How Much Does an LLC Cost in Nebraska

Written by: Mary Gerardine

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How Much Does an LLC Cost in Nebraska

The minimum Nebraska LLC cost is $100, which covers the processing fee for filing your Certificate of Organization. 

Having said that, the total cost of forming an Nebraska LLC will depend on several factors, including your personal preferences and business needs. 

In our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Nebraska article, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the different costs associated with launching and maintaining an LLC.

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Nebraska LLC Cost

In the table below, you can find a summary of the main requirements of forming a Nebraska limited liability company (LLC) and their associated fees.

                                                                     
RequirementFee
Certificate of Organization$100-$110
Registered Agent$0-$99+
Publication Requirement$25-$30+
LLC Name$0-$140
Operating Agreement$0+

Nebraska LLC Filing Fee ($50+)

To form your LLC in Nebraska, you will be required to submit a Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of State.

This will need to include the following information in order for your submission to be processed:

  • Your LLC’s name
  • The street and mailing address of your initial designated office
  • The name, street, and mailing address of your initial agent for service of process
  • Your LLC’s effective date of incorporation

This process incurs a processing fee of $100 for online filings or $110 for submissions done by mail or in person; this is the case regardless of whether you’re registering a domestic or a foreign LLC.

Having said that, if you choose to use an LLC formation service, the cost will be a little higher as it will include a small service fee in addition to Nebraska’s state filing fee.

The fees for an LLC formation service can range significantly, but can start from as low as $29, increasing if you decide to purchase any additional offerings.

Note: For more details on the formation process, you can check out our Nebraska LLC Formation guide.

Nebraska Registered Agent ($0-$99+)

As part of filing your Certificate of Organization, you will be required to appoint a registered agent.

This is a person or business entity that you must assign to receive tax, legal, and governmental correspondence on behalf of your Nebraska LLC. Your registered agent will need to be available during normal business hours in order to receive service of process.

While you can act as your own registered agent at no extra cost, it’s often recommended to hire a professional service so you avoid any potential penalties or legal issues caused by non-compliance with state regulations.

Hiring a third-party service can also be a great way of ensuring that your personal information remains private.

The cost for hiring a registered agent service in Nebraska is generally between $49 and $99 per year, depending the level of service offered and the type of features requested.

Note: You can change your registered agent at any time by submitting a Change of Agent/Office form, which includes a fee of $30 for in-office submissions or $25 for online filings.

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Publication Requirement ($25-$30+)

After your LLC’s registration is processed, you will be required to publish a Notice of Organization in a local newspaper of “general circulation” for three consecutive weeks.

This notice must include your LLC’s name, office address, and business nature.

Following the publication, you will need to obtain an affidavit of publication from the newspaper you used and submit it to the Secretary of State.

The filing fee is $25 for online submissions and $30 for mail filings, which you will need to pay in addition to the cost of the newspaper publication, which will depend on several factors (including your exact location within Nebraska).

Naming Your Nebraska LLC ($0-$140)

When forming your Nebraska LLC, you’ll be required to pick a suitable name that’s available to use.

There are two potential costs to be aware of when naming your LLC.

Reserving Name

In Nebraska, name reservation requests must be submitted in writing using the Reservation of Limited Liability Company Name form; this incurs a $30 processing fee.

If your request is approved by the Secretary of State’s staff, your chosen name will be reserved for you for a period of 120 days.

Note: Inquiries about the availability of corporate entity names can be submitted by email or by mail at the following address.

Secretary of State’s Office
Business Services Division
PO Box 94608, Lincoln, NE 68509

When choosing a name for your LLC, it’s important to select one that corresponds to an available domain. This is because a matching domain ensures consistency between your LLC’s name and its online presence, which helps to strengthen its brand recognition and credibility.

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Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you plan to operate your business under a name that differs from your LLCs official one, you’ll need to obtain a Doing Business As (DBA) name — which is also known as a Trade Name in Nebraska.

You can file your DBA name online using the Secretary of State’s website for a $100 processing fee, or via mail by completing this Application for Registration of Trade Name form and mailing it to the secretary of state’s office (alongside a $110 filing fee).

Once the Secretary of State’s office has processed your trade name application, they will send you a duplicate copy.

To finalize your submission, you will be required to publish this copy in a newspaper of general circulation within the city in which your business is located.

This ensures that the publication will accurately represent your trade name application’s details, as even a slight difference could render the registration void under Nebraska law.

Following the publication, you will need to obtain a notarized Affidavit of Publication from the newspaper you used, which must be submitted to the Secretary of State’s office within 45 days of your trade name’s initial application.

Keep in mind that DBAs in Nebraska are valid for 10 years.

Nebraska LLC Operating Agreement ($0+)

While not mandatory, it’s good practice for LLCs to have an operating agreement.

This document defines the roles and responsibilities of the members or managers in your LLC and will help prevent and solve any business disputes that may arise later on.

While you can opt to hire an online service or business attorney to draft this document for you (which typically costs at least a few hundred dollars), it’s actually quite straightforward to do it yourself at no extra cost.

It’s also important to note that this doesn’t actually need to be filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State — it’s purely an internal document.

Additional Nebraska LLC Formation Costs

On top of the more common fees outlined above, there are a number of additional formation costs that LLCs in Nebraska may encounter depending on their circumstances.

We’ve summarized some of these additional costs below:

Expedited Nebraska LLC Filing

While Nebraska does not offer a formal expedited filing service for LLCs, the Secretary of State encourages you to contact the Business Services Division at (402) 471-4079 for potential options on speeding up electronic filings.

Local Business Licenses

In order to comply with the local-level regulations of your city and county, your business may be required to obtain some local business licenses.

While very few municipalities impose a general licensing requirement for businesses operating within their limits, your LLC might need a municipal license if it’s involved in certain activities.

For instance, in Lincoln, LLCs intending to sell food or merchandise in a park will need to apply for a business license from the city, which comes at a cost of $25 per event.

Certificate of Good Standing

A Nebraska Certificate of Good Standing is a document often required to open a business bank account; it can also be requested by various lenders in order to check that your LLC is properly registered and legally authorized to conduct business in the state.

You can obtain a Certificate of Good Standing online for a fee of $6.50 or opt for a physical copy for a slightly higher fee of $10.

The latter will be mailed to you within two to three business days, and can be requested by calling the Secretary of State’s Office directly at the following number: (402) 471-4079.

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Cost to Maintain an LLC in Nebraska

In addition to the cost of forming an LLC in Nebraska, there are also several ongoing costs you’ll be responsible for paying each year.

We’ve outlined these recurring costs associated with maintaining an Nebraska LLC below.

Biennial Report Fee

In Nebraska, all LLCs are obligated to file biennial reports with the Secretary of State by April 1 of each odd-numbered year.

The Nebraska biennial report fee is $30, and can be submitted online or by mail through the Secretary of State’s website.

Keep in mind that, the biennial report must include the following information:

  • Your LLC’s official name
  • The address of your business and registered agent
  • The names and addresses of your LLC’s managers and/or members
  • Your LLC’s status (e.g., active, inactive, etc.)

It should be noted that failure to file by the deadline for two reporting cycles may lead to the administrative dissolution of your LLC.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you decide to take advantage of a professional registered agent in order to handle your legal documents, you’ll be required to pay an annual fee in return for their services. This fee commonly ranges between $45 and $300 depending on the provider and features you select.

While you’re not required to use a professional service, it’s highly recommended.

Taxes

In addition to the federal taxes your LLC is required to pay regardless of the state it’s based in, there are a variety of state-specific taxes in Nebraska you need to be aware of, including:

  • Sales tax
  • Employment taxes
  • Business privilege taxes
  • Property taxes

Additionally, there are various local taxes your LLC may need to pay depending on the municipality or county it’s based in, such as:

  • Sales and use taxes
  • Property tax

Nebraska vs Other States

Nebraska’s LLC formation and maintenance costs are generally competitive with other states. Having said that, the mandatory publication requirement introduces an extra layer of complexity and potential expense that’s not commonly found elsewhere.

Additionally, the Secretary of State’s office has not fully digitized all filing processes, which can lead to a less convenient experience and increased turnaround times in comparison to other states with more advanced online services.

Having said that, it’s important to understand that the best state to form your LLC will generally be the one in which you plan to primarily operate your business from.

This is because this makes it far easier to stay legally compliant on a number of levels, including taxation, licensing, and filing requirements, as you’ll only need to deal with one state’s set of rules.

LLC Cost in Nebraska FAQ

What is required to start an LLC in Nebraska?

To start an LLC in Nebraska, you will need to file a Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of State and pay a filing fee of either $100 or $110, depending on the method of filing. Additionally, you will need to issue three publications in a local newspaper. For more information, you can have a look at our How to Start an LLC in Nebraska guide.

What is the difference between a sole proprietorship and an LLC?

A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business owned by one person, with no legal distinction between the owner and the business. On the other hand, a Nebraska business registered as an LLC has limited liability, meaning that the personal assets of its owners are protected from its liabilities.

What are the benefits of an LLC in Nebraska?

Registering your company as an LLC in Nebraska has many benefits, including limited liability protection — which safeguards your personal assets from business-related debts. LLCs additionally benefit from the ability to select their tax classification, which allows them to be taxed as a C Corporation, S Corporation, or as an unincorporated entity (e.g., a sole proprietorship, etc.).

What is the most expensive state to form an LLC?

The cost to form an LLC varies significantly across states, with California often cited as one of the most expensive due to its $800 annual franchise tax. Other states with high formation and maintenance fees include Massachusetts and Delaware. Tennessee, in particular, is notably expensive for establishing and maintaining a multi-member LLC. For additional details, please refer to our How Much Does it Cost to Start an LLC article.

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