California LLC name change: file an amendment, then update the rest

To change a California LLC name, you file an amendment with the Secretary of State. For a name change only, California provides Form LLC-2-NA. For broader changes, California provides Form LLC-2. The filing fee is $30 either way. The state also makes clear that name changes and routine record updates are different jobs, so many LLCs need a follow-up Statement of Information after the amendment.

Checked against California Secretary of State and IRS materials on September 2, 2026.

The short answer

A California LLC cannot just start using a new legal name because the owners decided to switch. The Secretary of State says a business entity name can be changed by filing the applicable document online at BizFile or by submitting the paper amendment form. For an LLC, the key forms are LLC-2-NA for name change only and LLC-2 for a broader amendment that may also include a new name.

The filing itself is fairly simple. The harder part is checking that the new name actually works under California's naming rules and then cleaning up the related records after approval.

California LLC name change item	Rule
Main form for name change only	Form LLC-2-NA
Main form for broader amendment	Form LLC-2
State filing fee	$30
Name standard	Must be distinguishable in the records and not likely to mislead the public
Related update often needed	Statement of Information, Form LLC-12
EIN point	IRS says form your entity first and use the legal name from state records

Which California form to use

The California Secretary of State publishes two relevant amendment forms for LLCs. Form LLC-2-NA is specifically labeled for name change only. Form LLC-2 is the broader amendment form and includes a field for a new LLC name if you are amending the name along with other article details.

Both forms show a $30 filing fee. Both also note that if you need to change business addresses or the name or address of the LLC's managers or agent for service of process, that work belongs on the Statement of Information rather than inside the amendment itself.

Changing the LLC's legal name is one filing. Updating addresses, managers, or agent details is often a second filing.

The name still has to pass California's rules

California says an LLC name must be distinguishable in the records from other limited liability companies of record or reserved with the Secretary of State, and it may not be likely to mislead the public. The name reservation page also says the Business Search is only a preliminary search and not a formal name availability search.

That means a quick online search is useful, but it is not a guarantee. California also warns not to order signage or make financial commitments until the formation, registration, or change documents are actually submitted and filed.

What information goes on the amendment

The amendment forms ask for the LLC's exact current name and the California entity number. Then you list the new LLC name exactly as it should appear on the state's records. The form notes that the name must contain an LLC identifier such as LLC or L.L.C., and the state says "LLC" will be added if it is not already included.

If you use the broader LLC-2 form, you may also be amending management information or adding other amendments, but the basic name-change section still works the same way.

Do not forget the Statement of Information

California repeats on the amendment forms that the Statement of Information, Form LLC-12, is the filing used to change business addresses or the name or address of managers and the agent for service of process. The Secretary of State FAQs also say an LLC must file a Statement of Information when the agent's name or address changes or when address information changes.

So if your rebrand also includes new address details, new management information, or a new agent setup, do not assume the amendment handles all of it. It usually does not.

What about the EIN and IRS records

The IRS says that when you apply for an EIN, you should form your entity first and enter the business name as it appears on your registration or formation documents. That is useful even for a later name change because it shows the order of operations: get the state record right first, then use the updated legal name in tax and banking follow-up.

If the LLC already has an EIN, the key practical point is still the same. Make sure federal and banking records match the new state-approved legal name after the amendment is filed.

Bottom line

A California LLC name change is usually done through Form LLC-2-NA if the only change is the name, or Form LLC-2 if you are making broader amendments too. The filing fee is $30. The new name must be distinguishable in the records and not likely to mislead the public. After that, many LLCs still need a Statement of Information to update related details the amendment does not cover. The clean path is simple: clear the new name, file the amendment, then update the rest of the record and tax paperwork so everything matches.