How to Change Your Tennessee Business Name

How to Get a New Business Name

When you want to change a business name in Tennessee, you normally have to do some preparation. This quick guide can help you get the correct information together for your paperwork. 

1.) Choose a new business name

As contradictory as it sounds, the easiest and most challenging part of changing your business’s name is probably choosing the new name. You want to choose a name that represents your business well and stands out, and that can be tricky. Fortunately, there aren’t many naming requirements to follow when choosing a name in Tennessee. If you’re a Tennessee LLC owner or corporation owner, your new name must follow a few rules:

• It needs to contain words or abbreviations that identify what kind of legal entity your business is 
• It can’t contain words that state or imply that you’re running your business for unauthorized, uncertified, or impermissible purposes
• The name has to be distinguishable from other business names on record with the Secretary of State

Choosing a good name is one hurdle to clear, and selecting a distinguishable name is another.

2.) Gather information for filing your amendment

When you file your Articles of Amendment, you’re telling the state to change information on your business’s formation documents. A Charter forms a Tennessee corporation, and Articles of Organization form a Tennessee LLC. To change your business entity’s name on these documents, you normally need to provide many business details, such as: 

• The business’s current, official name
• The business’s Secretary of State control number
• The new name you wish to use
• The effective date of the name change (if different from the amendment filing date)
• Information about how and when your business adopted the new name
• A signature from an authorized party

When you’re ready to file your Articles of Amendment, you normally need to pay a filing fee as well.

3.) File your Tennessee amendment

You can file your Articles of Amendment by delivering them to the Business Services Division of the Tennessee Secretary of State. You can also file your Articles of Amendment online, using the Secretary of State’s online portal. But you don’t have to handle this process on your own. Our Amendment Filing Service can take care of these tasks on your behalf. 

After You Change Your Business Name

Filing an amendment form with the government is the first step you need to take to use a new business name. But you also need to keep your business’s legal rights and marketability intact after a name change. This usually includes updating the company name on multiple business materials, including: 

• Legal documents 
• Insurance policies
• Logos
• Websites
• Marketing materials

Updating your business materials can be a lot of work, but if you handle it early, you can avoid a lot of confusion and trouble in the future. 

We Can Help

If you’re already a business owner, you probably know that paperwork can take up an annoyingly large portion of your time. Do you want some of that time back? You can get the time you spend on paperwork back by using our services. Our Worry-Free Compliance Service stays on top of your business filing deadlines and handles two amendments for you per year. And if you’re still looking to start a Tennessee LLC or corporation, our Tennessee LLC and Tennessee Corporation Formation Services can help you get up and running quickly. We want to see you on a good and fast track to success, and our business formation and maintenance services can help you get there! 

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational 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.