Starting a business in Nebraska involves several steps, but one of the first is choosing a business name. This step is a little more complicated when setting up an LLC or corporation in Nebraska because these business structures must have a unique name.
To help you verify that your corporation or LLC is available to use, our step-by-step guide will show you how to quickly do a Nebraska business name search using the Nebraska Secretary of State business name database.
Related: Guide to starting a business in Nebraska
Steps To Do A Nebraska Business Name Search
Step 1: Visit the Nebraska Entity Name Database
Visit the Nebraska Secretary of State website.
Step 2: Search your Business Name
Enter the name you would like to use in the “Entity Name” field. In this example, we will do a Nebraska LLC name search by looking up “Speedy Lawns” using the “Name Keyword Search.” After entering the company name, click “Perform Search.”
It is recommended to search by “Name Starts With,” “Name Keyword Search,” “Name Sounds Like,” and “Name Exact Match” to be sure to search your name thoroughly.
Step 3: Review Results
When we search the registered names, we get a list of all the businesses with the words “Speedy Lawns.” To register a corporation or LLC name in Nebraska, the name must be distinguishable from the other registered names. If you were looking to form an LLC with this name, you wouldn’t be able to since there is already one registered.
To find more information about any of the registered business names, click on the link in the “Details” button to see a detailed report.
While the name “Speedy Lawns” by itself may not be available, variants such as “Speedy Lawns of Nebraska” or “Joe’s Speedy Lawns” are. Searching for those business names returns a result that says, “There were no records found.” While final approval is still with the Secretary of State, it is likely available to register.
These are the basics of searching for a small business name in Nebraska. Even when the name of the business you want is available, the Secretary of State will make a final determination at the time of filing to ensure the name you picked isn’t too similar to other registered names.
What information can be found on the Nebraska business entity database?
A Nebraska business entity search can find several pieces of information about the business. Some of the highlights include:
- Business Name
- Secretary of State Account Number: This is a number the Secretary of State assigns a new business entity.
- Principal Address: This could be the business’s physical address or the address where business records are stored.
- Nature of Business: An optional section for filers to indicate what the business does.
- Status: Active means all reports and filing fees are up to date, and the entity is in good standing with the state. Inactive means the entity is no longer in good standing or in operation, and the name may be may be available to register.
- Registered Agent Information: A Nebraska registered agent is the singular point of contact for the entity should a legal or tax notice need to be sent to the business. This is often one of the owners, and if their home address is used, that address becomes public information. Many people find this concerning and use a Registered Agent service like Northwest Registered Agent, so their home address isn’t publically listed.
- Entity Type: Corporation, Limited Liability Company. Etc.
- Date Filed: When the entity was filed with the Secretary of State
- For an additional fee, you can purchase a copy of the Certificate of Organization (LLC), Articles of Incorporation (Corp), and Proof of Publication.
Something to keep in mind is that even though each Corporation and LLC name must be unique, it may not stop someone else from using that name since business names for a sole proprietorship or partnership are not registered by the Secretary of State and are not required to be unique. To protect your business name, consider getting a trademark.
Related: Should I trademark my business name?
Nebraska Business Name Search FAQs
How do I find the business name of a Nebraska sole proprietorship?
A Nebraska sole proprietorship or partnership isn’t required to register a business name, but they can. Similar to the corporation or LLC, Nebraska Trade Name registrations need to be unique and are registered through the Secretary of State’s office.
How do I form a Nebraska LLC?
Before starting your business and forming an LLC, be sure to do the business entity search first to make sure the name is available to use. Learn how to form an LLC in Nebraska.
While not required in Nebraska, an LLC operating agreement, which are the rules for how the LLC operates, is a document worth considering, especially for multi-member LLCs.
After forming a Limited Liability Company, be sure to register for any Nebraska business licenses and possibly obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) so the business is legal to operate.
What are the naming guidelines for a Nebraska LLC?
In addition to being unique, the LLC’s name must include a special designator such as Limited Liability Company, LLC, L.L.C., etc., and it may not use restricted words such as bank or insurance unless the entity is licensed to operate as such.
Can an LLC name be reserved in Nebraska?
If there is a name you want but are not ready to register the LLC, you can file a Name Reservation Application with the Nebraska Secretary of State. The name reservation will hold a name for up to 120 days.
