Q: How would I change my business name?
Thank you to a client from South Carolina for that great question! You can change your LLC name by filing Articles of Amendment with the South Carolina Secretary of State’s office. You’ll also need to inform the IRS, your bank, and other third parties about your business name change. Below, we have a step-by-step guide to changing your LLC name in South Carolina.
1. File South Carolina LLC Articles of Amendment
To change your South Carolina LLC name, you’ll file an Amendment to Articles of Organization form, which costs $110. You can file this amendment online, by mail, or in person. The Secretary of State’s office encourages businesses to file online by looking up their business using the Business Entity Search and selecting “Add Filing.”
Learn how to file a South Carolina LLC Amendment.
Can I file Restated Articles of Organization instead?
Yes. Another option is to submit restated South Carolina Articles of Organization. You will still need to include an Articles of Amendment form with the filing, and the fee will still be $110.
2. Update Your Operating Agreement
You will also need to amend your South Carolina operating agreement to reflect your name change. If you have a multi-member LLC, you first need to vote to change your LLC name, following the voting procedure in your operating agreement.
3. Contact the IRS
If your LLC has an Employer Identification Number (EIN), you need to submit your business name change to the IRS. You will either report your name change on your tax form or (if you have a single-member LLC taxed as a sole proprietorship) write a letter to the IRS.
4. Inform Other Third Parties of Your LLC Name Change
Don’t forget to inform all relevant parties that your business name has changed, including:
- Bank
- Creditors
- Vendors/suppliers
- Employees
- Customers (via marketing materials, social media, etc.)
Don’t want to change your official business name? Learn how to get a DBA in South Carolina.