Agent, you may need to use a different 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 North Carolina can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

Step 1: Make sure your new North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

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

Step 2: File the North Carolina LLC name change form

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

(It’s called this because you’re amending your North Carolina Articles of Organization. You file Articles of Organization to create North Carolina LLCs.)

How to file an Amendment of Articles of Organization in North Carolina

Overview:

• Download the Amendment of Articles of Organization PDF form
• Complete the form and sign it
• If you want to file online: Scan and upload the Amendment form, then complete the online filing.
• If you want to file by mail: Prepare your payment and mail with the completed Amendment form.

Get Started

Download the Amendment of Articles of Organization form:

• Go to the North Carolina Secretary of State Limited Liability Company Forms page.
• Scroll down and look for the form Amendment of Articles of Organization (L-17).

Complete the form using our step-by-step instructions:

Item 1 (Name of the Limited Liability Company)

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

Item 2 (Text of the Amendment)

Enter this text:

Article 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is amended. The new legal name of the LLC 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 at the end of your LLC’s name.

For example: Patrick wants to change the name of his company to Papercrafting Pat LLC. In item 2, he will type: “Article 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is amended. The new legal name of the LLC is: Papercrafting Pat LLC.”

Note: In North Carolina, you can use the following designators (endings):

• LLC (most common)
• L.L.C.
• Ltd. Liability Co.
• Limited Liability Co.
• Ltd. Liability Company
• Limited Liability Company

Item 3 (Amendment Adoption)

Check Box B, stating that the amendment was duly adopted by the LLC Members. (What’s an LLC Member?)

Most people don’t check Box A. Box A means the amendment is adopted before the Members are established, is very uncommon and doesn’t usually apply to normal LLCs.

Item 4 (Effective Date)

Most people leave this blank. In that case, your LLC name change will go into effect when the Secretary of State approves it.

Alternatively, you can provide a date in the future and your name change will be effective on that date instead. You can choose a date up to 90 days out, but you can’t backdate the filing.

Date

Enter the date you’re filing the Amendment.

Signature

Name of Limited Liability Company
Enter the LLC’s current name (same as what you put in Item 1).

Print Name and Title
Enter your first and last name. Then enter your Title:

• If you’re an LLC Member (aka owner) and your LLC is Member-managed, enter Member.
• If you’re an LLC Manager and the LLC is Manager-managed, enter Manager.
• If you’re not an LLC Member or Manager, but have been authorized to file the document on the LLC’s behalf, enter Officer.

If you’re not sure, or these terms are confusing, check out LLC Officer Titles for more information.

North Carolina Amendment of Articles of Organization Filing Methods

You can file the North Carolina Amendment of Articles of Organization online or by mail.

File online using Filing Upload Service

First, scan your completed Amendment of Articles of Organization to your computer and save as a PDF.

The North Carolina Filing Upload Service only accepts documents in PDF format. And don’t use any special characters in the file name, just letters and numbers.

Go to the North Carolina Filing Upload Service page.

Login, or create an account if you don’t have one.

You’ll start by locating your LLC’s record.

If you don’t see a Search feature on your dashboard, click this link: Business Registration Search.

Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name in the Searching for: box and click Search.

Find your LLC in the Search Results. You’ll see a series of small icons to the right of the LLC name.

Click on the first icon, that looks like a sheet of paper with a plus sign on it.

Submit a Filing

Filing Type
Select “Amendment” from this dropdown menu.

Document Type
Select “L-17 Amendment of Articles of Organization $50” from this dropdown menu.

Expedite
Normally, your LLC name change will be approved in 2-5 business days. If you need it faster, you can pay extra for expedited filing.

If you want to save money and wait a few days for approval, leave this set to None.

If you want to pay for expedited processing, select a filing speed from this drop down.

Customer Reference Number
This is optional. Law firms and LLC filing companies use this field to track their filings, but you can leave it blank.

Return Email
This is the email where the Secretary of State will send your approved documents. Make sure it’s correct.

PDF Filing
Click the link to Browse for Attachment. Locate the Amendment of Articles of Organization PDF on your computer, and upload it.

Click Checkout to continue.

Payment Details
Select your Payment Type (Checking Account ACH or Credit Card). Then enter your billing information and card details.

Click Submit to send your filing and payment to the state.

File by mail

1. Prepare a check or money order for $50 payable to the “North Carolina Secretary of State”.
2. Send the payment, and the signed Amendment of Articles of Organization, to:

Business Registration Division
PO Box 29622,
Raleigh, NC 27626-0622

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 2-5 business days for your North Carolina business name change to be approved.

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

When you file by mail, you’ll receive your name change approval back in the mail. This will take a bit longer, due to mail time.

Step 3: Change your North Carolina LLC name with the IRS

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

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. In North Carolina 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 NC 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 North Carolina LLC name with the IRS and North Carolina Department of Revenue, 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.

North Carolina 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: NC Business and Occupational 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 County Government Websites listing. And you’ll need to look up your town or city in the Municipal Directory 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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.