How to Change Your Florida Business Name

How to Get a New Business Name

There are three simple steps to change a business name in Florida. It’s important to carefully follow and complete each one. 

1. Choose a new business name

As you run through ideas for a new business name, remember that there are specific state naming rules to follow. In Florida, your new company name must:

• Be distinguishable from other business names on record with the Division of Corporations
• Include words or abbreviations that specify the type of business you have (e.g., limited liability company, corporation, LLC, Corp., etc.)

To see if the name you want is distinguishable and available, use our Business Name Checker. You can also reserve your name; this gives you time to get your paperwork together while prohibiting others from using the name you want. Keep in mind that you can reserve a business name for only 120 days. 

2. Gather information for filing your amendment

To make a business name change in Florida, you need to provide lots of information about your company. You can find what you need on either the Articles of Amendment to Articles of Organization form (for LLCs) or the Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation form (for corporations). However, in general, you’ll need the following information:

• The current business name
• The date of filing the entity’s formation documents
• The 6 or 12 digit number assigned to your business by the Division of Corporations
• The new business name
• The signature of an authorized person

Your Articles of Amendment must include a cover letter, which you can find with the form, and a filing fee that is listed on the Department of State’s website. 

3. File your Florida amendment

The Division of Corporations accepts Articles of Amendment by mail, in person, or electronically. You can pay the filing fee with a check, money order, or credit card. Don’t forget that we can change your business name for you with our Amendment Filing Service. Amendment filing is also included in our Worry-Free Compliance Service, which offers more comprehensive legal compliance coverage.

After You Change Your Business Name

Once you have your new business name, be sure to update any legal and financial documents, your website, and marketing materials to reflect the change. You should also check your employment contracts and update them to reflect the new name. Having an inconsistent business name can cause confusion and make your company appear disorganized. 

We Can Help

Choosing a different business name can give your company a fresh start. The process is simple, but we make it even easier with our Amendment Filing Service. Our goal is to take on some of the more time-consuming filing tasks so that you can focus on what’s important to you, namely, running your company to achieve success.

If you haven’t created your LLC or corporation yet, we can help with that too! We offer both Florida LLC and Florida Corporation Formation Services. 

Once your business is up and running, please take advantage of our Worry-Free Compliance Service. We’ll help keep your business legally compliant by reminding you of upcoming filing deadlines and other state requirements. This service also includes up to two amendments filings each year. Get started on your dream business today!