Change LLC Name in North Dakota

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

Absolutely! You can easily change your North Dakota LLC name.

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

The filing fee for the Articles of Amendment in North Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota?

  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 North Dakota State Tax Commissioner
  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 Dakota?

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

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

How do I change my North Dakota LLC name?

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

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

We provide step-by-step instructions on how to file the Articles of Amendment online. (Technically, you can also file by mail. However, it’s slower and the state prefers online filings.)

Note: Our instructions only apply to domestic North Dakota LLCs. The steps for amending a different type of business entity (like a foreign LLC, North Dakota corporation, or foreign corporation) are different.

Can I change my LLC name myself?

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

Because the Amendment filing in North Dakota 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 North Dakota LLC name is available

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

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

Check name availability: Our North Dakota LLC Name page has information about how to use the business entity search tool. It also explains details about name rules in North Dakota.

Step 2: File the North Dakota LLC name change form

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

(It’s called this because you’re amending your North Dakota Articles of Organization.)

Get Started

Go to the ND First Stop online filings site.

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

Click Search on the left side menu, and look up your LLC (enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name and click search).

Then click on your LLC in results.

If you don’t have access to your LLC, click the Request Access button

Click the “File Amendment” button.

Then click on the form Business Limited Liability Company Articles of Amendment.

Instructions

This page shows your LLC’s name and SOS Control ID number. There’s nothing to do here, just click Next Step to continue.

Article 1. Limited Liability Company Name

Name of limited liability company

This shows your LLC’s current name.

Click the box below (“The limited liability company name is being amended.”).

The company name is being amended using a previously filed reserved name.

Now the system will ask whether you’re using a previously reserved name.

If you didn’t reserve a name, click No. Most people don’t reserve a name ahead of time, it’s not required.

If you did reserve a business name, click Yes and select the name from the dropdown menu.

Amended name of limited liability company

Enter your desired new LLC name, including a designator (ending).

After you enter the name, the system will automatically check whether the name is available for use in North Dakota.

If the name is available, the box will turn green with a checkmark next to the name:

If the name is not available for use in North Dakota, the box will turn red with an X next to the name. In that case, you’ll need to enter a different LLC name and try again.

Consent to use name
Click the first button (“It is not known if consent to use the amended name is needed…“)

If you got permission from another business to use a name that conflicts with theirs, you would click the second button. But that’s very rare.

Associated trademarks, service marks, trade names, or fictitious names, if any
If your LLC has registered any trademarks or trade names (“DBAs”), they will be shown here. Because you’re changing the name of your LLC, you must update the trademark and trade name registrations with that new name. Alternatively, you can cancel the trade name registration if you don’t need it anymore.

Follow the instructions on the page to update any trade name registrations.

Associated partnerships, if any
You can skip this section

Article 2. Principal Executive Office Address

This shows your LLC’s current address on file. You can make changes if needed, or do nothing to keep it the same.

Article 3. Mailing Address

This shows your LLC’s current mailing address on file. You can make changes if needed, or do nothing to keep it the same.

Click Next Step to continue.

Article 4. Registered Agent in North Dakota

This shows your LLC’s current North Dakota Registered Agent. You can remove the Registered Agent and replace them with a different person or company if needed. Or, do nothing and keep the same Registered Agent.

Click Next Step to continue.

Formation Details

This page contains other details about your North Dakota LLC.

If you only need to change your LLC name, you can skip everything on this page and just click Next Step to continue.

Otherwise, make changes to the sections as needed:

Article 5. Formation Date
You can’t change this. This is the date your LLC was created in North Dakota.

Article 6. Existence
You can set a specific date for your LLC to “expire” if you want. In that case, the LLC will automatically be shut down on a specific date. Most people choose to have their LLCs be perpetual. That way, the LLC exists forever, until you choose to shut it down.

Article 7. Business Purpose
You can list a specific business purpose (like “Basketball coaching and training”) or just state “General Business”.

Article 8. Organizers

You can’t change this. Click Next Step to continue.

Amendment Details

Amendment Effective Date

Choose when the LLC name change amendment will be effective.

Most people click “when filed with the Secretary of State”. This means your LLC’s name change will be effective as soon as its approved by the Secretary of State.

Alternatively, you can click “on a specific date” and choose a date up to 90 days in the future.

State Law Compliance Statement

Click the box to agree to the terms.

Then click Next Step to continue.

Confirm/Signature

Review the information you’ve entered. Go back to make any needed changes using the navigation on the left.

When everything looks good, scroll down to sign.

Signature

Click the box to agree to the terms.

Then type your name to electronically sign the filing. And enter today’s date.

Then click Next Step to continue.

Submit

If you want to file online, simply click File Online.

You can upload attachments on this page as well, but it’s not needed. An LLC name change doesn’t require any attachments.

In the checkout menu that appears, click Pay with Credit Card to continue your filing.

Enter your credit card and billing information and submit your payment.

Wait for approval from the Secretary of State

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

Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 5 business days for your North Dakota 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 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 North Dakota LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your North Dakota 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 State Tax Commissioner

After your new LLC name is approved, you need to update your business’s account with the state’s tax department (the Office of the State Tax Commissioner).

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. However, in North Dakota it’s called the Office of the State Tax Commissioner, 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 using ND TAP
  • by mail
  • by phone

But it differs from state to state, so we recommend you call the ND State Tax Commissioner. 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 Dakota LLC name with the IRS and State Tax Commissioner business tax department, you’ll also want to contact the following places and let them know about the name change.

Financial institutions:

Matt Horwitz, founder of LLC University®
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 Dakota 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:

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 ND 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:

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 Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota FAQs

How much does an LLC name change cost in North Dakota?

An LLC name change in North Dakota costs $50.

This is the filing fee for the Articles of Amendment, the official form used to change your North Dakota LLC name.

If you’d like to learn about all the North Dakota LLC costs, please see North Dakota LLC Costs.

Can I file my North Dakota LLC name change by mail?

Yes, you can file the Articles of Amendment by mail to change your North Dakota LLC name.

Use the online filing process to complete the form (you can follow our step-by-step instructions above).

Then, in the last step, you’ll choose Print and Mail instead of filing online.

How many times can I change my North Dakota LLC name?

You can change the name of your North Dakota 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 North Dakota law limits when you can file an Amendment to change the name of a company.

Who can change the North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota LLC name with the IRS (see above for instructions).

Do I need a lawyer to change the North Dakota LLC legal name?

No, you don’t need to hire a lawyer. You can file the Articles 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.

 

Matt Horwitz
Matt Horwitz
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.

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