Nebraska · Start a business
How to start a business in Nebraska
Nebraska has no general business license; trade names registered with the Secretary of State last 10 years.
See the checklistShort answer
To start a business in Nebraska, pick a structure and file with the Secretary of State: $100 for an LLC, $100 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes. Nebraska has no general state business license.
Last checked .What do you file before you open in Nebraska?
Pick a structure
Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Nebraska LLC guide, Nebraska corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Nebraska. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.
Check and register the name
Search the Secretary of State records before you pick a name: state name search. The Nebraska Secretary of State registers trade names for a filing fee of $110 in person or $100 online, and a registration expires 10 years from the date of filing. 1 See Nebraska name search guide.
File with the state
Nebraska charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $100 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $100 3. See LLC cost.
Name a registered agent
Every Nebraska corporation must continuously maintain a registered office and a registered agent in Nebraska. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Nebraska registered agent rules.
Which accounts do you open after you file in Nebraska?
Get an EIN
An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5
Open your state tax accounts
The Nebraska Department of Revenue assigns a Nebraska identification number to new businesses that register online or on its paper tax application, and registration is required for businesses with employees, retail sales, rentals or taxable services. 6 See Sales tax permit.
Register as an employer
The Nebraska Department of Labor requires every employer that begins operations in the state and employs a person to apply for an unemployment insurance account number; liability starts with employment in 20 different calendar weeks or $1,500 in gross wages in a calendar quarter. 7 Nebraska employers report each newly hired and rehired employee to the Nebraska State Directory of New Hires, a Department of Health and Human Services program, within 20 days of the hire date. 8 The Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court says most Nebraska employers must carry workers' compensation insurance, with exceptions such as federal employers, and that the Act does not apply to independent contractors. 9
What keeps your Nebraska business in good standing?
Check licenses and permits
The Nebraska Secretary of State says Nebraska has no general business license; the office instead records formation documents such as articles of incorporation for corporations and certificates of organization for limited liability companies. 10
Calendar the yearly filings
Nebraska biennial report: $25, due every two years, by April 1. 11 See Nebraska annual report.
Use free local help
Small business advising in Nebraska runs through the Nebraska Business Development Center. 12 The Nebraska Department of Economic Development describes SourceLink Nebraska as a one-stop shop where entrepreneurs, business owners and resource partners find the right resource at the right time. 13
What it costs to start a business in Nebraska
Do you need a business license in Nebraska?
Not from the state. Nebraska has no general state business license. 10 Where to look up licenses: SourceLink Nebraska.
How to register a business name in Nebraska
| Question | Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Where it is filed | With the state 1 |
| Office | Secretary of State |
| What it is called | trade name |
| Fee | $110 |
| Term in years | 10 |
Check that the name is free first: state name search.
Also in Nebraska
- Paid sick time. The Nebraska Department of Labor says the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, effective October 1, 2025, requires 40 hours of paid sick time a year from employers with 11 to 19 employees and 56 hours from those with 20 or more. 15
- City occupation taxes. The Nebraska Department of Revenue explains that any city or village in Nebraska may impose an occupation tax on businesses within its boundaries, most often hotel operators, car rental companies, telecommunications providers, restaurants and bars. 16
More for Nebraska
Start your Nebraska business
We file it, and the state fee shows before you pay.
Start my LLCCommon questions
What are the steps to start a business in Nebraska?
Pick a structure, file with the Secretary of State, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Nebraska Department of Revenue, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.
What does it cost to register a business in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, an LLC filing is $100 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $100. The biennial report is $25 every two years.
Can I start a business in Nebraska with no money?
Nebraska charges $100 to file an LLC, and the biennial report is $25 every two years. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one.
Are there small business grants in Nebraska?
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development says its grant programs are designed to remove barriers in starting, retaining and expanding businesses, and lists programs such as Nebraska Innovation Fund Prototype Grants and the Microenterprise Assistance Program.
What is the Nebraska SBDC?
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development lists the Nebraska Business Development Center among the partners that help new businesses with business planning, market analysis and loan guarantees through the federal Small Business Administration.
Sources 17 links, checked Nov 12, 2026
- DBA or trade name registration sos.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.nebraska.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
- Corporation filing sos.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Registered agent rule nebraskalegislature.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State tax registration revenue.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Unemployment insurance registration dol.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- New hire reporting ne-newhire.com, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Workers' compensation coverage newcc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- General business license sos.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Nebraska biennial report sos.nebraska.gov, checked Oct 4, 2026
- Small Business Development Center opportunity.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State business portal opportunity.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Paid sick time dol.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- City occupation taxes revenue.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State small business funding opportunity.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
Last verified Nov 12, 2026.
This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.