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What applications do I need to complete to start a business in New York City?

The Step by Step Tool helps determine whether you need to apply for particular permits, licenses, certificates, or registrations to operate a business in New York City. You can save the results from the Step by Step Tool by creating an account on NYC Business.

Please be aware that the Step by Step Tool may not provide complete information. To verify your results, we recommend that you schedule a free, in-person consultation with a NYC Business Solutions Account Manager who can review the results and refer you to qualified resources for incentives, financing and/or legal advice.
Where do I go to file my applications online?

You can apply online for licenses, permits, and/or certifications using the License Lookup tool and index. Search for the form that you need by name, click on the heading to expand the card, and select either the "learn more," or the buttons to apply or renew. Please be sure to print and save a copy of the application for your personal records.
Does my business qualify for any tax or business incentives?

The Incentives Estimator is an online questionnaire that shows you whether your business qualifies for money-saving city, state, and federal incentives.
Can I schedule an in-person consultation to get more information?

Yes. You can schedule a free consultation with an NYC Business Solutions Account Manager to learn more about starting and operating a business in New York City.

In addition, the NYC Business Solutions Center offers free services, including:

  • Pro-bono legal consultations
  • Finance, loan, and lender assistance
  • Employment and training resources
  • Business planning, marketing, and bookkeeping classes
  • Help with navigating governmental rules and programs, including how to pursue federal, state, and city certifications and what to do to qualify for tax and business incentives
What do I do when issued a ticket or citation?

The back of your ticket should contain information about the violation. You have the option to either pay the ticket or contest the violation by appearing at a hearing before an administrative law judge. The back of the ticket should list the date, time and location of your scheduled appearance. For more information about the hearing, contact one of the following tribunals:
What is a Notice of Hearing?

A Notice of Hearing is a formal request to appear before an administrative law judge. The back of the ticket or citation should contain instructions to help determine the date, time, and location of the scheduled appearance. Unless you submit a request to change the court date, you must be present at the court date. To change the date of the hearing, you must submit a written request for an adjournment 3 to 5 days before the scheduled hearing. Lawyers are permitted, but not required. Translation services may also be available upon request. For more information about Administrative Hearings
How do I find out if my business has any unpaid violations?

Search for any outstanding tickets or citations issued to your business by the Environmental Control Board or by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on the Make a Payment page. You may also visit the applications, payments & requests page to view violations issued by the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. For all other agencies, please refer to the back of your ticket or citation for more information about where to go to amend the status of the violation or contact 311 to learn more. Note that the failure to pay these fines may keep you from obtaining or renewing a license or permit.
How does the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's point-grading system work?
  • The Health Department generally conducts unscheduled inspections of restaurants at least once a year. Inspectors check for compliance in food handling, food temperature, personal hygiene and vermin control. Each violation of a regulation gets a certain number of points. At the end of the inspection, the inspector totals the points, and this number is the restaurant's inspection score—the lower the score, the better the grade. To learn more about how a restaurant is scored and graded, read How We Score and Grade (PDF).
Who do I contact to learn more about my violation?