The three largest of those industries in Nebraska are insurance agencies and brokerages (1,543 establishments), landscaping and tree services (912), and plumbing and HVAC contractors (782). WETYR buys qualifying Nebraska businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Nebraska owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Nebraska
Nebraska ranks 32nd in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 1,543 establishments, or $6,000 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 0.6% of the U.S. population. The fifteen largest Nebraska categories follow.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 1,543 | 78.8 | 1.94 | 32nd |
| Landscaping and tree services | 912 | 46.6 | 1.32 | 36th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 782 | 39.9 | 1.21 | 36th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 750 | 38.3 | 1.32 | 34th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 730 | 37.3 | 0.92 | 38th |
| Dental practices | 717 | 36.6 | 0.90 | 37th |
| Childcare centers | 681 | 34.8 | 1.46 | 33rd |
| General auto repair shops | 681 | 34.8 | 1.38 | 34th |
| Electrical contractors | 620 | 31.6 | 1.29 | 37th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 484 | 24.7 | 1.24 | 35th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 332 | 16.9 | 1.13 | 37th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 302 | 15.4 | 1.31 | 41st |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 271 | 13.8 | 1.16 | 34th |
| Local general freight trucking | 245 | 12.5 | 0.93 | 31st |
| Veterinary practices | 242 | 12.4 | 1.25 | 35th |
Where Nebraska is over and under the national average
Per resident, Nebraska runs heaviest in insurance agencies and brokerages (1,543 establishments, index 1.94, 32nd nationally by count); waste collection and dumpster haulers (90 establishments, index 1.64, 32nd nationally by count); roofing contractors (222 establishments, index 1.60, 32nd nationally by count). That top index of 1.94 means 94% more insurance agencies and brokerages per Nebraska resident than the U.S. average. Dense categories tend to have more local buyers at exit.
At the other end, Nebraska is thinnest in durable goods wholesalers and distributors (index 0.27) and laundromats and drycleaners (index 0.45). Thin categories cut both ways: fewer local competitors for an operator, but fewer comparable transactions when a buyer prices a deal.
Nebraska counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 3,678 | $76,083 | $227,400 |
| Lancaster County | 1,927 | $70,387 | $239,900 |
| Sarpy County | 1,027 | $95,911 | $263,000 |
| Hall County | 405 | $63,553 | $190,800 |
| Buffalo County | 372 | $70,093 | $218,600 |
| Madison County | 273 | $61,139 | $187,100 |
| Dodge County | 221 | $66,793 | $168,900 |
| Adams County | 214 | $61,502 | $166,300 |
| Platte County | 208 | $69,943 | $195,800 |
| Lincoln County | 204 | $63,019 | $167,900 |
Douglas County, Lancaster County, Sarpy County hold 58% of the 11,455 tracked establishments across 75 Nebraska counties or areas. Median household income runs from $50,321 in Richardson County to $95,911 in Sarpy County (1.9x), so the county you serve moves the valuation inputs.
Nebraska metro markets
Omaha and Lincoln are the 2 Nebraska metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and landscaping and tree services.
- Omaha, about 434,353 residents (Sarpy County); nearest markets Council Bluffs (7 mi), Papillion (7 mi)
- Lincoln, about 268,738 residents (Lancaster County); nearest markets Papillion (41 mi), Fremont (44 mi)
Working with WETYR in Nebraska
WETYR buys Nebraska businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Nebraska owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Nebraska. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Nebraska business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Nebraska?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 11,455 establishments in Nebraska across the 36 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 37th among the 50 states. With roughly 1,958,939 residents, that works out to 58.5 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Nebraska holds 0.69% of the U.S. total in these industries and 0.59% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Nebraska?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (1,543), landscaping and tree services (912), and plumbing and HVAC contractors (782). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone is $67,500 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Nebraska is most concentrated in insurance agencies and brokerages, waste collection and dumpster haulers and roofing contractors.
Does Nebraska tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Nebraska taxes personal income, so the gain on a sale is generally subject to state tax in addition to federal tax. How much depends on structure: asset versus stock sale, how the purchase price is allocated, and whether part is paid over time. Model the after-tax number with a Nebraska CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Nebraska are most of these businesses located?
Douglas County leads with about 3,678 tracked establishments, followed by Lancaster County (1,927) and Sarpy County (1,027). Together the top three hold 58% of the state total. Median household income in Douglas County is $76,083 and the median home value is $227,400. The smallest tracked area is Sherman County with 3.
Sell by industry in Nebraska
Other Great Plains states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.