How to Start an LLC in Nebraska

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Are you contemplating starting an LLC in Nebraska? Here’s everything you need to know.

As a new LLC business owner in Nebraska, there are procedures and steps to setting up an LLC. 

These procedures include everything that will keep your business up and running. 

So in this article, you will learn about the best guide on how to start an LLC in Nebraska easily. 

How to start an LLC in Nebraska

Here are the steps involved in starting your LLC in Nebraska.

Name Your Nebraska LLC

Firstly, you’ll need to choose a name for your LLC to include in your articles before registering your LLC.

However, your LLC names must comply with Nebraska naming requirements. The following are the most important requirements to keep in mind:

  • Your business name must include ability company” or its abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.). 
  • Ensure that your name is distinguishable from any Nebraska limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership, or registered limited liability partnership business name. 
  • Ensure the name you desire isn’t already taken by doing a Business Entity Search on the Nebraska Secretary of State’s website.
  • Your business name cannot contain words used to name a government agency (i.e., State Department, CIA, FBI, Treasury, etc.)
  • Also, it can’t contain certain restricted words like bank, lawyer, attorney, credit union, etc.
  • Ensure to Reserve the name once you find the availability: You must complete the Name Reservation Request for Domestic Entities form at least two weeks before registration or reserve your business name when completing the online LLC registration.
  • Consider if the URL is available: Check online to see if your business name is known as a web domain. If it is, you may want to buy the URL to prevent others from acquiring it. 

Furthermore, you don’t have to use your LLC’s legal name when you do business. Instead, you can use an assumed or fictitious business name, “DBA,” or trade name. However, you must register your assumed name.

Choose Your Registered Agent

All LLCs in Nebraska requires you to appoint a registered agent. 

Meanwhile, a registered agent is a person or entity authorized to receive service of process and other official legal documents and notices on behalf of your LLC.

More so, a registered agent can be a person or an entity that offers a registered agent service 

However, they must meet the following criteria:

  • Entities (or companies) must provide registered agent services.
  • The agent must have an address in Nebraska.
  • The agent must be on-site and available to accept documents during regular business hours.

Prepare and File Certificate of Organization

The Certificate of Organization is also called Articles of Organization in other states. 

It is a document that officially establishes your LLC by laying out basic information about it.

You can prepare your Certificate of Organization and file them with the Nebraska Secretary of State to register your Nebraska LLC properly. 

Also, you can fill out the online form and submit it, and can send it by mail.

However, your articles need the following information:

  • Your LLC name.
  • The name and address of your registered agent.
  • A reason why you formed the LLC. This can be a general statement.
  • If the LLC is organized to offer professional services, the professional services must be listed in the certificate.
  • An LLC’s duration of time over which the LLC will exist. In most cases, LLCs are perpetual, meaning the duration is indefinite. A perpetual LLC can be dissolved voluntarily or involuntarily. If your LLC exists for a purpose that will end at a specified date, you will specify that date here.
  • Management structure: Will managers or members manage the LLC?
  • Names and addresses of the managers.
  • Note the effective date, if other than the filing date.
  • The person forming the LLC is required to sign the Certificate.

File an Affidavit of Publication

In Nebraska, all LLC owners must publish a notice of formation in one newspaper for three consecutive weeks. 

However, the publication must include:

  • The name and address of the business
  • The name and location of the registered agent,
  • The professional services offered. 

Meanwhile, the owner must publish the notice within 45 days of the formation of the LLC. After notice runs for three weeks,

The newspaper will send the Affidavit of Publication to the LLC after the notice runs for three weeks. 

In addition, the LLC must file the Affidavit of Publication with the Nebraska Secretary of State.

Receive a Certificate From the State

Furthermore, the state will issue you a certificate that confirms the LLC formally exists after the LLC’s formation documents are filed and approved. 

So, if you file your LLC paperwork via mail, the Secretary of State will send a stamped, approved copy of your certificate of organization. 

Also, you can download the certificate if you file online.

In addition, this certificate will allow the LLC to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN), business licenses, and business bank account.

Create an Operating Agreement

An operating agreement is a document that summarizes the way your LLC will conduct business.

However, Nebraska doesn’t require an LLC to file an operating agreement, but it is an essential piece of your business. 

The operating agreement must include the following:

  • LLC’s name and principal address
  • Duration of the LLC
  • Name and address of the registered agent
  • Information about the Certificate of Organization
  • Purpose of the business
  • Members and their contribution
  • The way profits and losses will be divided
  • Procedure for admitting new members, as well as outgoing members
  • Management of the LLC
  • Indemnification and liability clauses

Get an Employer Identification Number

EIN is a nine-digit Employer Identification Number (EIN) is assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to identify your LLC for taxes. 

You can obtain your EIN by mail or online through the IRS website. 

Meanwhile, the purpose of an EIN is to assist with the following:

  • File and manage taxes at the state and federal level
  • Open a business bank account.
  • Hire employees.

What To Do After Forming an LLC in Nebraska

Having learned how to start an LLC in Nebraska, it is essential to protect your business.  

You can protect your business by taking some legal steps and separating your personal and business assets to avoid the risk that your LLC is sued. 

You can also follow these steps below to protect your LLC in Nebraska:

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you separate all business expenses for end-of-year tax purposes.

It also helps you build your business credit score, which is essential for getting a line of credit or business loan. 

In addition, it allows you to keep track of department expenses by issuing multiple cards to your employees.

Hire a Business Accountant

To prevents your business from overpaying on taxes while helping you avoid penalties, fines, and other costly tax errors, you may have to hire a business accountant. 

Doing this makes bookkeeping and payroll easier, giving you more time to focus on your growing business 

Furthermore, it helps you manage your business funding more effectively, discovering areas of unforeseen loss or extra profit

Get Your Business Insurance

Getting business insurance helps you manage risks and focus on growing your LLC. 

The common types of business insurance are:

General Liability Insurance: This broad insurance policy protects your business from lawsuits. 

Professional Liability Insurance: This business insurance is for professional service providers (consultants, accountants, etc.) and covers malpractice claims and other business errors.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance: This type provides coverage for employees’ job-related illnesses, injuries, or deaths. In Nebraska, businesses with one or more employees, excluding officers and LLC members, must have workers’ compensation insurance.

Create Your Business Website

To legitimize your business, you need to create a business website. 

Every business needs a website to avoid missing out on many potential customers and revenue.

Keep Your Business Licenses and Permits

You must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations to operate your business in Nebraska. 

You must obtain and keep your business licenses and permits from your state. 

Tax Filing Requirements

Depending on the nature of your business, you may have to register for one or more forms of state tax.

You must register for sales tax if you sell a physical product; you’ll typically need to register for a seller’s permit online through the State of Nebraska’s website.

Employer Taxes

If you have employees in your LLC in  Nebraska, you must register for Unemployment Insurance Tax and Employee Withholding Tax online through the State of Nebraska’s website.

File Your Annual Report

You can file an Annual Report Online with the State of Nebraska for a nonrefundable fee of $10.

How to Start A Foreign LLC in Nebraska

If you have an existing LLC and you want to extend the business to Nebraska, you need to register as a foreign LLC. 

This is because forming a foreign LLC allows your company to operate as one entity in multiple states. If you have an existing LLC and want to do business in Nebraska, you must register as a foreign LLC. This can be done online.

You can do this by filing online with the Nebraska Secretary of State for a nonrefundable fee of $100.

How to Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing in Nebraska

With a certificate of good standing, your business is verified that it was legally formed and adequately maintained in Nebraska. 

Meanwhile, you can order a Nebraska LLC Certificate of Good Standing online for free.

Conclusion

As simple as filing an LLC in Nebraska is, you will follow simple guides and requirements to get your LLC running in Nebraska. 

The steps have been simplified and explained in this guide on how to start an LLC in Nebraska. 

The first step to take on how to start an LLC in Nebraska is to Choose a Name for Your LLC 

However, you must note that another business must not have used the name you choose for your LLC and ensure that the domain name is also available.

Also, you choose your Registered Agent for Your LLC, prepare and file a certificate of organization, and file an affidavit of publication.

Meanwhile, you need to receive a certificate from the state, create an operating agreement, and get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. 

In addition, you must follow all other requirements after starting your LLC. 

We hope you find this guide on how to start an LLC in Nebraska helpful.

Kindly share with your friends. 

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