Register a Nebraska Foreign LLC
A Nebraska Foreign LLC is a limited liability company that does business in Nebraska but was formed in a state or jurisdiction outside of Nebraska. To register a foreign LLC in Nebraska, you’ll need to fill out an Application for Certificate of Authority and submit it to the Secretary of State's office, along with a $100 state filing fee ($110 if you submit your filing in person).
Northwest can register your foreign LLC in Nebraska for just $225 + state fees. This includes the paperwork, registered agent service for a year, and a free trial of our identity services that take your business online. We’ll give you a custom domain name free for a year, plus 90 days free of our web hosting and security, business phone number and email address, and a local Nebraska business address. Plus you’ll get forever access to our attorney-drafted legal document templates, personal help from our Corporate Guides®, and Privacy By Default®.
Ready to Register A Foreign LLC in Nebraska?
GET STARTEDHow to Register a Foreign LLC in Nebraska
To register a foreign LLC in Nebraska, NE Code §21.156 requires you to obtain a Certificate of Authority from the Nebraska Secretary of State. This process is known as a foreign qualification. Here’s how it works.
1. Appoint a Nebraska Registered Agent
Under Nebraska law, LLCs that do business in Nebraska must appoint a registered agent. Your Nebraska registered agent can either be a resident of the state or an “other person with authority to transact business in the state.” They must have an office in the state (P.O. boxes aren’t allowed) and be available at that address to accept service of process on behalf of your business.
Yes, but only if you actually reside in Nebraska. If you don’t live in Nebraska, it’s pretty tricky to be your own registered agent there. That’s why most foreign LLCs opt to use a registered agent service.
Registering as a foreign LLC in Nebraska means that the names and addresses you put on your Application for a Certificate of Authority will go on the public record. This means that anyone with even a passing knowledge of how to search the internet will be able to find your private information online. Hiring a registered agent who will put their address on state forms instead of yours wherever possible is a smart way to protect your privacy.
2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing
Nebraska requires you to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state or jurisdiction and attach it to your application.
In most states, you’ll be able to request a Certificate of Good Standing online through your Secretary of State’s office for a small fee.
3. Launch Your Business Identity
Once your business is up and running in the new state, you’ll want to be able to connect with the new market of consumers. Having a robust and localized digital presence can help build your business’ identity, which in turn will make your business seem more trustworthy and professional, even if you’ve only just started offering services/products. We can help you build a custom website that is securely hosted with an unique domain, plus give you a local phone number and up to ten email addresses to help establish your business in Nebraska.
Learn more about how to launch your business identity in a new state.
4. Complete the Application for a Certificate of Authority
To register a foreign LLC in Nebraska, you’ll need to fill out an Application for Certificate of Authority. The form can be submitted online or in person at the Secretary of State’s office. You’ll need to provide the following information about your LLC:
- Company name
- Alternate name if the original is unavailable or does not comply with Nebraska law
- Registered agent name and address
- Principal office address
- State or jurisdiction where LLC was formed
- Your business address in your home state or jurisdiction
- A brief description of the kind of business your LLC will transact in Nebraska
- Date you’d like your filing to become effective (or leave it blank for the filing to become effective immediately)
- Signature and printed name of someone authorized by your business
Ready to get started? Register your foreign LLC in Nebraska with Northwest.
There’s a state filing fee of $100 ($110 if you submit your filing in person).
Mail and In Person:
Robert B. Evnen, Secretary of State
P.O. Box 96408
Lincoln, NE 68509
Online:
Nebraska Secretary of State Corporate Document eDelivery
Unlike most states, Nebraska doesn’t have a handy online tool to find out if your business name is available for use. Instead, you’ll need to email sos.corp@nebraska.gov and request a check on your preferred name.
No. Your business formation documents are what you file when you first form your LLC in your home state or jurisdiction—typically LLC Articles of Organization. To register a foreign LLC in Nebraska, you only need to file a Certificate of Authority.
5. Receive your Certificate of Authority.
If everything looks good, Nebraska will mail you a copy of your Certificate of Authority and a receipt proving that your LLC has successfully registered as a foreign LLC in Nebraska.
Nebraska processes online and in-person filings in about a 7 to 10 business days. Mailed filings can take up to two weeks, plus additional time for mailing.
Nebraska Foreign LLC Registration FAQ
No. The Nebraska publication requirement only applies to domestic LLCs and corporations. Foreign LLCs don’t need to worry about it.
Fill out an Application for Amended Certificate of Authority and pay a filing fee of $30 by mail or $25 online. If you’re paying online with a credit card, there’s also a $2 minimum convenience fee.
NE Code § 21.2.03 does not offer a clear definition of what counts as doing business in Nebraska, but it does provide a long list of what doesn’t count. For example, you can maintain a bank account, sell through an independent contractor, or settle a court proceeding without needing to register your LLC in Nebraska.
According to the Nebraska Department of Revenue, an LLC will need to register with the Department of Revenue if it does any of the following:
- has employees
- engages in retail sales
- rents or leases property
- provides services that require the collection of sales tax
Engaging in other activities—like applying for a professional license or bidding on a contract—will also likely require an out-of-state LLC to register in Nebraska. If you’re not sure whether your business activity counts, consult a business attorney to make sure you’re in compliance with the law.
Still have questions? Read more about what counts as doing business in another state.
Yes, you’ll need to file a Nebraska biennial report every other year. Nebraska requires it in odd-numbered years. That means if you register your foreign LLC in 2022, you’ll need to file your first biennial report in 2023. You can deliver your biennial report between January 1 and April 1.
What if you don’t include all the necessary information? The Secretary of State will let your company know and return the report to you so you can make corrections. As long as you return the corrected report within 30 days, the state will still classify it as an on-time submission.
To withdraw your foreign LLC in Nebraska, submit a Certificate of Withdrawal. It costs $30 to submit by mail or $25 to submit online. Your registered agent’s authority to accept documents will automatically be revoked once you file the certificate.
