How to change an LLC name
An LLC changes its name by filing an amendment, and California's Form LLC-2 does it for a $30 filing fee. The new name still has to carry an LLC ending, and the IRS needs to hear about it afterward.
A name change is an amendment
The name sits in the LLC's formation document. Changing it means amending that document. Florida Statutes section 605.0202 says the articles of organization "may be amended or restated at any time". The Texas Secretary of State says a Texas entity may amend its certificate of formation at any time as well.
California points LLCs to Form LLC-2, and its Secretary of State says online filing is the fastest way to file. Texas names its form the Certificate of Amendment, Form 424, and allows amendment in as many respects as may be desired. Florida calls its filing Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Organization. The forms differ in name and fee, but each one amends the original formation document.
Forms and filing fees
California, Texas and Florida each use their own amendment form, and the filing fee runs from $25 to $150.
| State and publisher | Form | Filing fee |
|---|---|---|
| California Secretary of State | Form LLC-2, Amendment to Articles of Organization | $30 |
| Texas Secretary of State | Form 424, Certificate of Amendment | $150 |
| Florida Division of Corporations | Articles of Amendment to Articles of Organization | $25 |
Each fee is the one the named office publishes for an LLC. California's form also lists an optional $5 certification fee. Florida's form lists an optional $30 certified copy and an optional $5 certificate of status.
What the new name must contain
The ending rule applies to the new name as much as to the first one. California's form says the name must contain an LLC identifier such as LLC or L.L.C., and the state adds "LLC" if it is missing.
Texas wants an organizational designation or an accepted abbreviation of one. Florida's form says the new name must end with the words Limited Liability Company, the abbreviation L.L.C. or the designation LLC. It must also be distinguishable on state records.
Before filing, run the new wording through the business name search first, and read LLC name endings by state for the exact list.
Filling in the form
The two states ask for names in different places. On California's Form LLC-2 you enter the exact name now on file, then the new name as it should appear in state records. On Texas Form 424 the entity name is the old name, and the new name goes in the amendment section.
California treats an address or manager change as a separate filing. The Statement of Information, Form LLC-12, handles a new business address or new manager or agent details.
Details that catch filers
Three state forms carry small rules that are easy to miss.
A Texas amendment becomes a public record. The Texas Secretary of State tells filers to leave out confidential details such as a Social Security number.
Florida's form adds a rule for agents. If the amendment also changes the registered agent, the new agent must sign to accept the appointment. A name change and an agent change can share one Florida filing, but the signature requirement comes with the second.
California keeps its own split. The LLC-2 changes the name, and the LLC-12 Statement of Information handles the details the state lists for managers and agents.
Steps to file the change
- Check the new name against the state's register.
- In California, file Form LLC-2 online through bizfileOnline, or mail the paper form with the $30 fee.
- In Texas, file Form 424 through SOSPortal for faster processing, or by mail or in person with a check or money order.
- In Florida, mail the articles of amendment with one check payable to the Florida Department of State. Add a cover letter with your phone number and return address.
- After the state approves the new name, notify the IRS of the name change.
The IRS and other name registrations
The IRS says a business does not need a new EIN when it changes its name, address or responsible party. It still runs a separate process to record a name change, and the action required depends on the type of business. The steps are laid out in telling the IRS about a new business name.
The SBA lists a state entity name, a federal trademark, a DBA and a domain name as separate registrations. It says each is legally independent, so a new LLC name does not update the others. The USPTO says a state's authorization to form a business with a particular name does not give you trademark rights. That point is covered in protecting a business name.
How to change an LLC name: more questions
Can a Texas LLC amend its certificate of formation more than once?
Yes. The Texas Secretary of State says an entity may amend its certificate of formation at any time and in as many respects as may be desired.
Will the IRS confirm the name change in writing?
The IRS business name change page says to ask for acknowledgement of the name change if you need it.
Next: telling the IRS about a new business name, LLC name endings by state and protecting a business name.
9 official sources
- California Secretary of State, Form LLC-2, Amendment to Articles of Organization of a Limited Liability Company (LLC), retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Texas Secretary of State, Form 424 Instructions, Certificate of Amendment, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Texas Secretary of State, Form 424, Certificate of Amendment, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Florida Division of Corporations, Articles of Amendment to Articles of Organization of a Florida LLC (CR2E049), retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Florida Statutes section 605.0202, Amendment or restatement of articles of organization, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- IRS, Employer ID numbers, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- IRS, Business name change, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- U.S. Small Business Administration, guide to choosing a business name, retrieved November 12, 2026.
- USPTO, Basic Facts About Trademarks, retrieved November 12, 2026.