Start a New Business in Nebraska

The Business Services Division of the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office provides several important functions for the business community. Registrations are recorded for corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trade names and trademarks. The division handles Uniform Commercial Code and other security interest records. The division also regulates notary public commissions and handles apostilles and authentications (documents going to other countries).

1201 North Street
Suite 120
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
Phone: 402-471-4079

Nebraska Secretary of State Business Services Division website

Provide quality leadership and services that enable Nebraska’s communities, businesses, and people to succeed in a global economy. We are here, equipped and ready, to assist you and your community in developing and capitalizing on economic development opportunities.

• Support communities with development efforts.

• Assist with starting, retaining, and expanding businesses.

• Promote the state for business locations and expansions.

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development provides the business initiatives, business development, and international business resources you need to succeed.

245 Fallbrook Boulevard
Suite 002
Lincoln, Nebraska 68521
Phone: 800-426-6505

Nebraska Department of Economic Development

The Nebraska SBA is supported by a main district office in Omaha. They provide services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.

The Omaha office serves all 93 counties in Nebraska.

Examples of educational programs and events include Boots to Business for Veterans, Creating Effective Videos for Small Business, Legal Pitfalls of a Small Business, and QuickBooks Training.

Main district office:
10675 Bedford Avenue
Suite 100
Omaha, Nebraska 68134
Phone: 402-221-4691

Nebraska Small Business Administration SBA website

Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center endeavors to accelerate the success of women in all aspects and to empower them to become economically self-sufficient by providing targeted education, workshops, job training, strong relationships, and resources that provide business, professional, and personal growth.

6012 North 102nd Street
#34163
Omaha, Nebraska 68134
Phone: 402-763-0540

Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center MOWBC website

SCORE Greater Omaha and its volunteer business mentors are dedicated to providing the best possible service to help small business owners achieve their goals.

Volunteers are successful real-world business professionals who help existing and startup businesses succeed. They are experts with experience in areas such as; accounting, finance, human resources, consulting, import/export, law, operations, production, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management, business plan preparation, strategic planning, and many other business disciplines.

SCORE Greater Omaha provides:

• Volunteer mentors who share their expertise across many industries

• Free, confidential business mentoring in person, via email or by video

• Free business tools, templates, and tips here online

• Inexpensive or free business workshops and webinars

10675 Bedford Avenue
Suite 100
Omaha, Nebraska 68134
Phone: 402-221-3606

SCORE Greater Omaha Nebraska website

The Center for Rural Affairs Women’s Business Center provides free services to entrepreneurs and small business owners to start and grow successful businesses.

Training: The Center offers business startup and management training across the state covering topics ranging from QuickBooks and marketing to business startup and strategic planning.

Networking; Business specialists host regularly scheduled networking events across the state. These events serve as a venue for local entrepreneurs and business owners to connect, share ideas, and learn more about new business management practices.

Coaching; The Center offers personal, one-on-one business assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners.

145 Main Street
PO Box 136
Lyons, Nebraska 68038
Phone: 402-687-2100

Center for Rural Affairs Women’s Business Center website

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get the funding they need. Funding resources include:

• Loans: Start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA.

• Investment capital: Investors make both debt and equity investments.

• Disaster assistance: Get help after a disaster with low-interest disaster loans.

• Surety bonds: Protect your work and your client with an SBA-guaranteed surety bond.

• Grants: Look for government grants that help businesses do scientific research and development.

Small Business Administration Funding Resources website

Business funding sources and resources include:

• Academic Research & Development Grants

• Accredited Job Training Act

• Business Retention & Expansion Program (BRE)

• Nebraska Career Scholarships

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Economic Development

• Customized Job Training

• ImagiNE

• LocationOne (LOIS)

• Microenterprise Assistance Program

• Micro TIF

• Municipal Inland Port Authority Act

• NIF Prototype Grants

• Opportunity Zones

• Small Business Assistance Act (SBAA)

• Site and Building Development Fund (SBDF)

• SBIR/STTR Grant Program

• Nebraska Seed Investment Program

• State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)

• State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)

• Risk Assessment & Business Continuity Planning

245 Fallbrook Boulevard
Suite 002
Lincoln, Nebraska 68521
Phone: 800-426-6505

Nebraska Department of Economic Development Business Funding Sources website

The University of Nebraska at Omaha, College of Business Administration (UNO CBA) hosts one of the economic and business outreach centers of the University of Nebraska, the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC). Program areas include:

• The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of the U.S. Small Business Administration

• The APEX Accelerator Program of the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs (DoD OSBP)

• The FAST program of the U.S. Small Business Administration

• The EDA University Center of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NU Connections

• SourceLink® Nebraska, a statewide SourceLink Network

NBDC helps strengthen Nebraska businesses for a healthy economy and prosperous communities. NBDC is a statewide program, with 8 office locations across Nebraska. NBDC’s credentialed consultants provide confidential, one-on-one business services to entrepreneurs, established business owners, innovators and economic and community development professionals. The services of NBDC are provided mostly at no charge to the client.

Administrative Office
200 Mammel Hall
6708 Pine Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68182
Phone: 402-554-6232

University of Nebraska Business Development Center website

Additional centers are located in Chadron, Grand Island, Kearney, Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, McCook, Scottsbluff, and Wayne.

Advance your career, demonstrate competency, and learn new skills with the professional development options that were created with convenience in mind. Creighton’s College of Professional Education offers content and in-depth classes on a variety of topics, including project management, education, and more. Designed specifically for working professionals, you can choose the ones that work with your schedule.

Creighton University experts work with companies in a variety of industries to provide professional training and education, attract new talent, and much more.

• Discounts for groups

• Tailor-made courses for your team’s specific learning goals

• Single courses or certification programs

• Relevant degree programs in which your employees can use your tuition reimbursement program

2500 California Plaza
Omaha, Nebraska 68178
Phone: 402-280-2700

Creighton University College of Professional Education website

Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees focus specifically on leadership and management of people and systems. As a student in one of these business programs, you will take industry-specific courses in a variety of areas within the field to gain a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to play a key role in any successful business or organization.

Whether you study 100% online or on campus, you’ll learn from esteemed professors with real business experience. If you’ve already earned some college credit, you can even streamline your path to completion with an accelerated business degree, allowing you to balance day-to-day work, school and life while still focusing on leveling up in your industry. In any one of Bellevue University’s business programs, you’ll gain the essential workplace skills you’ll need to achieve your career goals.

1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, Nebraska 68005
Phone: 402-293-2000

Bellevue University Business website

Strictly Business Magazine is Lincoln, Nebraska’s only monthly business to business magazine containing vital Lincoln business intelligence. In September of 2007, Strictly Business Omaha was also launched.

The publications contain business information for CEOs, business owners, and key executives.

As a news source, Strictly Business magazine supplies the area with relevant and current business information. Personnel changes or additions, information on new businesses, columns written by prominent area business people, profiles on important people in our community, and features on subjects relevant to current business today are just some of the areas covered in Strictly Business.

PO Box 57397
Lincoln, Nebraska 68505
Phone: 402-466-3330

Strictly Business Magazine website

Critical business news, thoughtful analysis and valuable strategic insights for business leaders in the Greater Omaha, Lincoln and Council Bluffs area.

Omaha-based Midlands Business Journal is a weekly newspaper consisting of feature articles and targeted focus sections covering Greater Omaha, Lincoln and Council Bluffs businesses.

Topics include industry focus, culture, diversity and inclusion, economic development, entrepreneurship, family business, leadership, philanthropy, shop local, small business, women in business, and young professionals.

1308 South 119th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68144
Phone: 402-330-1760

Midlands Business Journal website