Mom and pop shops are the lifeblood of New York City, giving neighborhoods character that lasts for generations. To give small businesses across the five boroughs some extra support, the City Council passed legislation on Thursday, introduced by UES City Council Member Julie Menin, which will make getting the necessary permits and licenses to do business a lot easier to navigate.
“As a former small business owner, I understand how frustrating it is to traverse through the alphabet soup of city agencies to maintain and open a small business,” explained Council Member Menin.
“Centralizing the process of obtaining vital information to operate your business will make a world of difference.”
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Menin’s legislation, which passed with a supermajority of votes, will create a one-stop shop business portal where all permits, licenses and information a small business needs to open and operate in NYC will be located, rather than having to interact directly with numerous City agencies.
“Small business owners and entrepreneurs don’t have the time to take days off to figure out the logistics of being in compliance,” Menin says, “nor should they have to.”
According to Menin’s office, starting a restaurant in New York City currently requires a business to interact with eight different City agencies and pay eight different fees.
“This overly complex regulatory maze creates confusion and red tape that results in delays and uncertainty costing time, money and headaches for small business owners,” said Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance.
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Menin’s bill, if enacted, will give businesses owners a single destination where they can submit and check the status of applications, permits and licenses.
“We lost so many small businesses during the pandemic,” said Council Member Julie Menin.
“A one-stop shop small business portal provides the necessary support that our small businesses need to survive and thrive.”
Menin’s bill now heads to Mayor Eric Adam’s desk to be signed into law.
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