Nebraska business entity search and name check

What the Nebraska search covers

The Secretary of State describes this as a free search of the Corporate and Business database covering 'all entities, trade names, trademarks, and service marks'. From December 7, 2026 the search moves to business.nebraska.gov.

Each record has a Account Number. Search by number on the Corporate and Business Search.

How to read Nebraska results

Nebraska uses its own status labels. We always show the official wording; here is what the common ones mean according to the state:

A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.

Nebraska business name rules

An LLC name must include one of: Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC. A corporation uses one of: Corporation, Incorporated, Company, Limited, Corp., Inc., Co., Ltd..

A name can't be 'the same as or deceptively similar to' a name already on the Secretary of State's records: companies formed or authorized in Nebraska, reserved names and registered trade names. This 'deceptively similar' test differs from the 'distinguishable on the record' test many states use, and staff apply their own established criteria. In an LLC name, 'Ltd.' may be used for 'Limited' and 'Co.' for 'Company'. (Neb. Rev. Stat. 21-108 (LLC); 21-230 (corporations)) Source: nebraskalegislature.gov

Nebraska doesn’t publish a list of the differences it ignores, so our check treats only capitalization and punctuation as insignificant and flags other close names as similar for you to judge.

Words that need approval or are restricted

Professional LLCs

A professional-service LLC files a Certificate of Organization (Professional Service), which must state the professional service it provides (21-117(b)(3)). A certificate from the examining board costs $30.

Using a similar name with consent

Yes. The current holder's signed consent, or a court judgment, lets an LLC use a deceptively similar name (21-108(c)); the same applies to corporations (21-230(c)). The state's Consent for Use of Similar Name form has no fee.

Reserving a name in Nebraska

Nebraska lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $30, held for 120 days.

Send the written application and fee by mail, email or fax. The Secretary of State replies with an Acknowledgement of Filing or a notice that the name isn't available. You can also ask informally whether a name is available by emailing sos.corp@nebraska.gov. That check is free but not binding.

Nebraska name reservation Source: nebraskalegislature.gov

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only Business Services Division can.

Forming an LLC in Nebraska

Document

Certificate of Organization

State filing fee

$100
$100 online or $110 on paper, plus $10 for a certificate under state law (Neb. Rev. Stat. 21-192(1)(a)). Newspaper publication costs extra, and filing the proof of publication costs $25 online or $30 on paper.

File online

Business Services Division filing

Processing

Online filing currently goes through eDelivery, where you upload a signed PDF. From December 7, 2026, filings move to business.nebraska.gov, which needs an account and adds a card fee ($1.75 plus 2.49%) or a bank-transfer fee ($1.75).

Registered agent

The registered agent can be a member of the company or another person who lives in Nebraska, or a corporation authorized to do business in Nebraska. The agent's office must be the registered office and must stay in Nebraska. Not keeping one can lead to administrative dissolution.

Out-of-state LLC registering here

$100 (Certificate of Authority (foreign LLC))

Fees change. Confirm them on the official Nebraska fee schedule before you file.

Keeping a Nebraska LLC in good standing

Biennial Report: $25. Due between January 1 and April 1 of odd-numbered years, and delinquent after June 16. Source: sos.nebraska.gov

Corporations (not LLCs) pay a biennial occupation tax with their report in even-numbered years, due by March 1 and delinquent after April 15. It depends on paid-up capital stock, starting at $26 for $10,000 or less (Neb. Rev. Stat. 21-303).

The LLC biennial report costs $25 online or $30 on paper. A report that isn't filed leads to administrative dissolution (Nebraska LLCs) or revocation (out-of-state LLCs). Reinstatement costs $30, or $500 if it's more than 5 years after dissolution.

Proof of status: Certificate of Good Standing ($10). Source: sos.nebraska.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

A trade name application costs $100 online or $110 on paper. Renewal costs $110 and an amendment $30. Trade names appear in the same Corporate and Business Search, and filing the affidavit of trade-name publication has no state fee. Source: sos.nebraska.gov

Good to know about Nebraska

• Nebraska LLCs must publish a notice of organization for three weeks in a row in a legal newspaper and file proof with the Secretary of State. Source: nebraskalegislature.gov
• LLC reports are every two years, not every year: due January 1 to April 1 of odd-numbered years and delinquent after June 16. Corporations file in even-numbered years. Source: sos.nebraska.gov
• Corporations, but not LLCs, pay a biennial occupation tax with their report, starting at $26. Source: nebraskalegislature.gov
• The Secretary of State moves to a new online business filing system at business.nebraska.gov on December 7, 2026. After that, you won't need a Nebraska.gov subscription to search or get bulk data, but you'll need an account to file. Source: sos.nebraska.gov
• Filing online is cheaper than on paper: $100 instead of $110 to form an LLC, and $25 instead of $30 for most other LLC filings. Source: nebraskalegislature.gov
• You can ask the Secretary of State by email whether a name is available. It's a free courtesy, not a guarantee; the decision is made only when you file. Source: sos.nebraska.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official Nebraska sources on October 30, 2026. Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only Business Services Division can change an official record.