How to Change an LLC Name in North Carolina (Step-by-step)

Q: How much does an LLC name change cost in North Carolina?

An LLC name change in North Carolina costs $50 . This is the filing fee for the Amendment of Articles of Organization, the official form used to change your North Carolina LLC name. If you’d like to learn about all the North Carolina LLC costs, please see North Carolina LLC Costs .

Can I change the name of my LLC in North Carolina?

Absolutely! You can easily change your North Carolina LLC name.

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

The filing fee for an Amendment of Articles of Organization in North Carolina 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 North Carolina company 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 North Carolina?

Check if your new LLC name is available
File the North Carolina LLC Amendment form (and wait for approval)
Update the IRS
Update the NC Department of Revenue
Update financial institutions (credit card companies, banks)
Update business licenses
Update other places (branding materials, business accounts, etc.)

How much does it cost to change an LLC name in North Carolina?

It costs $50 to change your LLC name in North Carolina. This is the filing fee for the Amendment of Articles of Organization form.

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

How do I change my North Carolina LLC name?

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

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

You can file the Amendment of Articles of Organization online or by mail.

We recommend the online filing because it’s faster and easier. And our step-by-step instructions will focus on the online filing, with mail instructions in the FAQs.

Can I change my LLC name myself?

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

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

Need to save time? We recommend hiring MyCompanyWorks ($119 + state fee) to file your LLC name change.

Step 1: Make sure your new North Carolina LLC name is available

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

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

Check name availability: Our North Carolina LLC Name page has information about how to use the business entity search tool. It also explains details about name rules in North Carolina.

Step 2: File the North Carolina LLC name change form

The North Carolina LLC name change form is called the Amendment of Articles of Organization (Form L-17).

(It’s called this because you’re amending your North Carolina Articles of Organization. The Articles of Organization is the document that, once filed with the NC Secretary of State, creates an LLC.)

North Carolina Amendment of Articles of Organization Filing Methods

You can file the North Carolina Amendment of Articles of Organization online or by mail.

If you want to file online you can either:

use the NC Secretary of State’s online filing questionnaire, or
scan and upload a completed Amendment of Articles of Organization form.

We recommend the online filing questionnaire because it’s faster and easier than the PDF upload method or filing by mail.

However, if you prefer to file by mail, see the FAQs below for step-by-step instructions.

Filing an NC Name Change Amendment online (step-by-step)

Get started:

Go to the North Carolina Secretary of State Login page.
Login, or create an account if you don’t have one.
Once you’re logged in, visit the Business Search page.
Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name in the box labeled “Organizational name”, and click “Search”.
Click on your LLC in the Search Results, then click “Online Filing”.

This will take you to the Online Filing Forms page. Look for the form labeled “Amendment of Articles of Organization” with a button labeled “File L-17 Online”.

An orange rectangle surrounds an LLC form called the Amendment of Articles of Organization, and a button labeled, File L 17 Online.

To file your Name Change Amendment using the online filing questionnaire, click “File L-17 Online”.

A yellow arrow points to a button labeled, File L 17 Online. Clicking this button directs you to the online filing system for the LLC Amendment of Articles of Organization.

Note: If you click the link “Amendment of Articles of Organization” instead of the button, a PDF of the amendment will open instead of the online filing questionnaire.

Next, click “Start online filing”.

Amendment of Articles of Organization

Click “Add amendment”.

The text and date of the amendment adopted is as follows:

Enter this text:

Article 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is amended. The new legal name of the LLC is: [new name of LLC].

Just replace “[new name of LLC]” with the name you want to use. And make sure to include an appropriate designator at the end of your LLC’s name.

For example: Patrick wants to change the name of his company to Papercrafting Pat LLC. In item 2, he will type: “Article 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is amended. The new legal name of the LLC is: Papercrafting Pat LLC.”

Note: In North Carolina, you can use the following designators (endings):

LLC (most common)
L.L.C.
Ltd. Liability Co.
Limited Liability Co.
Ltd. Liability Company
Limited Liability Company

Date Amendment was adopted

Enter the date the amendment went into effect. (This date must be in the past. The system won’t accept a future date.)

Then click “Save the amendment”.

The system will show you your saved amendment with a box next to it. Check the box and then click “Save the amendments”.

Amendment Adoption

Was/Were the amendments duly adopted by the majority vote of the organizers or the limited liability company prior to the identification of initial members of the limited liability company?

This section is asking whether this amendment was made before the LLC Members were established. This is very uncommon and doesn’t usually apply to normal LLCs.

So most people select “No”. Selecting “No” means that this amendment was made after the LLC Members were established.

Select “No”.

Was/Were the amendments duly adopted by the unanimous vote of the members of the limited liability company or adopted as otherwise provided in the limited liability company’s Articles of Organization or a written operating agreement?

The next question is asking whether the LLC Members adopted the amendment by either a unanimous vote, or by using special rules listed in the LLC’s Operating Agreement.

Click “Yes”.

Supporting Documents (optional)

If you’d like to provide any supporting documents (like a copy of any special rules used in your Operating Agreement), you can upload them here.

That said, this section is optional. You can just click “Next”.

Effective Date

The state wants to know when you want your LLC Name Change amendment to go into effect.

By default, amendments go into effect on the date the Secretary of State approves the filing.

If you want your Name Change to go into effect when the filing is approved, click “Yes”. (This is what most people do.)

If you want your Name Change to go into effect on a future date, click “No”. Then enter the date you want your Name Change to go into effect, and click “Next”.

Note: You can’t enter an effective date that’s more than 90 days in the future. And you can’t backdate this field at all.

Sign and Date

Select your name from the dropdown and type your signature.

Then check the box to certify you’re authorized to file this document and click “Save the signature”.

Preview

Review the information for any typos. If you need to make corrections, click “Back”.

When everything looks correct, check “I have reviewed the document and it is correct”.

Then click “Next”.

Email address

Enter the email address where you’d like to receive notifications about your LLC Name Change filing.

Click “Save the email address”.

Expedited option

Normally, your LLC name change will be approved in 2-5 business days. If you need it faster, you can pay extra for expedited processing.

If you need your LLC’s name changed as soon as possible, select your expedited option from the list.

If you want to save money and wait a few days for approval, leave this set to “No”.

Click “Checkout”.

Payment Details

Select your payment type.

Then enter your billing and payment information.

Click “Pay and Submit” to send your filing and payment to the state.

Wait for approval from the Secretary of State

Congratulations! You’ve completed your LLC Name Change filing. Now you just have to wait a few days for the Secretary of State’s office to approve it.

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

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

Reminder: Changing your LLC name with the Secretary of State still leaves your old LLC name in place everywhere else. Essentially, you’ve only changed your LLC name with one part of the state government, and you need to update it everywhere else.

Step 3: Change your North Carolina LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your North Carolina 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 NC Department of Revenue

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

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. In North Carolina it’s called 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 NC Department of Revenue. You can ask about the process to update your business name.

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your North Carolina LLC name with the IRS and North Carolina Department of Revenue, 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.

North Carolina 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: NC Business and Occupational Licenses.

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 on the County Government Websites listing. And you’ll need to look up your town or city in the Municipal Directory too.

Step 7: Update marketing materials and other places with your new LLC name

Tip: We recommend making a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. Enter the place you are changing your LLC name, their contact information, and maybe a notes section. Here’s an LLC name change checklist that you can use: Google Docs | Excel

Here 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina FAQs

How much does an LLC name change cost in North Carolina?

An LLC name change in North Carolina costs $50.

This is the filing fee for the Amendment of Articles of Organization, the official form used to change your North Carolina LLC name.

If you’d like to learn about all the North Carolina LLC costs, please see North Carolina LLC Costs.

How many times can I change my North Carolina LLC name?

You can change the name of your North Carolina LLC as many times as you want. The state doesn’t care, as long as you pay the filing fee.

You’re allowed to change the name of your Limited Liability Company for any reason. The Amendment form doesn’t ask you why you want to change the name. No North Carolina law limits when you can file an Amendment to change the name of a company.

Who can change the North Carolina LLC name?

Generally speaking, the LLC Members (owners) can change the LLC’s name.

So, as long as all the LLC Members agree, you can go ahead and file the Amendment.

Technically, the LLC Members should vote to agree on the new name. However, a vote can be something informal, like an email or phone call.

Do I need a new EIN if I change the name of my North Carolina LLC?

No, you don’t need a new EIN number.

Getting a new EIN Number will actually cause confusion at the IRS, and that can create issues for your business.

So don’t get a new EIN number for your LLC.

Instead, you will simply change your North Carolina LLC name with the IRS (see above for instructions).

Do I need a lawyer to change the North Carolina LLC legal name?

No, you don’t need to hire a lawyer. You can file the Amendment of Articles of Organization yourself or you can hire a company to do it for you.

If you want to hire a company, we recommend MyCompanyWorks.

Need to save time? We recommend hiring MyCompanyWorks ($119 + state fee) to file your LLC name change.

How to file the Amendment of Articles of Organization by mail

Download and complete the form using our instructions, and sign it.
Prepare a check or money order for $50 payable to the “North Carolina Secretary of State”.
Send the payment, and the signed Amendment of Articles of Organization, to:

Business Registration Division
PO Box 29622
Raleigh, NC 27626-0622

Note: When you file by mail, you’ll receive your name change approval back in the mail. This will take a bit longer, due to mail time.

How to complete the Amendment of Articles of Organization PDF

Download the Amendment of Articles of Organization PDF.

Then complete the form using our step-by-step instructions:

Item 1 (Name of the Limited Liability Company)

Enter your LLC’s current name. (Not what you’re changing it to).

Item 2 (Text of the Amendment)

Enter this text:

Article 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is amended. The new legal name of the LLC is: [new name of LLC].

Just replace “[new name of LLC]” with the name you want to use. And make sure to include an appropriate designator at the end of your LLC’s name.

Note: In North Carolina, you can use the following designators (endings):

Item 3 (Amendment Adoption)

Check Box B, stating that the amendment was duly adopted by the LLC Members. (What’s an LLC Member?)

Note: Most people don’t check Box A. Box A means the amendment is adopted before the Members are established. This is very uncommon and doesn’t usually apply to normal LLCs.

Item 4 (Effective Date)

Most people leave this blank. In that case, your LLC name change will go into effect when the Secretary of State approves it.

Alternatively, you can provide a date in the future and your name change will be effective on that date instead. You can choose a date up to 90 days out, but you can’t backdate the filing.

Date

Enter the date you’re filing the Amendment.

Sign

Name of Limited Liability Company
Enter the LLC’s current name (same as what you put in Item 1).

Signer’s Name and Title
Enter your first and last name. Then enter your Title:

If you’re an LLC Member (aka owner) and your 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 have been authorized to file the document on the LLC’s behalf, enter Officer.

If you’re not sure, or these terms are confusing, check out LLC Officer Titles for more information.

Now you can either file the form by mail, or scan and upload it to the online system.

How do I change my LLC name in another state?

You can change an LLC name in any state. Click the link below to learn how to change your LLC’s name in that state.

Matt Horwitz

Founder & Educator, LLC University®

Matt Horwitz is the leading expert on LLC education, and has been teaching for 15 years. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC. 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.

Change LLC Name in North Carolina