Change LLC Name in Virginia

Can I change the name of my LLC in Virginia?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Virginia LLC name.

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

The filing fee for the Articles of Amendment in Virginia 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 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 Virginia?

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 Virginia Department 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 Virginia?

It costs $25 to change your LLC name in Virginia. This is the filing fee for the Virginia Articles of Amendment form.

The fee is the same whether the business names changes are filed online or by mail.

How do I change my Virginia LLC name?

In order to change your LLC name, you must file the Articles of Amendment with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. This process of filing Articles of Amendment officially updates your legal entity (your Limited Liability Company) on the state records.

Note: The Virginia State Corporation Commission is responsible for LLC formation and administration, including name changes. The Clerk’s Office at the State Corporation Commission created the online filing system.

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.)

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

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 Virginia can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

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

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

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

Step 2: File the Virginia LLC name change form

The Virginia Limited Liability Company name change form is called the Articles of Amendment.

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

How to file the Articles of Amendment in Virginia

Get started

First, go to the State Corporation Commission Clerk’s Information System.

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

From your account dashboard, click Online Services at the top.
Under the Business Entities heading, click Existing Businesses.

Existing Businesses

I am filing for a:
Click Virginia Entity.

Business Entity Type:
Select Limited Liability Company from the dropdown menu.

Select a filing type:
Select Articles of Amendment – Name Change from the dropdown menu.

Click Continue to proceed.

Entity Search

Now you’ll look up your LLC’s record. Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s current name in the Entity Name field and click Search.

Find your LLC in the search results, and click the button on the left to Select it.
Then click Continue at the bottom of the page to proceed.

Entity Information

This page shows your LLC’s current information on file. The only thing you can change here is the contact information (your LLC’s email and phone number).

Update these if needed, and click Next to continue.

New Name Search

Are you using a reserved name?

Most people click No. A name reservation is not required in Virginia.

If you did reserve a name ahead of time, click Yes and enter the reservation information.

Entity Name:
Enter your desired new LLC name here. Make sure to include an allowable designator (ending).

In Virginia, you can use the following designators:

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

Click Check Availability.

The system will check whether your desired new name is available for use in Virginia. Review the search results to make sure your new name is distinguishable (not the same or too similar).

Click Next to continue.

Adoption and Vote

Date of Adoption
Select a date the Articles were adopted.

This is asking for the date the LLC Members voted on the name change. Remember, the vote can be simple and informal – like a conference call or group email chain.

Approval – select one

• If your LLC is Member-managed, select “By the members in accordance with the VA LLC Act“
• If your LLC is Manager-managed, select “By the managers in accordance with the VA LLC Act“

Tip: If you’re not sure, read Member-managed vs Manager-managed LLC for an explanation.

The third option (“By the organizers…”) is only allowed if the LLC has no Members or Managers. That’s very uncommon, so most people don’t click this option.

Click Next to continue.

Supporting Documentation

This is optional.

If you (or your business attorney) prepared a formal Articles of Amendment document, you can upload it now. Otherwise, the system will create an Articles of Amendment form based on the information you entered online.

Most people skip this step and just use the online filing system without an upload.

Click Next to continue.

Signature Information

Signing as:
Click Individual.

Why? Even though you’re filing on the LLC’s behalf, you’re signing as yourself (an Individual) and not on behalf of a different business entity.

Signature
Type your name to electronically sign the filing.

Then enter your Title:

• If your LLC is Member-managed, enter “Member“
• If your LLC is Manager-managed, enter “Manager“
• If you’re not an LLC Member or Manager but have been authorized to file on the LLC’s behalf, enter “Authorized Agent“.

Printed Name
Enter your name in these fields.

Click Add to attach your signature to the filing.

Then click Next to continue.

Review Articles of Amendment

Check the information you’ve entered and make sure there are no typos. Click the Edit link next to any section where you need to make changes.

Once everything looks good, click Add to Shopping Cart to proceed with your filing.

Shopping Cart

If you’re ready to file now, click Checkout to proceed.

Checkout

Click Go to Payment to continue.

A popup will appear asking you to confirm your filing. Click I Agree to proceed.

Enter your billing information and credit card details. Submit your payment to the state.

Wait for approval from the State Corporation Commission

After submitting your Articles of Amendment to the Virginia Corporation Commission, please wait for approval.

Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 2-5 business days for your Virginia business name change to be approved.

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

Step 3: Change your Virginia LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Virginia 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 Department of Taxation

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

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. In Virginia it’s called the Department of Taxation, 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 using form R-3
• by phone

But it differs from state to state, so we recommend you call the Department 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 Virginia LLC name with the IRS and Virginia Department 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.

Virginia 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:

• Virginia Business Licenses
• Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational 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 county clerk and the information for your town or city in this list of Local Governments.

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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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.