How to Change Your Tennessee Business Name

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How to Get a New Business Name in Tennessee

Choose a new business name
Gather information for filing your amendment
File your Tennessee amendment

You probably already know that the power to change your business when you want is one of the great perks of being an entrepreneur. You are free to change your company name, but you need to file Articles of Amendment with the government to do it right and keep your business legally compliant.

While you have the freedom to make business changes, you might not always have the time to do the required paperwork. That doesn’t have to be a problem if you use our services. Our Amendment Filing Service can handle a business name change in Tennessee for you while you grow your company.

We can do the paperwork for you, but let’s use this article to briefly go over how to change a business name in Tennessee.

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.

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FAQs

What's the difference between a doing-business-as (DBA) name and business name?
A doing-business-as (DBA) name is any name your business uses that’s not its official or true name. Tennessee also calls this an assumed name. You might want a DBA to market different facets of your business.
Do I have to change my business name if I have a DBA name?
You don’t have to change your business name if you have a DBA name. However, you will likely need to apply to register your DBA with the Secretary of State.
How do I register my business name in Tennessee?
You initially register an LLC or corporation name when you file your business’s formation documents with the Secretary of State. If you’re running a sole proprietorship or partnership and you don’t want to use your or your co-owner’s legal name, you can apply to register an assumed name or DBA with the Secretary of State.
How many amendments can I make to my business?
If amendments are properly adopted and you file the proper paperwork, you can generally file as many business amendments as you want. In general, you can also submit multiple amendments on a single amendment filing.

Tennessee Business Resources

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