A business name change in Massachusetts requires you to amend a Certificate of Organization if you have an LLC or the Articles of Organization if you have a Corporation. Amending your business’ formation documents when you make this kind of change is necessary to comply with legal requirements.
Starts at $0 + Massachusetts state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
We can help you with your name change so you can focus on running your business. Our Amendment Filing Service can handle your business name change in Massachusetts so that you don’t have to navigate the legal regulations for changing a business name.
Below are the steps for how to change a business name in Massachusetts.
The first step in changing your business’ name in Massachusetts is to select a new name that you like. The name you choose for your LLC or Corporation, however, must not be too similar to other business names, and can’t be mistaken for another business name. You can check your selected name against other Massachusetts business names and existing name reservations online.
Once you have selected a name, you can reserve the name by filing a form with the Corporations Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. You can file the name reservation form, along with a fee, in person or by mail. If the name you want is available, it will be reserved for 60 days.
We can take the stress out of checking that your chosen name is proper and available through our Business Name Checker.
The next step for how to change a business name in Massachusetts is to gather the information you will need to amend your business’s organizational documents. Your organizational documents are those documents you initially filed with the state when you first set up your business. This is the Articles of Organization for Massachusetts corporations, and for a Massachusetts LLC, it’s the Certificate of Organization. To legally and permanently change your business name, you must amend these documents.
Generally, you will need the following information to prepare your amendment:
Massachusetts provides a form to amend your Corporate Articles of Organization. If you have an LLC, however, the state doesn’t offer a form to amend your Certificate of Organization. Instead, you will need to follow Massachusetts’s regulations for drafting an amendment to the Certificate of Organization for your LLC.
Next, you’ll file your amendment to change a business name in Massachusetts with the Corporations Division of Secretary of the Commonwealth. You can file it in person, by mail, by fax, or online with the appropriate fee.
We can help you by taking the worry out of navigating the legal requirements for preparing and filing amendments with our Amendment Filing Service.
After securing a name change, you may want to change your business materials to reflect your new business name accurately. You may consider changing your name on the following:
You may also consider branding and logo changes. In addition, you may contact your clients to notify them of the name change to minimize any confusion.
As you can see, you must closely follow many requirements to change your business name in Massachusetts so that your business name change is compliant with the law. We can help with our Amendment Filing Service, so you don’t have to worry about navigating the Massachusetts amendment process.
Additionally, our Worry-Free Compliance can help with your business’s ongoing compliance issues. Plus, this includes two amendments to your organizational documents each year.
If you haven’t yet formed your business, we also take the hassle out of this process with our Massachusetts LLC or Massachusetts Corporation Formation Services. Our customer service team is available to help answer your questions regarding any of these services.
Massachusetts Business Name Change FAQs
What’s the difference between a doing-business-as (DBA) name and business name?
The difference between a doing-business-as (DBA) name and a business name is that your business name is your business’s official legal name that appears on all its official documents. A DBA name, however, is an assumed or fictitious name. In Massachusetts, you need to register a DBA name by filing a DBA Certificate with the city where your business is located.
Do I have to change my business name if I have a DBA name?
No, you don’t need to change your business name if you have a DBA name. A business that doesn’t want to change its official business name may use a DBA name for a subset of its services, for marketing, or other branding purposes. You will still need to register your DBA name with your locality in Massachusetts.
How do I register my business name in Massachusetts?
First, you can only choose a name that isn’t similar to other existing business names in Massachusetts. By searching the databases maintained by the Division of Corporations, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you can find this out.
Then, you reserve that name with the Massachusetts Division of Corporations. You then need to file an amendment to your formation documents for an existing business. For a new business, you can include this name as your business name when you file your business formation documents with the state.
How many amendments can I make to my business?
You can make as many amendments to your business’s organizational documents as needed. If your business undergoes any major changes, you’ll want to check with the Massachusetts Division of Corporations to see if an amendment is required.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
Massachusetts Business Resources
Change your business name in your state
Ready to Start Your Massachusetts LLC?
Start Your LLC