NYC Small Business Services
NYC Small Business Solutions Center
Business Owner’s Bill of Rights
As a business owner, you have the right to:
Courteous and professional treatment by our employees
Inspectors who are polite, professionally dressed, and properly identified
Information about how long inspections will take and the cost of all related fees
Knowledgeable inspectors who enforce agency rules uniformly
Receive information about agency rules from inspectors or other employees
Contest a violation through a hearing, trial or other relevant process
Request a review of inspection results or re-inspection as soon as possible
Receive explanation from inspectors (if requested) on violation details and instructions for viewing inspection results
Access information in languages other than English and request language interpretation services for inspections, and any subsequent administrative hearings and trials, including pre-trial conferences and settlement negotiations
Comment, anonymously and without fear of retribution, on the performance or conduct of our employees.
NYC Business Express Service Team (BEST)
Save Time and Money with the NYC Business Express Service Team (BEST). Through NYC BEST, you will be connected to a single point person to help you.
Get Licenses and Permits Faster
Understand City rules and requirements
Work with City agencies to get licenses and permits faster
Avoid/Reduce Fines and Violations
Prepare for inspections
Fix issues before an inspector walks through the door
Understand violations you've received and help address them
NYC SBS relationships with city and state regulatory agencies and utilities make the difference. NYC BEST is your one-stop resource for working with the following:
Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY)
NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)
NYC Department of Consumer & Worker Protection (DCWP)
NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY)
NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets
NYS Department of Financial Services
NYS Liquor Authority
Con Edison
National Grid
Connect with NYC BEST: 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692).
Commercial Lease Assistance
Free Legal Assistance for Small Business Owners with Lease Issues If your business needs help with a commercial lease issue in New York City, you may be eligible for free legal services.
Free legal services are available to help eligible businesses:*
Sign a new commercial lease
Amend, renew, or terminate an existing commercial lease
Address a commercial lease-related issue
*To be eligible for free legal services, your business must:
Be a small business according to the U.S. Small Business Services Administration
Be located in New York City
Not be a franchise establishment
Meet the income eligibility requirements of the legal service provider
NYC Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Certification Program
The City of New York Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) Program expands opportunities for minority and women entrepreneurs to access government contracts and grow their businesses. When eligible businesses are certified with the City they become more visible to prospective buyers, including City agencies and private contractors seeking to purchase goods and services.
Online Directory of NYC Certified Businesses
The Online Directory of NYC Certified Businesses is a searchable list of M/WBE, LBE, and EBE businesses certified by the City of New York. Find contact information for these firms, and learn about their expertise, experience, and more.
Restaurant Hiring, Onboarding, and Training Playbook
A best practices guide to help NYC restaurants improve employee retention.
This Playbook provides strategies and tools that any restaurant (or other foodservice business) operator can use to create a more supportive and productive experience for your new hires resulting in higher retention rates. By taking a more intentional approach to hiring, onboarding, and training, your new hires will feel more welcome, confident, and able to succeed. Every step matters in this process!
Take time to go through the entire Playbook, or review the topics most relevant to you and your business as needed. Additional details and suggestions are available through reference links in each section. We hope you find this Playbook useful in developing a loyal team of dedicated employees.
WE NYC
Services and resources for women entrepreneurs making their dreams a reality in NYC.