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Note: as a generic checklist, this aid can be of value, but is probably not all you need to do to affect the change. States and municipalities have varied regulations, as have specific
financial institutions. The scope of the change, particularly if the company has international facilities or affiliations, can be complex and different for each locale. It is certainly recommended that
both your corporate legal advisor and accounting firm be included on your name change team.
There are opportunities to transition from the old to new name; when both names can be used simultaneously. These opportunities involving financial & legal implications may be
regulated by various government agencies, both state and federal. Again, professional legal and financial advice should be solicited.
Legal considerations
- Registering the name with Department of State offices in each state, province and country you do business.
- Registering the name as a trademark.
- Alerting federal, state and municipal government agencies.
- IRS
- State and municipal sales taxes
- Workman's comp
- Others as directed by legal counsel
- Advise all entities with which you have contracts of the change.
Financial considerations
- Notifying all banks you have accounts with.
- Notifying credit reporting services, 401k accounts, insurance companies.
- Notifying all suppliers of the new name.
- Printing new checks, invoices, statements, purchase orders, etc.
Marketing considerations (minimum)
- Notifying customers of the name change.
- Prepare news releases for all local newspapers.
- Develop feature article for one major newspaper.
- Reprint company literature and sales forms.
- Repaint trucks/vans.
- Advertising specialties as wanted.
- Uniforms/employee clothing identification as wanted.
- Notify all business associations to which you belong.
- Change directory listings.
- Buyer's directories.
- Telephone directories (white pages, alternate directories).
- Association directories.
- Send press release to all relevant trade publications, local and national.
- Redesign product packaging.
- Redo manuals, workbooks, presentations, exhibits.
General business consideration
- Design and print new letterhead, business cards, envelopes and labels.
- Prepare signs for interior and exterior building identification as required.
- Develop a manual for name and logo usage.
- Develop and disseminate rationale of name change to employees, distributors, stockholders and others.
- Design and produce new internal and external forms.
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