(a)        A licensee shall not conduct business under any name other than that specified in the license. A license issued under this Article is not assignable. A licensee shall not conduct business under any fictitious or assumed name without prior written authorization from the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall not authorize the use of a name that is so similar to that of a public office or agency or to that of another licensee that the public may be confused or misled by the name’s use. A licensee shall not conduct business under more than one name unless the licensee has obtained a separate license for each name or the licensee is operating under a group license pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-89A-35.

(b)        Except as provided in this subsection, a licensee may change the licensee’s licensed name only once in a calendar year by notifying the Commissioner and paying a fee for the change of name. The fee for a name change shall be fifty dollars ($50.00). A licensee may change the licensee’s name without the payment of the name change fee if the name change is submitted with the information required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-89A-70(d). If a licensee has changed its name once during a calendar year, the licensee shall not change its name again unless the name change is approved by the Commissioner.

(c)        A licensee shall notify the Commissioner in writing within 30 days of any change in the status of the licensee, including:

(1)        Any change in the location of the licensee’s primary business office;

(2)        The addition of or change in the location of any other business offices providing professional employer services in this State; and

(3)        A change in the location of business records maintained by the licensee.

(d)       A licensee may advertise in this State using only the name that is on the license issued by the Commissioner.

(e)        Each written proposal provided to a prospective client company and each PEO agreement between a licensee and a client company or assigned employee shall clearly identify the name of the licensee. (2004-162, s. 1.)