A Nebraska LLC search will help you check the availability of a business name you wish to use in the state or look up specific public information on an existing business entity. 

Starting an LLC in Nebraska

State law specifies that LLCs must contain one of the following at the end of their business names: 

  • Limited Liability Company 
  • L.L.C. 
  • LLC

Business names must be unique and distinguishable from existing names.

You can check the availability of an LLC name you want to use at the secretary of state database. You can also reserve a name by filing an application for name reservation. The reservation is good for 120 days. You'll mail in your application and include a filing fee of $15.

To form an LLC in Nebraska, you'll file a Certificate of Organization with the state. Your certificate will include the following: 

  • The name and address of your LLC 
  • The name and address of your company's registered agent

If your business provides professional services, your certificate must list the specific services your company is licensed for or legally authorized to provide. You can mail in your certificate or upload the PDF online. The filing fee is $100 plus an additional $5 per page.

All LLCs in the state are required to have a registered agent, or an agent for service of process, which is a person or company that accepts legal documents on the company's behalf. Registered agents must be either residents of Nebraska or entities that are authorized to do business in the state. They have to have a physical street address to receive mail. P.O. boxes do not suffice.

You don't need an operating agreement for an LLC in Nebraska, but it's still recommended to have one. You don't have to file this agreement with the state.

When you form an LLC in Nebraska, you must publish a notice announcing this, and the notice has to run for three consecutive weeks in a generally circulated newspaper in the principal county your LLC will be located in. If your LLC's main location is out of state, you can publish the notice in the registered agent's county location.

You must get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS if your company has more than one member, even if your LLC has no employees. If your LLC is a single-member business, you only need an EIN if you want it to be taxed as a corporation or if it will have employees. You may need additional business licenses at the local or state level depending on the type of business you operate.

All LLCs must file a biennial report every odd-numbered year with the state. These reports are due April 1.

Any LLC formed outside of Nebraska that wishes to do business in the state has to first register with the state. Foreign LLCs (or LLCs organized in another state) must have a registered agent with a physical address in Nebraska.

LLC Name Search in Nebraska

You can perform a quick LLC search at the secretary of state website to do the following: 

  • Check the availability of a desired LLC name 
  • Look up the status of an existing company

The business entity search tool allows you to perform administrative tasks for your business.

Before forming an LLC, you should make sure the entity name you want to use is available. The LLC name has to be unique and adhere to certain requirements.

To form an LLC, start with these steps: 

  1. Choose a business name that adheres to specific guidelines. 
  2. Conduct a search to see if the LLC name you want is available in Nebraska. 
  3. Check for domain names, even if you don't have plans to create a business website right away. Securing the domain name early will prevent someone else from acquiring it.
  4. Consider an appropriate email address that's closely associated with your LLC name.

It's a quick and simple process to conduct a name search in Nebraska, and it's very important before starting a business. Your LLC should have a unique name that sets it apart from other businesses. You can also perform other tasks at the state website, including finding answers to common questions and getting information on existing state companies.

If you need help with an LLC name search in Nebraska or another state, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.