Filed with
Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services
Document
Certificate of Organization
Recurring filing
Every two years
- 01
Choose a name for your Nebraska LLC
Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services business filings →The name must include "limited liability company", "limited company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC" ("Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "company" "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Nebraska register.
Search the Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Nebraska LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Nebraska, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Certificate of Organization
Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services →The Certificate of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Meet the publication requirement
Notice of organization must be published for three successive weeks in a legal newspaper of general circulation near the LLC's designated office, and proof of publication must be filed with the Secretary of State (Neb. Rev. Stat. 21-193). Bills in 2025 and 2026 to change this rule were indefinitely postponed, so the newspaper requirement still applies.
- 05
Write an operating agreement
Nebraska operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 06
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 07
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 08
Get the licenses your business needs
Nebraska business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Nebraska requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Nebraska sales tax too.
- 09
Keep your Nebraska LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Nebraska LLCs file a Biennial Report every two years. It is due between January 1 and April 1 of each odd-numbered year (delinquent as of June 16).
The first one is due between January 1 and April 1 of the first odd-numbered year after the year the LLC is formed.
Worth knowing in Nebraska
- Formation documents can be submitted online through the Secretary of State's eDelivery service as a signed PDF, or by mail or in person.
- The statute treats an LLC's acts as valid once notice is later published and proof is filed, but the publication step is still required.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services and pay the state fee, act as your Nebraska registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Nebraska?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Nebraska, and file a Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Nebraska?
Nebraska charges a filing fee for the Certificate of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Nebraska LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Nebraska LLC have to file an annual report?
Nebraska LLCs file a Biennial Report every two years. It is due between January 1 and April 1 of each odd-numbered year (delinquent as of June 16). The first one is due between January 1 and April 1 of the first odd-numbered year after the year the LLC is formed.
What is the Certificate of Organization?
The document filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Nebraska, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Nebraska?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Nebraska and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
Does Nebraska require LLCs to publish a notice?
Notice of organization must be published for three successive weeks in a legal newspaper of general circulation near the LLC's designated office, and proof of publication must be filed with the Secretary of State (Neb. Rev. Stat. 21-193). Bills in 2025 and 2026 to change this rule were indefinitely postponed, so the newspaper requirement still applies.
