Change LLC Name in Rhode Island

Can I change the name of my LLC in Rhode Island?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.

The filing fee for the Articles of Amendment in Rhode Island 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 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 Rhode Island?

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 RI Division of Taxation
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 Rhode Island?

It costs $50 to change your LLC name in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island LLC name?

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

Note: The Rhode Island Department of State (and the 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.)

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.

The Rhode Island Business Services Division lets a business owner file their own documents.

But, because the Amendment filing in Rhode Island can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

Step 1: Make sure your new Rhode Island LLC name is available

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

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

Step 2: File the Rhode Island LLC name change form

The Rhode Island LLC name change form is called the Articles of Amendment.

(It’s called this because you’re amending your Rhode Island Articles of Organization. The Articles of Organization are the documents you file initially to create a new Rhode Island business.)

How to file the Articles of Amendment in Rhode Island

Get started

Go to the Rhode Island Department of State Business Services Online Filing System.

In the Existing Entities box, login with your Customer Identification Number and PIN.

(If you don’t have your Customer ID Number and PIN, you can request them via email from the Secretary of State.)

From the Filing box, select the form “Articles of Amendment“.

Click Submit to continue.

Limited Liability Company Articles of Amendment

Article I – LLC Name

If the name is changing, state the new name.

Delete your LLC’s current name from this box.

And then enter the desired new LLC name. Make sure to include an allowable designator (like “LLC”).

Article II – Other Changes

If you only need to change the LLC’s name, skip this section and scroll down to Article III.

If you want to make changes to other things about your LLC (like the principal office address or purpose), edit them here.

Article III – Later Effective Date

This section is optional.

If you leave it blank, your LLC name change will go into effect when it’s approved by the Secretary of State. Most people leave this blank to choose this option.

Alternatively, you can specify a future date (“Later Effective Date”). In that case, the name change will go into effect on the date you choose.

Filer’s Contact Information

Enter your name, mailing address, phone number and email address.

Don’t worry, this information won’t go on public record. The Secretary of State will use this to contact you if there’s a problem with your filing.

Signature

Type your name in the box to electronically sign.

Click the button to Accept the terms of filing.

Then click the button at the bottom to Submit the information.

Review Articles of Amendment

Check the information you entered.

If everything looks good, you can click Accept to continue with the filing.

If you need to go back and change something, click the Make Corrections button instead.

Payment Screen

Click the button to open the payment process, and enter your credit card information.

Submit your payment and filing to the state.

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 3-4 business days for your Rhode Island business name change to be approved.

The Rhode Island Secretary of State doesn’t send an emailed copy of your successful filing. Instead, you have to check your LLC on the Rhode Island Corporate Database. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s Corporate Database.
2. Search for your LLC by its name, and click on your LLC in the search results.
3. At the bottom of your LLC’s online record, select “ALL FILINGS” and click the “View Filings” button.
4. Look for “Articles of Amendment”, and then click the link to the right to download and save or print the document.

Step 3: Change your Rhode Island LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Rhode Island 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 RI 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 Rhode Island Division of Taxation).

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. However, in Rhode Island it’s called the Division of Taxation, which is part of 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 Division of Taxation. You can ask about the process to update your business name.

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your Rhode Island LLC name with the IRS and RI Division of Taxation 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.

Rhode Island 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: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.

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 city or town clerk on the RI Department of State’s Cities and Towns List.

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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.