Top 15 Profitable Small Business Ideas in Nebraska

The number of small businesses is on the rise in Nebraska, United States. If you are a resident here, find here in this article list of the top profitable small business ideas in Nebraska.

Running a small business in Nebraska has many advantages. The state of Nebraska provides one of the most low-cost living facilities in the United States. With the presence of wide stretches of plains, this state offers enormous business opportunities in the agriculture sector.

Nebraska has a massive manufacturing industry with a large agriculture sector producing top-selling products like corn and soybeans. The domestic industry includes the production of beef, pork, maize, soybeans, and sorghum. Freight transport, rail and truck, manufacturing, telecommunications, information technology, and insurance are the major contributing sectors to Nebraska’s economy.

A diversified economy, Nebraska has different industries in a variety of sectors including manufacturing, finance, telecommunications, and information technology. With a huge market for small businesses, the government offers an array of opportunities for new businesses.

List of 15 Small Business Ideas in Nebraska

1. Start a Trucking Company

Nebraska is one of the busiest states in the United States. If you have the resources to buy or lease a truck to start with, starting a trucking company in Nebraska can be a profitable venture.

2. Real Estate Broker

If you live in places like Omaha, or Lincoln, there is a good demand from people for proper accommodation. If you have good networking skills starting a real estate brokerage firm can fetch you good returns.

3. Elderly Care

There is a good demand for quality healthcare for elders. If you are looking forward to a profitable and rewarding business in the medical industry on a small scale, consider starting an elderly care business.

4. Virtual Assistant Service

A growing home business across the globe, companies now look for virtual assistants who can work from home. You can start as a freelance virtual assistant offering services like management, data organization, and virtual administration.

5. Online Marketing Services

Businesses are now looking for more ways how they can promote their products and services. Traditional marketing is losing its charm lately. If you have some unique marketing ideas, start offering marketing services online with detailed plans.

6. Soybean Export Business

Nebraska has a sprawling agricultural economy producing corn and soybeans. You can start to produce soybean in the state and then export them to other areas of the country.

7. Travel Agency

The state has a flourishing tourism industry with some of the top tourist attractions. With so many visitors to the state, you can start a travel agency to offer customizable tours, ticketings, flight bookings, currency exchange, and more.

8. Pet Grooming

Pet-related services are huge in Nebraska. If you are an animal enthusiast, you can opt to offer pet grooming services in the state. This may include home visits or a pet-grooming facility of your own.

9. E-commerce Business

With so many marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, and Depop, it’s now really easy to sell products online. Start with outsourcing products and you can have your own e-commerce business with very little capital.
e-commerce.

10. Cattle Farming

Nebraska for the last many years ranks as one of the top cattle-producing states in the United States. This state has the top three beef cow counties in the country.  Nebraska hosts the nation’s No. 1 cow county – Cherry County, with nearly 166,000 cows. If you a farming land, or have the resources to lease one, cattle farming is surely worth considering.

11. Social Media Management

Companies now depend on social media for exposure. If you know the bits of social media, you can choose to offer specific digital marketing services like Facebook marketing, Instagram promotions, and more.

12. Start a Restaurant

If you have your own retail space or have the resources to lease one, starting a restaurant business is a potentially profitable business opportunity in Nebraska.

13. Business Planning Services

Business plans are an important part of any business. It determines how a business will perform. If you have the right skills, you can choose to offer consulting services like writing a well-detailed business plan with all the dos and don’ts.

14. Bed & Breakfast

If you are near any interesting tourist destination, start an in-home bed and breakfast business. You can register in places like Airbnb for faster bookings and get paid to host your guests.

15. Freelance Writing Services

If you wish to write, but not start a blog, it’s better to start offering writing services. You can work as a freelance writer from home offering services like copywriting, blogging, social media posts, press releases, and more.

How to Start a Business In Nebraska

Find below a step-by-step guide on the steps to be followed in starting a business in Nebraska covering aspects like registering a business, licenses, permits, and much more:

Step 1. Choose a Business

The very first step is to choose a business. Explore market demand and your resources and decide on which business would be most appropriate for you. The above-mentioned business ideas hopefully will help you in selecting the right one.

Step 2: Register Your Business 

In Nebraska, the Secretary of State monitors the registration of trade names and business names. You need to register with them in order to start a business here in Nebraska. However, if you are planning to start a choose corp. or an LLC as your business structure, a registered agent is a must to process it.

Step 3: Get a Tax Identification Number

Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) acts as a tax ID for a business. The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers. It is a unique identification number that identifies your business. Visit the IRS official site and enquire whether you need it or not and also ask anything you want.

Step 4. Create a Business Plan

Start with a detailed business plan. Nebraska has several businesses, and it’s going to be competitive. A business plan will help you to stay ahead of your competition. Jot down the goals, targets, and how to wish to proceed with your new business.

Step 5. Financing Your Business

The state has a healthy platform for new businesses. There are investors and venture capital firms to whom you can pitch your idea. If you choose to fund your own business, go for a loan with a long-term payback period and a low-interest rate.

You can also check the following business loan and guarantee programs:

• Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Programs
• Business Loans from Northeast Nebraska Development District.
• Business Loans Southeast Nebraska Development District.

Step 6. Check for a Relevant Website Business Domain Name

Nowadays, you must have a website if you are serious about starting a profitable business. It is advised to find a relevant domain name before you finalize your business name.

Read: How to Check Domain Name Availability

Step 7. Business Permits & Licenses

There are local licenses applicable in different cities of Nebraska. Like you will need a sales tax license to sell products. Nebraska also has special permits and licenses specific to different businesses. If you are planning to start as an LLC, there might be a requirement for multiple business licenses and permits. It is advised to get the job done by professional vendors.

Step 8. Business Bank Account & Accounting Software

A separate bank account will help you to manage your financial transactions better. Also, you can apply for a credit account for vendors with your EIN. Next up, set up good accounting software that would help to maintain all your transactions in one place.

Step 9. Business Insurance

The state has no mandatory insurance applicable. But it’s better to go for a professional liability policy to sell and a worker’s compensation insurance to legally hire an employee.

Step 10. Promoting Your Business

Promotions play a major role in new businesses. Taking the business to the potential audience is important initially. It’s better to hire an agency for planned promotions and marketing.

Best Places To Start A Business In Nebraska

Choosing the right location is going to determine how your business runs. Here are some of the best places in Nebraska to start your business:

• Omaha
• Lincoln
• Norfolk
• Grand Island
• Fremont
• Columbus

Completing all the steps one by one in a planned manner will help you set up your new business within a short span of time. Hopefully, this guide will assist you in establishing your dream business successfully.

We hope this list of business ideas in Nebraska along with a start-up guide will inspire you in starting your own business venture.