How to Change Your Vermont Business Name

How to Get a New Business Name

The state makes it very easy to change a business name in Vermont. The Vermont Secretary of State has created a streamlined online portal. If you follow these simple steps, you can accomplish the task efficiently and quickly:

1) Choose a new business name

A business name change in Vermont should be done with long-term goals in mind. Technically, your company’s new name can be whatever you want, as long as you follow specific rules established by the state:  

• Your company’s new name cannot be used by any other business in Vermont, and the rules of distinguishing new names from old names are somewhat complicated, so you need to carefully read them over 
• If the company is a corporation, you have to use “Inc.” at the end of it, and if it’s a limited liability company, it has to use “LLC”
• Vermont also restricts discriminatory, obscene, or indecent language in business names.

Our Business Name Checker service allows you to easily check to see if your new name is available.

2) Gather information for filing your amendment

There’s not a lot of information that you will need to put together before you have a business name change in Vermont. Here is what you’ll need:

• Your chosen new name and the fact that it’s unique in the state
• Your company’s registered agent
• Your company’s registration number with the state
• Any other changes you would like to make to the formation documents
• The state user ID and password for logging into the Vermont Secretary of State’s website

Once you have compiled all of the necessary information, you can move on to the next step.

3) File your Vermont Amendment

You can file the name change online or by mail. If you file it online, there is no fee. But there is a small fee for filing by mail. Your name change will be effective within one to two business days when filing online. But if you’re filing the amendment by mail, it could take up to 7 to 10 business days to become effective.

After You Change Your Business Name

Now that you know how to change a business name in Vermont, there are a few follow-up tasks to accomplish. When your Vermont company’s name has been officially changed, you have to make your business compliant by changing to the new name in other areas:

• All documents where the old name is used, such as employment contracts, loan documents, sales agreements, and other legal contracts and documents
• Any federal, state, or local business licenses or permits
• Any marketing materials that use the old name should be changed so that your customers won’t be confused
• Any other accounts that are in the old name, such as utilities, etc

Don’t forget to check your social media and online presence to see if these vital means of communication with your customers need to be updated. Remember to reach out to vendors and business partners you work with regularly. Let them know of your name change and whether they need to write or accept checks under the new name.

We can help

Now that you understand more about how to change a business name in Vermont, you can decide whether you want to take on the task or have us lend a hand, so you can focus on all the other things you have to do. We know that running a business can get overwhelming because there is so much to remember.

Our experts are available from when you first start your business and throughout its future. With our Worry-Free Compliance Service, you can be assured your company will be legal and all the important filings and paperwork will be done correctly and on time.

If you’re just starting and haven’t created your business yet, don’t forget to check out our Vermont corporation creation services and our Vermont LLC creation services. We can get you and your new business started in no time.