NYC Business Quick Start Serves Small Businesses
By Penny Laughlin
Launched in June 2021, NYC Business Quick Start is an interagency collaboration to help small businesses open—or reopen. The program cuts through red tape, responding to small business inquiries within 48 hours and reducing processing time by 50%. In addition, NYC Business Quick Start provides a concierge service that gives businesses a single point of contact to navigate city requirements.
Small Business Advocates
Led by the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), NYC Business Quick Start offers Small Business Advocates who help owners of storefront businesses with the following:
- Understanding key rules and requirements to avoid fines and violations
- Connecting to government agencies to secure required permits and licenses
- Learning how to resolve violations received
Small Business Advocates assist businesses by partnering with colleagues and city and state regulatory agencies and utilities, including the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), NYC Department of Buildings (DOB), and Con Edison. Services are available in multiple languages.
Compliance Consultations
The program also meets with business owners—either on-site or virtually—and provides customized checklists to help them understand key rules and requirements, as well as common compliance issues.
NYC Business Quick Start does not issue violations or fines. Compliance experts help business owners understand the rules. The consultation will not discuss all rules and regulations and will not exempt a business from inspection and enforcement processes. For businesses that have already received a violation, compliance staff can provide guidance on how to resolve it.
For more information, visit the NYC Business website.