How to File a DBA in Nebraska
In Nebraska a DBA is a trade name you register statewide with the Secretary of State, publish once in a legal newspaper, and renew every 10 years. Attorney review available.
Find out where you stand in Nebraska
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Introduction
Nebraska gives a DBA an unusually long ten-year life, registering what it calls a trade name: the public filing that lets a person or business use a name different from its true legal name, and it creates no separate legal entity (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-208). Unlike some states, Nebraska registers trade names statewide: you file an Application for Registration of Trade Name with the Nebraska Secretary of State, not with a county clerk (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-210). The state fee is $100 for an electronic filing and $110 for a written filing, so one fee applies wherever in Nebraska you operate. Registering a trade name does not create a corporation or an LLC, does not shield the owner from liability, and does not give a trademark or an exclusive right to the name. After you register, Nebraska requires you to publish a notice of the trade name once in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or village where the business is located, or in a newspaper of general circulation in the county if there is none locally, and then file proof of publication with the Secretary of State within 45 days of registration; if you miss that 45-day deadline, the registration is canceled (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-219). A Nebraska trade name registration is effective for ten years from the date of registration and may be renewed for successive ten-year terms by filing within the six months before it expires (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-211). DocDraft builds your Nebraska trade name application from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.
Key Things to Know
- 1
Registered statewide with the Nebraska Secretary of State rather than a county, a DBA here is called a trade name: a public registration that lets you do business under a name different from your true legal name (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-208), and it creates no separate legal entity.
- 2
You register a Nebraska trade name statewide with the Nebraska Secretary of State, not with a county. You file an Application for Registration of Trade Name (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-210).
- 3
The state fee is $100 for an electronic filing and $110 for a written filing (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-210). Because the filing is statewide, one fee applies no matter where in Nebraska you operate.
- 4
After registration, Nebraska requires you to publish a notice of the trade name once in a legal newspaper of general circulation where the business is located, then file proof of publication with the Secretary of State within 45 days (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-219).
- 5
If you do not file proof of publication within 45 days of registration, the Secretary of State cancels the registration (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-219). Track that deadline closely.
- 6
A Nebraska trade name registration is effective for ten years from the date of registration and may be renewed for successive ten-year terms by filing within the six months before it expires (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-211).
- 7
A trade name gives you no ownership of or exclusive right to the name, and it does not limit your liability. A sole proprietor with a trade name is still personally responsible for the business.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a DBA (Doing Business As) in Nebraska, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The DBA (Doing Business As) guide walks through them.
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Nebraska Requirements for DBA (Doing Business As)
Register With the Secretary of State
In Nebraska a DBA is a trade name registered statewide with the Nebraska Secretary of State, not with a county (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-210). You file an Application for Registration of Trade Name.
State Filing Fee
The state fee is 100 dollars for an electronic filing and 110 dollars for a written filing (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-210). One statewide fee applies wherever in Nebraska the business operates.
The Trade Name
The exact trade name to register. It may not already be registered and may not be immoral, deceptive, or scandalous, and it should not imply a corporation or LLC unless the applicant is that type of entity.
Applicant and Business Type
The full legal name of the applicant and whether the applicant is an individual, a general partnership, a limited liability company, or a corporation. For an entity, list the state of organization.
Principal Place of Business
The city or village and county where the business is located. This location sets the newspaper used for the required publication of the trade name.
Newspaper Publication
After registration, publish a notice of the trade name once in a legal newspaper of general circulation where the business is located, then file proof of publication with the Secretary of State within 45 days (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-219).
Ten-Year Term and Renewal
A Nebraska trade name registration is effective for ten years from the date of registration and may be renewed for successive ten-year terms by filing within the six months before it expires (Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-211).
No Entity, No Trademark, No Liability Shield
A Nebraska trade name is only a name registration. It creates no separate legal entity, gives no exclusive right or trademark in the name, and does not limit the personal liability of a sole proprietor or partner.