The agencies state $9,652 in initial fees across 6 of the 10 items; 2 are free; 2 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a restaurant in Nebraska?
$9,652 in state fees the agencies state, across 6 of the 10 licenses, permits and registrations; 2 are free; 2 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a restaurant in Nebraska
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $9,652initial fees across 6 of 10 items
- Free items
- 2no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 2by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 10in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Certificate of organization (LLC), newspaper notice and the biennial report Nebraska Secretary of State Premium only Trade name registration (DBA) with newspaper notice Nebraska Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Nebraska tax application (form 20): sales tax permit, income tax withholding Nebraska Department of Revenue Free No state business license; city licenses and occupation taxes Your city clerk or finance department Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your city’s planning and building departments Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Food establishment permit Nebraska Department of Agriculture Premium only Person in charge with food safety knowledge; food protection manager and food handler permits in Lincoln and Omaha Nebraska Department of Agriculture Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee Class C (beer, wine and spirits, on and off sale) or Class I (on sale only) retail liquor license Nebraska Liquor Control Commission Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Nebraska Department of Labor Premium only
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
Secretary of State forms and fee information page; Neb. Rev. Stat. 21-192 (fees) and 21-193 (publication); Neb. Rev. Stat. 87-210 (fee), 87-211 (term and renewal) and 87-219 (publication); Secretary of State trade name application; IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue starting a business page; Nebraska Tax Application, form 20; Department of Revenue starting a business page; Omaha and Lincoln city licensing pages; Omaha and Lincoln building and zoning pages; city ordinances; Nebraska Pure Food Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,270 (permits and fees); Department of Agriculture Food Safety Program permit pages; Douglas County Health Department food establishment permit application; Nebraska Food Code (FDA Food Code as adopted under the Pure Food Act); Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department food handler and food protection manager permit sheet; Douglas County Health Department food safety pages; Neb. Rev. Stat. 53-124.01 (license fees), 53-131 (application fee), 53-132 (occupation tax); Liquor Control Commission license fee chart and clerks information page; Department of Labor 2026 guide to unemployment insurance combined tax rates; DHHS new hire reporting page; Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-106. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.