How to Change Your New York Business Name

How to Get a New Business Name

Making a business name change in New York requires three simple steps. 

1.) Choose a new business name

Your company’s new name must comply with New York’s business name rules. For both LLCs and corporations, a business name must:

• Be distinguishable from the names of both domestic and foreign entities registered with the state
• Include a word or abbreviation that shows the type of business (e.g., corporation, LLC, etc.)
• Not contain any word, phrase, or abbreviation that the law prohibits (e.g., board of trade, urban development, etc.)

Depending on the word or phrase, you may be able to get approval to use it in your business name. 

To know if the name you want is distinguishable from other names and available, use our Business Name Checker.  

2.) Gather information for filing your amendment

To complete a Certificate of Amendment for your LLC or corporation, you should have some information on hand. Here’s a list of the general business information you may need:

• The current business name
• Any previous business names
• The date of filing the formation documents (Articles of Organization or Certificate of Incorporation)
• The new business name
• Method of adopting the amendment (e.g., vote of the board of directors)
• The name and signature of an authorized person

The Department of State emphasizes that the business name and date of formation you provide on the certificate must exactly match their records. Your certificate also needs to include the appropriate filing fee. 

3.) File your New York amendment

You must file the Certificate of Amendment with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations. The paperwork can be sent via mail, or you can file online. All accompanying fees must be paid by cash, check, money order, or credit card. 

If you want to make a business name change in New York, we can help. With our Amendment Filing Service, we’ll do the work for you. 

After You Change Your Business Name

Once you change your business name, it’s essential to update any legal documents and marketing materials. This includes things like employment contracts and your company website. 

We can help

Learning how to change a business name in New York isn’t difficult, but following the process does require some leg work. Let us take care of this for you with our Amendment Filing Service. If you’re in the beginning stages of starting a company, we can help you set up a New York LLC or corporation with our Formation Services. In just minutes, you can become an entrepreneur! 

We also offer our Worry-Free Compliance Service to help keep your business running smoothly. We can store your business documents on a personalized dashboard and send reminders about upcoming filing deadlines. With all of our products, services, and resources, you can start your dream business today!