To change your Florida LLC name, you file Articles of Amendment with the Florida Division of Corporations. Online through Sunbiz.org it costs $25 and usually takes 2-3 business days. Most of the work comes after approval, when your bank, the IRS and everyone else who knows the old name has to catch up.
Florida LLC name change at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | $25 |
| Processing time | 2-3 business days |
| Form | Articles of Amendment |
| Where to file | Sunbiz.org |
| Certified copy | $8.75 (optional) |
Is the new name available?
Check first. An amendment with an unavailable name wastes $25 and a few days.
The name has to include “LLC,” “L.L.C.” or “Limited Liability Company” and be distinguishable from names already on file in Florida. It can’t suggest a licensed activity you aren’t licensed for, like banking or insurance, or use restricted words without authorization. To search, go to Sunbiz.org, click “Search Records,” choose “Entity Name Search” and enter the name.
“Distinguishable” is a low bar. A name that clears it can still be close enough to an existing business to cause confusion or a legal fight, so we’d stay well away from anything that looks like a competitor’s name.
Not ready to file? A Name Reservation ($25) holds the name for 120 days.
How do you file the Articles of Amendment?
File online. You’ll need your current LLC name, your document number (it’s on your original Articles of Organization), the new name and a credit card.
- Go to Sunbiz.org and click “Start an E-Filing.”
- Select “Florida Limited Liability Company,” then “Amendment.”
- Enter your document number.
- Select “Name Change” as the amendment type and enter the new name.
- Pay the $25 filing fee.
Standard processing is 2-3 business days. Expedited 24-hour processing adds $50 and same-day adds $100. Unless a deal is waiting on the new name, standard is fine.
Update your operating agreement
The state filing changes your legal name, but your operating agreement still says the old one. Once you’re approved, write a short amendment, have every member sign it, attach it to the original and note the date. Something like this works:
“Effective [Date], the name of the Company shall be changed from ‘[Old Name]’ to ‘[New Name].’ All other terms of the Operating Agreement remain in full force and effect.”
Do you need a new EIN?
No. Your EIN stays with the LLC through any name change. You still have to tell the IRS.
Partnerships and single-member LLCs. Send the IRS a signed letter with your EIN, old name and new name to Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati, OH 45999. A multi-member LLC can instead check the “name change” box on its next Form 1065.
LLCs taxed as an S corp or C corp. Check the “name change” box on your next Form 1120-S or 1120.
Don’t leave it until tax season. A name that doesn’t match IRS records is an easy way to get a notice.
Who else needs the new name?
| Account or registration | How to update |
|---|---|
| Business bank accounts | Contact the bank with a certified copy of the amendment |
| Credit cards | Contact the issuer with documentation |
| Sales tax registration | Update through Florida DOR |
| Local business tax receipt | Contact your county or city |
| Professional licenses | Contact the licensing board |
Do the bank first. Banks may freeze an account when the name doesn’t match their records, and you don’t want to find that out on payroll day.
The rest can follow over the next few weeks: website, domain, email, social media and Google Business Profile; business cards, invoices and signage; and clients, vendors, your insurer, landlord and utilities. From approval on, sign contracts in the new name only.
How many certified copies do you need?
Banks often want a certified copy of the amendment, not a printout. Sunbiz.org charges $8.75 for a certified copy of the amendment and $8.75 for a Certificate of Status. We’d order 2-3 copies up front ($17.50-$26.25) so you’re not ordering again mid-way through.
That puts the minimum cost of the whole change at $42.50: $25 for the amendment plus two certified copies, before any new business cards or signage. Plan to notify the IRS within 30 days and allow 1-2 weeks for the bank.
Would a DBA do the job instead?
If you only want to trade under another name, a fictitious name (DBA) may be enough.
| Option | When to use | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Name change (Amendment) | Permanently change the legal name | $25 |
| Fictitious name (DBA) | Operate under an additional name | $50 + newspaper publication |
“Smith Consulting LLC” could file a DBA to also operate as “Smith & Associates.” That’s the right tool for adding a brand. If the old name itself is the problem, say a departed partner’s name or a trademark conflict, change the legal name.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Florida LLC name change take?
Standard processing is 2-3 business days. Expedited 24-hour processing costs an extra $50.
Do I need member approval to change the name?
Check your operating agreement. Most require member approval, often majority or unanimous, for a name change.
Can I change the name back later?
Yes. You’d file another Articles of Amendment ($25).
Let IncCraft handle your amendment
IncCraft can file your Articles of Amendment, make sure it’s right the first time, and remind you about the bank and IRS updates that tend to slip once the state approves the change.
Start your Florida LLC name change today.