Partnerships: « If you are filing a Form 1065 for the current year, select the appropriate name change field on the form: Page 1, line G, box 3. If you have already filed your tax return for the current year, write to us at the address where you filed your tax return to notify us of the name change. In addition, the notification must be signed by a partner of the company. By filing a document called « Articles of Amendment, » an LLC may request to change the name of its company. Once the state approves the regulations, the LLC will operate under its new name and the old name will no longer be active. If an LLC has (is registered) foreign qualifications in other states, the company must file items in all of those states. To do this, a company can file a DBA (i.e. a fictitious or business name) for the name of the desired company with the state or district office responsible for DBAs. After filing the DTA, business owners should contact the bank to discuss whether the DBA can be added to the LLC`s existing bank account or whether a separate account should be created in its name. Once the DBA is set up, the next steps include creating internal and external administrative and marketing documents (such as logo, letterhead, website content, etc.) that reflect the name and provide a basis for brand promotion. It may make more sense for a company to keep its official name intact (for example, maybe the company owns a brand for the name or has built a customer follow-up for the brand) and create a new name for marketing and branding purposes. In such situations, you can keep your company`s officially registered name while filing a dummy name (DBA) for the new name with the state or county office (depending on what has authority over the database administrators). Regardless of the name under which you operate, you need to keep an eye on the transactions.

Patriot`s online accounting software is easy to use and offers free support in the United States. Try it for free today! One of the first things you do as a business owner is to choose a business name. Your company may operate under your legal name. Or you can run your business under a trade name. So what`s the difference? Read on to learn more about the company name versus the trade name and how it contrasts. If you change your business name, you may need to change legal documents, including contracts, loans, and your business account (and checks). Since the name must be changed by special resolution, you usually need a majority of 75% of your members. This should represent 75% of the voting shares and not the shareholders (since shareholders can have more than one share). A person holding 10% of the shares may have more voting rights than a person with only 5% – this also depends on the type of share, as some shares do not have voting rights or others may vote twice. It is up to the company to determine whether or not it can benefit from the use of a trade name instead of its legal trade name. Using a DBA or trade name has its advantages and disadvantages.

Before you decide to use a trade name instead of your legal name for businesses, consider the following pros and cons of using a trade name. 1. Submit the change article to the state to change the name of the company If you are the owner of a partnership, the name of the company is usually a combination of the surnames of the owners of the company and must be included in the partnership contract. 7. Communicate with your customers. Sometimes a name change takes place because the company has been bought, the new management has taken control, or a negative turn of events has triggered a fresh start. Let your customers know as soon as possible that you are always open for business. Briefly explain (even celebrate!) why your company name has changed. This will help you maintain their trust and start building your new brand. If you want to operate under a name other than the legal name of your company, register a business name for your business.

Each state and county has different rules for registering a DBA. Some require a separate fee and request for each database administrator you register. Check with your jurisdiction for more information on registering a business name. The IRS says you don`t need a new Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you change your business name. If not, check if the domain name is available from an accredited registrar. Ideally, if you`re a for-profit business, you want a .com address, and if you`re a nonprofit, you want a .org address. 6. Update your business documents. Replace your branding with your new name and logo. This includes all business forms, signage, and your website.

Contact your website administrator and ask them to redirect your website to your new domain. In addition, you`ll also need to update anything that contains your old business name, such as: Choosing a business name that aligns with your brand and is easy to remember will likely resonate with your customers. In addition, it helps you stand out from your various competitors. Despite your best efforts to choose the perfect name for your business, it may come at a time when that name no longer fits best. Maybe the company name no longer accurately reflects your brand or there are legal considerations. Whatever the reasons for changing a company`s name, it`s a process that many business owners find confusing. The steps required may vary depending on the type of business unit and registration status. Are you ready to change your business name? CT can help you do this correctly and in accordance with all national and local laws. We`ll know if you can legally change your name to any applicable state, comb through the requirements for the name change, prepare your articles, and make sure the entire name change process runs smoothly and quickly. Learn more about the name change process. Changing your business name is a big step. Your company`s identity depends on your company name, so think carefully before you decide to make this change.

A company name is the legal name of your company. This is the official name of the person or entity that owns a business. And that`s the name you use on your government forms and business records. But how do you change the name of your company? And if you run an LLC or a company, can you change the name of your business? In this article, we`ll share tips on how to change your business name. In addition, we explore the pros and cons of changing your business name so that you are fully prepared for the process. Sole proprietorships and partnerships are not commercial structures officially registered with the state, and the IRS considers these forms of business to be the same entity that pays taxes as their owners. The name of a sole proprietorship or partnership includes the first and last name of the owners, but owners may choose to market their business under a fictitious name – also known as a business name or DBA (« Doing Business As ») – that is more creative and interesting. A trade name does not need to contain additional words or legal phrases (e.g., Corp, LLC, etc.).

For example, a company`s trade name is Mike`s, but its official trade name is Mike`s Corporation. A company may choose to have its company name and trade name identical. You may need to change local business licenses and permits, and you`ll likely need a new notification about the business name in your county. Once you know what name you will use and how you will proceed with your company`s name change, my team of registration experts at CorpNet can handle the name change documents for you. Whether it`s filing a DTA or an amendment article, we can get the job done quickly and usually much more affordable than paying the legal fees for document processing. Contact us today to get started! Let`s explore these and other frequently asked questions about changing the company name. Naming requirements vary by state, so you need to make sure your company`s new name is compliant. For example, all states prohibit the use of certain words (which vary from state to state). They also restrict the use of names that are « deceptively similar » to an existing name. Most states also require the company to identify its type of business, such as « LLC » or « Inc. » Yes. To change the name of your LLC or company, you must file « articles of amendment » with your state.

Once approved, you can start operating under the new name. Sometimes a business name just doesn`t work: you thought the smart nickname you chose would really represent your brand, but customers didn`t make the connection. Or maybe you used your own name in the company`s title and now want to change it to reflect a larger, more corporate brand. Wiping the slate and making a complete change of company name can work well for LLCs without much brand awareness and reputation related to their name. However, for some companies, it may make more sense to keep the existing name intact. This may be the case if the LLC has registered the name or if the goods and services are strongly associated with the name) and create a new name to extend its trademark. In addition to maintaining the state-owned enterprise registration aspect of a name change, business owners may also need to take other steps: your company`s official name is not the same as your business name or the name under which you do business (often referred to as « d/b/a » or « fictitious name ») for tax and legal reasons. The fictitious name is registered with a place, not a state or federal agency.