Steps Necessary to Start a Business in New York City

Jonah Engler
2 min readMar 2, 2015

--

New York City is referred to as the Big Apple. Like a big, juicy apple, the city teems with the most diverse businesses. There are several necessary steps to start a business in New York City. These include:

  • Understand NY City business regulations with regarding to business practices
  • Apply for a business permit
  • Review urban regulations for business locations and structures
  • Study urban tax structures for new start ups in New York City

These are the necessary steps to start a business in New York City that are a priority. NY City has a number of business regulations regarding business practices. These may include hours and days of business operation and also prevailing wages where applicable in certain businesses.

Applying for a Business Permit

Clearly, a very important part of starting a business in New York City is applying for a business permit and a certificate of occupancy. New York City laws are enforced regarding the necessity of a business permit for most type of businesses. In the mid 1980s, many street vendors and cabbies found that they had not studied the laws for permits to operate businesses. The consequences can be quite serious. To apply for a New York City business permit, seek the help and services found at City Hall.

Review Urban Regulations for Business Locations, Structures and Parking

New York City’s zoning laws should be reviewed before choosing a business location. Depending on the type of business to be started, certain zoning laws can determine whether or not the location is advantageous. The business building and structure is another area that requires review. Most new start up businesses in this city locate in older, existing buildings under a lease or rental agreement. Other new start ups may choose one of the bigger skyscraper business locations. It’s important to understand the leasing and rent control agreements that exist for these locations and structures. Parking is another area of concern for many new start up businesses here. Parking lots may be part of the business building. Check the laws on parking lot ownership and maintenance.

Study Urban Tax Structures for New Start Ups in New York City

After searching for the ideal, highly visible location and reviewing zoning and business permit applications, for most business owners, New York City taxation is a necessary step to avoid complications in daily business operations.

Jonah Engler is a successful entrepreneur, investor, franchise owner and coffee lover who hails from New York City.

--

--