How to Start a Moving Company in Nebraska: $250 PSC Household Goods License, $750,000 Liability Packet and No Rate Regulation

If you want to know how to start a moving company business in Nebraska, the requirement that matters most is the Public Service Commission (PSC) household goods license. Since July 1, 2021, any intrastate household goods mover must hold a PSC license before moving goods. The license costs $250, is valid for one year, and renews for $250 a year. The PSC does not regulate a licensed mover's rates, but your insurance must be on file, and the minimum liability coverage is $750,000 plus $5,000 in cargo coverage.

This guide covers the steps in the order that works best: entity and name first, then state tax and employer registrations, then the PSC license and insurance, then local rules. Nebraska has no general state business license, so your paperwork depends on what your company actually does.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these items before you file anything:

• A business name that meets Nebraska naming rules, plus a backup name
• A principal place of business in Nebraska, which your PSC application asks you to name
• A registered agent with a Nebraska office
• $100 for a Certificate of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (corporation)
• Budget for a legal newspaper notice, which varies by newspaper, so ask the paper for its price
• A federal employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS
• An insurance quote covering at least $750,000 in liability and $5,000 in cargo
• $250 for the PSC household goods license
• Trucks, a dispatch system, and a written list of zoning questions for your city or county
• A business bank account and a bookkeeping system

Step 1: Confirm Your Work Fits the PSC License

The PSC license covers intrastate household goods moves, meaning moves of household belongings within Nebraska. Hauling freight that is not household goods is not covered by this license. If you plan to move office equipment, commercial freight, or goods across state lines, this license alone will not cover that work. Interstate moves can carry separate federal requirements, so confirm those with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) before you accept any bookings that cross a state border.

Step 2: Choose and Check Your Business Name

For an LLC, the name must include the words limited liability company or limited company, or an abbreviation such as LLC, L.L.C., LC or L.C. You may abbreviate limited as Ltd. and company as Co. The name cannot be the same as, or deceptively similar to, a name already on record with the Secretary of State, unless the other owner consents in a signed record or a court judgment grants the right to use it.

Search the Nebraska Secretary of State business search before you commit to a name. If you need time to prepare your papers, a name reservation costs $30 and holds the name for 120 days.

Step 3: File Your Formation Document

Most small movers form a limited liability company. You file a Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The filing fee is $100. You can submit signed PDFs through the Corporate and Business Document eDelivery portal, or mail the filing to Business Services in Lincoln. The Secretary of State does not publish a standard processing time, and staff review each document before filing, so build a buffer into your launch date. The Secretary of State lists no expedited or same-day fee. Paper filings cost $10 more than electronic filings on its fee schedule.

Next, designate a registered agent. Nebraska requires every LLC to maintain a Nebraska office and an agent for service of process. The agent must be an individual who lives in Nebraska, or another person or entity authorized to do business in the state, and the agent's office must match the registered office. If the agent is lost, the company can be administratively dissolved. Changing the agent or office costs $25 online or $30 on paper.

New LLCs must also publish a notice in a legal newspaper for three successive weeks, then file proof of publication with the Secretary of State. Skipping this step is one of the most common causes of a stalled filing. Confirm the newspaper's cost before you choose one, because Nebraska's fee schedule does not set that price.

If you choose a corporation instead, the filing fee is also $100, but the corporation files a biennial report and occupation tax on a different schedule. The LLC route is usually simpler for a moving business with a few owners. Ask a CPA or attorney which structure fits your liability and tax picture.

Step 4: Get Your EIN and State Tax Registrations

Obtain a federal EIN from the IRS. Then register with the Nebraska Department of Revenue, which issues a Nebraska ID for sales tax and withholding. Nebraska does not issue a general business license. Instead, registration follows your activity:

• Sales and use tax permit: required if you make retail sales, rent or lease tangible personal property, or provide taxable services. The state sales tax rate is 5.5%. Ask the Department of Revenue which of your services are taxable, and whether truck or equipment rentals to customers affect your filing.
• Income tax withholding certificate: required if you have employees.
• Unemployment tax registration: handled through the Nebraska Department of Labor if you have employees.

Your entity type also affects income tax. A pass-through LLC reports income on its members' Nebraska individual returns, which carry 2026 rates of 2.46% to 4.55%. An LLC taxed as a corporation pays the 4.55% Nebraska corporate income tax for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Confirm which treatment applies to you with a CPA.

Step 5: Buy Insurance and File It With the PSC

Insurance is filed with the PSC under Neb. Rev. Stat. 75-307. PSC rule 003.03(A), found in Title 291, Chapter 3 and effective June 23, 2025, requires at least $750,000 in liability coverage and $5,000 in cargo coverage. Ask your agent to prepare the filing for the PSC, and confirm that the policy meets both minimums before you apply for your license.

The PSC rule sets the floor for this license. It does not cover everything your fleet and crew need. Ask your agent about commercial auto coverage, workers' compensation if you have employees, and any other coverage your lenders or customers require.

Step 6: Apply for the PSC Household Goods License

The application asks you to name your principal place of business in Nebraska. By signing it, you affirm that you will comply with Neb. Rev. Stat. 75-301 to 75-322 and with PSC rules. The license fee is $250, and the license is valid for one year. The PSC page lists no exam, bond, or background check, so the fee and the insurance filing are the main requirements to complete.

Renewal costs $250 each year. If your license expires, you can reinstate it for $250 plus a new application. Do not move customers' goods while your license is expired or pending. Once you are licensed, check the PSC licensee list to confirm your company appears on it.

Step 7: Check Local Rules in Your Service Area

Nebraska has 93 counties and 528 municipalities, which are cities and villages. There is no county business license, but local rules still matter. Cities may impose sales taxes and occupation taxes, and cities and counties control zoning. Storing or parking commercial trucks at your home may violate residential zoning. Ask the planning or zoning office in your city or county whether you can park commercial vehicles, keep an office, or run a warehouse at a given address.

Step 8: Set Rates and Keep Written Records

The PSC cannot regulate a licensed mover's rates. That does not mean you can skip paperwork. Carriers must file their rates in writing with the PSC when those rates change, so keep a dated record of every rate schedule you use. Put quotes and estimates in writing, and keep signed contracts for each move. Clear records protect you if a customer disputes a bill, and they make your rate filings easier to prepare.

Step 9: Calendar Your Ongoing Compliance

Most new movers miss a recurring deadline in the first two years. Put these dates on your calendar:

Item	When It Is Due	Cost
LLC biennial report	Odd-numbered years, January 1 to April 1. Delinquent after June 16, when the company can be administratively dissolved.	$25 online, $30 on paper
Corporation biennial report and occupation tax	March 1 of even-numbered years. Delinquent after April 15.	$26 minimum
PSC household goods license renewal	Annually, before expiration	$250
Insurance on file with the PSC	Keep current at all times	Set by your insurer
Registered agent or office change	When it changes	$25 online, $30 on paper
Trade name (DBA) registration	Renews every 10 years	$110 renewal on paper, $100 electronically

If you operate under a trade name instead of your legal company name, you can register it with the Secretary of State (registration is optional). The initial filing costs $100 online or $110 in office or by mail. Registration also requires a separate newspaper publication, and the proof of publication carries no fee.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Treating the $100 filing as the finish line. The newspaper notice, registered agent, and biennial report are all separate obligations.
• Moving before the license is issued. The license must be in place before you move any household goods.
• Carrying non-household freight under the household goods license. That work is not covered, so turn it down or get the right authority first.
• Filing insurance below the minimums. A policy with less than $750,000 in liability or $5,000 in cargo coverage does not satisfy PSC rule 003.03(A).
• Assuming Nebraska requires a general business license. It does not. Your required registrations depend on your activity, so the Department of Revenue, the Department of Labor, and the Secretary of State are the agencies to check.
• Skipping local zoning checks. A truck parked at a home office can cause trouble with the city or county.
• Missing the odd-year LLC deadline. A missed biennial report can lead to administrative dissolution.

What Results to Expect

Completing these steps may put you in a position to legally accept household goods moves in Nebraska and to operate with the registrations and insurance the PSC and state agencies expect. Filing timelines can vary, and staff review of your documents can take longer than you plan, so start early.

No checklist can guarantee customers, revenue, or profitability. Demand for moving services depends on your local market, your pricing, your reputation, and your service quality. Many new movers find that their early bookings come from referrals and online reviews, so treat every move as part of your marketing.

Where to Get Help

The Nebraska Business Development Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha offers business start and growth assistance. You can also browse the SBA Nebraska district page for local resources. For tax questions, use the Nebraska Department of Revenue website. For entity filings, use the Secretary of State's Business Services page.

Important Disclaimer

This article is informational only. It is not legal, tax, or insurance advice, and it does not create an attorney-client or accountant-client relationship. Fees, deadlines, and rules change, so confirm every figure with the agency before you file or pay. Insurance, interstate operations, employee obligations, and tax treatment are complex. Talk with a qualified attorney, CPA, and licensed insurance agent before you launch, especially if you plan to move goods across state lines or hire employees.