Change LLC Name in Vermont

Can I change the name of my LLC in Vermont?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Vermont LLC name.

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

The filing fee for an Amendment in Vermont is $25.

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 places like your website and other 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 Vermont?

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 Vermont Department of Taxes
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 Vermont?

It costs $25 to change your LLC name in Vermont. 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 Vermont LLC name?

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

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

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

Our instructions focus only on changing the LLC name. If you want to make other changes, like the business structure, business address or Registered Agent, you may need to use a different process.

Can I change my LLC name myself?

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

Vermont allows a business owner to file legal documents for their existing business.

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

Step 1: Make sure your new Vermont LLC name is available

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

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

Step 2: File the Vermont LLC name change form

The Vermont LLCs name change form is called a Certificate of Amendment.

(It’s called this because you’re amending your Vermont Articles of Organization. You file Articles of Organization to create an LLC in Vermont.)

How to file an Amendment in Vermont

Get started:

Go to the Corporations Division Online Filing System.

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

From your account dashboard, click “VT SEC OF STATE ONLINE SERVICES“.

Then select “Business Amendments“.

Business Amendments

Search Business

First, you’ll look up your LLC’s record.

Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s current name in the Business Name field, and click Search Business.

Find your LLC in the search results, and click the button on the far right to Select it.

Then click the Select Business button at the bottom to proceed.

Verify Business Email Address

You may see a page asking you to verify the business email address on file with the Vermont Secretary of State. If the email address shown isn’t correct, fix it now.

Click Continue to proceed.

Business Amendments

Click the box for “Update Business Name“.

New Business Name (1st Choice)
Enter your desired new LLC name here. Make sure to include an appropriate designator (like “LLC”).

You should have already checked whether your new name was available for use in Vermont. But if you want to be safe, you can enter backup choices in the 2nd and 3rd choice fields.

If you’re only changing the LLC name, you can ignore the other items on this screen and skip down to the Certification section.

Otherwise, click the appropriate boxes and make changes as needed to the other items.

Certification

Effective Date
This is automatically set to today (the date you’re filing the Amendment). That means your LLC name change will go into effect when it’s approved by the Secretary of State.

Most people choose this option, and leave the date set to today.

Alternatively, you might want your name change to be effective on a specific future date. To do that, choose a different effective date (up to 90 days out).

Authorizer Signature
Type your name here to electronically sign the filing.

Authorizer Title
Enter your Title here:

• If you’re an LLC Member and the 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 are authorized to file the Amendment on the LLC’s behalf, enter Authorized Agent

If these terms are confusing, check out LLC Officer Titles for more information.

Tip: Don’t use “Organizer” as your title when filing an Amendment in Vermont.

Click Continue to proceed.

Review

Check the information you’ve entered and make sure there aren’t any typos or errors. Click Back to make any necessary changes.

When everything looks good, click “I understand and would like to continue” to proceed with the online filing.

Payment

I would like to pay using…
Click the button for your preferred payment type (Credit Card or eCheck).

Then enter your credit card information and click Pay to submit your filing to the state.

Wait for approval from the Secretary of State

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

Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 1 business day for your Vermont business name change to be approved.

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

Step 3: Change your Vermont LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Vermont 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 Vermont Department of Taxes

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

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. However, in Vermont it’s called the Department of Taxes, 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 Vermont Department of Taxes. You can ask about the process to update your business name.

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your Vermont LLC name with the IRS and Vermont Department of Taxes, 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.

Vermont 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: Vermont Office of Professional 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 clerk’s information on this list of Vermont Towns and Cities.

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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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.