Change LLC Name in West Virginia

Can I change the name of my LLC in West Virginia?

Absolutely! You can easily change your West Virginia 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 West Virginia.

The filing fee for a West Virginia Amendment 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 West 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 West Virginia Tax Division
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 West Virginia?

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

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

You’ll also pay $30 for a new Business Registration Certificate. This is the “business license” required for all West Virginia LLCs.

How do I change my West Virginia LLC name?

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

Note: The West Virginia 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.)

Can I change my LLC name myself?

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

Because the Amendment filing in West Virginia can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

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

Before filing your amendment form (the Amendment), you should check that your new LLC name is available in West 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 West Virginia LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search.

Step 2: File the West Virginia LLC name change form

The West Virginia LLC name change form is called the Amendment.

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

How to file an Amendment in West Virginia

Get Started

First, go to the West Virginia Secretary of State Amendments and Corrections page.

Click the online filing button to access the West Virginia One Stop Business Portal.

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

From your account Dashboard, click the Secretary of State tab.

Look for the heading “Other Filings“, and click Amendment.

Access Your Company Record

First, you’ll locate your LLC’s business record.
Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name in the Name Search field and click Search.

Find your LLC in the search results and click on its name.

Data on File at the Secretary of State
This screen simply shows the business record for the company you selected.

Confirm that this is your LLC, and click Continue to proceed.

Amend business name

Do you want to amend the name of your business?
Click Yes.
Then click Continue to proceed.

Enter new Business Name
Enter your desired new LLC name.

Make sure to include an allowable designator (“LLC”). Enter the name with the capitalization and punctuation you want.

Other Amendments

This section is optional. You don’t need to write anything here if you’re only changing your LLC name.

Most people leave this box blank. Just click Continue to proceed with the name change filing.

If you want to make other changes to your LLC, you can enter the text of the Amendments here. We recommend you consult a business attorney to help draft the amendments, in that case.

Contact Information

Enter your name and contact information.

Don’t worry, this won’t go on public record. THe Secretary of State will use this information to contact you if they have any questions about the amendment filing.

Next Steps (Signature)

Enter your name to electronically sign the filing.

Select your Capacity (aka Title) from the drop down menu:

• Select Member if you’re an LLC Member (Owner)
• Select Organizer if you’re not an LLC owner (you might be an LLC Manager or just someone authorized to file on the LLC’s behalf)

For more information on these titles, check out LLC Member vs Organizer.

Enter your phone number (this won’t be public record).

Click Continue to proceed.

Filing Summary

Review the information you’ve entered. Go back to make any changes if needed.

Once everything looks good, click Select Payment Option to proceed with the filing.

SOS Expedite Service Processing Option

You can choose to expedite your filing here.

Most people choose Standard Processing and get their LLC name change approved in 1-2 weeks for $25.

If you need your LLC name change approved more quickly, you can pay extra for faster processing.

Choose your preferred processing speed, and click Continue to proceed.

Select Payment

Click the button for Credit Card and then click the button to Calculate Fees.

On the next screen, click Checkout to proceed.

Checkout & Submit Filing

Enter your billing information and credit card details. Then 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 5-10 business days for your West Virginia business name change to be approved.

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

Step 3: Change your West Virginia LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your West 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 Tax Division

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

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

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your West Virginia LLC name with the IRS and Tax Division business 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

Every LLC in West Virginia must have a business license known as the Business Registration Certificate. So after changing your LLC’s name, you must update that state Business License. This license is administered by the WV Tax Division (part of the Department of Revenue).

And if your LLC also has an occupation- or industry-specific license or a local business permit, you’ll need to change the name on that license too. Professional licensing is done by specific agencies and boards.

New West Virginia Business License

You must obtain a new West Virginia Business License for the new business name.

How to get a new West Virginia Business Registration Certificate

Go to the West Virginia Tax Division page and find the correct form for your type of business. We also have a step-by-step guide to the West Virginia Business Registration Certificate to help.

The fee for a new Business Registration Certificate is $30.

Update Professional Licenses & Local Permits

Your LLC might have an occupational or industry-specific license. If so, you’ll need to contact the board or agency that issued it for information about updating your LLC’s name. Here’s a list of Occupational Licenses and Permits in West Virginia to help you find their contact information.

You’ll need to contact your local government (usually the county clerk) for the process to update any local business permits.

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 West 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 West 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 West 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.