Starting a Business in New York: Licenses, Permits & Requirements (2026)

Last updated: October 26, 2026

New York business setup involves more than choosing a name and filing with the state. Work through the checklist for your structure, local approvals, tax accounts and employee coverage, with optional services beside the steps they support. Selling beer, wine or spirits? Read up on the New York liquor license steps before you sign a lease.

New York Business Requirements at a Glance

Allow room for the steps after formation. A New York LLC usually has publication obligations, and hiring brings separate insurance and payroll requirements. Check what applies before paying for a filing package.

Affiliate links may earn us a commission. Paid providers are optional; official filing routes are included.

Setup step	When it applies & what to budget	Your next step
Choose your business structureChoose first	An LLC is an optional structure that can help separate business liabilities from personal assets. New York charges $200 for Articles of Organization. Most LLCs must also publish in two county-designated newspapers for six weeks and file a $50 Certificate of Publication within 120 days. Newspaper and provider charges are extra. Adopt a written operating agreement within 90 days of formation.	Understand New York LLC costs and filing, or use the official state filing route. Optional filing help: ZenBusiness can prepare and submit the LLC formation filing. Review the package and any recurring add-ons. Form an LLC with ZenBusinessAffiliate · Optional provider
Check licenses & your locationDepends on your work	Check state licenses for your activity and county, city, town or village requirements for the operating location. Zoning, health approvals and professional credentials remain separate from forming an entity. New York City businesses should also check the relevant city agencies.	Find your New York industry guide. Review New York permit and registration guidance and confirm local requirements.
Register a trading nameIf using an assumed name	An LLC using an assumed name files with the Department of State; the LLC filing fee is $25. Sole proprietors and general partnerships using a name other than their legal name generally use the county clerk’s business-certificate process instead.	Check the name-registration route for your structure.
Get your federal tax IDIf an EIN is needed	An employer identification number (EIN) identifies your business for federal tax purposes. Whether you need one depends on your structure and activities. It is free from the IRS. If forming an LLC or corporation, form it before applying.	Check eligibility and get an EIN free. You do not need to buy an EIN service.
Register for sales taxIf making taxable sales	If you expect to make taxable sales, register for a sales-tax Certificate of Authority at least 20 days before starting business. Check whether your goods or services are taxable. Income-tax and employer-withholding obligations are separate from this certificate.	Check tax registration and filing requirements.
Arrange business insuranceRequired coverage varies	Before hiring, check workers’ compensation, disability benefits and Paid Family Leave coverage requirements. These are distinct protections with their own rules and exceptions. Separately assess business liability, property, equipment and vehicle insurance for the work you perform.	Check New York workers’ compensation rules. Optional quote service: Simply Business can help you explore business insurance. Coverage and availability depend on your trade and underwriting. Get business insurance quotesAffiliate · Optional provider
Separate money & keep recordsPractical setup	Choose how you will separate business receipts and expenses, reconcile transactions and save tax records. Compare account fees, cash-deposit access and bookkeeping needs. Account-opening documents depend on the provider and business structure.	Prepare your formation or trading-name documents and tax ID, then compare business accounts. Set up a recordkeeping routine before your first payment.
Put customer agreements in writingDepends on your service	Agree on the work, price, payment dates, exclusions and cancellation terms before starting. A general service-agreement template may help with routine work; regulated or complex jobs can need specific contract terms or legal review.	Optional document service: use LawDepot to customize a service agreement, then check that it fits your work. Create a service agreementAffiliate · Optional provider
Set up invoices & paymentsChoose your payment method	Decide how customers will pay and when invoices are due. Compare transaction fees, hardware costs and payout timing. Buying a particular payment service is not a state requirement.	Optional payment service: explore Square for accepting customer payments and compare its fees with your expected sales. Explore Square paymentsAffiliate · Optional provider
Plan startup costs & cash reservesBorrowing is optional	Add filing costs, equipment, insurance and operating expenses before deciding whether to borrow. Financing options depend on revenue, time in business, credit and lender criteria. A new, pre-revenue business may not qualify. For local lenders and eligibility, compare New York business loans.	Optional comparison service: SuperMoney Business Financing lets you explore funding options, subject to eligibility. Compare total repayment cost and payment frequency. Compare business financingAffiliate · Optional provider
Prepare for employeesIf hiring	Use New York’s employer-registration process for applicable unemployment insurance, withholding and wage reporting. Arrange payroll records, new-hire reporting and required employee coverage; entity formation alone does not complete these obligations.	Review NYS-100 employer registration Check disability and Paid Family Leave coverage
Calendar reports & renewalsFor your entity and licenses	A New York LLC files a $9 Biennial Statement every two years, in the calendar month of its original filing. This does not replace tax returns, any applicable annual LLC filing fee, local permits or professional-license renewals.	Check the official reporting and renewal guidance. Paid filing help is optional and may cost extra.

Need the detailed instructions? Continue below for state filings, employer obligations and links to the licensing agencies.

How to Start a Business in New York (Step by Step)

Step 1: Choose Your Structure and Register It

An LLC is one option, not a requirement for every business. Compare ownership, liability and ongoing obligations before choosing. If an LLC fits your plans, the filing instructions below apply; our New York LLC guide explains the costs and options.

File Articles of Organization with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations. The fee is $200 (mail or online). Expedited service is available for additional fees ($25 for 24-hour, $75 for same-day, $150 for 2-hour). Your LLC name must contain “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC” and must be distinguishable from existing entity names in the NY DOS database.

Registered agent / process address. By default, the NY Secretary of State acts as agent for service of process for every domestic LLC, with the address you list in your Articles forwarded copies of any process. You can also designate an additional registered agent with a New York address.

The LLC Publication Requirement (the most-missed step)

Within 120 days of formation, every NY LLC must comply with NY Limited Liability Company Law § 206: publish a copy of the Articles of Organization, or a notice related to the LLC’s formation, in two newspapers for six consecutive weeks. The two newspapers – one daily and one weekly – must be designated by the county clerk of the county where your LLC’s principal office is located. After the six weeks, you collect Affidavits of Publication from each newspaper, attach them to a Certificate of Publication, and file with NY DOS for a $50 fee.

If you miss the 120-day deadline, the Department of State suspends your LLC’s authority to carry on business in New York – you cannot maintain a lawsuit, your contracts may be challenged, and you must complete publication and pay catch-up filing fees to be reinstated. Costs by county vary widely:

• New York County (Manhattan): typically $1,500-$2,500 – the most expensive in the state because the county clerk designates the New York Law Journal as the daily, which is unusually expensive
• Kings County (Brooklyn), Queens, Bronx: $1,200-$1,800
• Richmond (Staten Island), Westchester, Long Island: $400-$1,200
• Most upstate counties: $200-$800

A common workaround used by tax-conscious operators is to register the LLC’s principal office in a lower-cost county (such as Albany, Schenectady, or counties in central or western New York) where publication is cheap, while operating substantively from a higher-cost county. Be cautious: you must have a real address in that county – using a registered-agent’s mailbox in another county to dodge publication is not what § 206 contemplates.

Biennial Statement and Assumed Name

Every two years, file a Biennial Statement with NY DOS confirming your LLC’s address and chief executive officer. Filing fee: $9. Failure to file does not automatically dissolve the LLC, but the entity is marked “past due” and good-standing certificates cannot be issued.

To do business under any name other than your LLC’s true legal name, file a Certificate of Assumed Name with NY DOS for $25 plus per-county fees of $25 each (covering all 62 New York counties, the total can reach $1,950 – though in practice you list only the counties where you’ll operate). Sole proprietors and general partnerships follow a different path: they file a Business Certificate with the county clerk of each county where they do business. New York County, Kings, and Queens charge approximately $100 for the certificate; most upstate counties charge $25-$50.

NY LLC Transparency Act (LLCTA) – effective January 1, 2026

The NY LLC Transparency Act took effect January 1, 2026, but Governor Hochul vetoed proposed amendments in late 2025 that would have restored the law’s original broader scope. As a result, the LLCTA now applies only to non-United States LLCs (foreign LLCs formed outside the US) that are authorized to do business in New York – domestic NY LLCs and US-based foreign LLCs are not subject to the state-level beneficial ownership disclosure. Covered entities file an electronic Beneficial Ownership Disclosure (or Attestation of Exemption) with NY DOS for a $25 fee; new entities have 30 days from authorization, pre-2026 entities have until December 31, 2026, and annual filings are required thereafter. Since August 2026, LLCs formed in the U.S. no longer have to file a federal beneficial ownership (BOI) report with FinCEN.

Step 2: Register for NY State and (If Applicable) NYC Business Taxes

NY Sales Tax

New York imposes a 4% state sales tax on tangible personal property and certain enumerated services. Local sales taxes stack on top, and the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) adds another 0.375% in NYC, Long Island, and lower Hudson counties. Notable combined rates:

• New York City: 8.875% (4% state + 4.5% NYC + 0.375% MCTD) – applies to all five boroughs uniformly
• Westchester County: 8.375% to 8.875% depending on city (Yonkers and other cities collect their own additional local tax)
• Nassau and Suffolk (Long Island): 8.625%
• Most upstate counties: 8% combined (4% state + ~4% county)

Apply for a Certificate of Authority (sales tax permit) through NY Online Services at least 20 days before your first taxable sale. There is no fee. Filing frequency depends on volume: businesses with $300K+ in annual taxable sales file quarterly; high-volume businesses file monthly with prepayments.

NY Personal Income Tax (2026 brackets – first five brackets reduced)

Effective January 1, 2026, Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2025 cut New York’s bottom five personal income tax brackets. The new bottom rate is 3.9% (down from 4%), with corresponding reductions through the fifth bracket. The high-income surcharge of 9.65%, 10.3%, and 10.9% was extended through tax year 2032. New York’s 9-bracket structure is one of the most graduated in the country:

Single / HoH 2026 taxable income	2026 marginal rate
Up to $8,500	3.9%
$8,501 – $11,700	4.4%
$11,701 – $13,900	4.5%
$13,901 – $80,650	5.15%
$80,651 – $215,400	5.4%
$215,401 – $1,077,550	5.9%
$1,077,551 – $5,000,000	6.85%
$5,000,001 – $25,000,000	10.3%
Over $25,000,000	10.9%

LLCs, S-corps, and partnerships are pass-through entities; income flows to owners’ personal NY returns at these rates. New York City residents face an additional NYC personal income tax with rates of 3.078% to 3.876%, and Yonkers residents pay an additional 16.75% surcharge on their NY State tax. Verify current brackets each year at tax.ny.gov.

NY Corporate Franchise Tax (Article 9-A)

C-corporations doing business in New York pay franchise tax under Article 9-A of the Tax Law on the highest of three bases: (1) entire net income (rate 6.5% for tax years beginning on/after Jan 1, 2025; 7.25% if NY business income exceeds $5 million), (2) capital base (small businesses, qualified manufacturers, and cooperative housing exempt), and (3) fixed dollar minimum tax ranging from $25 to $200,000 based on NY receipts. S-corporations pay only the fixed dollar minimum, ranging from $19 to $4,500 by NY receipts. Pass-through entities (LLCs taxed as partnerships, S-corps electing PTET) can elect the NY Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) at the entity level to work around the federal SALT cap, with credits flowing to owners’ personal returns.

NYC Business Taxes (if you operate in any of the five boroughs)

New York City imposes its own business income taxes on top of state taxes:

• NYC Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT): 4% on net income for sole proprietors, partnerships, and most LLCs operating in NYC. No UBT is due if the tax comes to $3,400 or less; a partial credit applies between $3,401 and $5,399 (NYC Finance). Self-employment income from sole proprietors hits this even if you have no NYC office, so long as the work is done in NYC.
• NYC Business Corporation Tax (BCT): 8.85% on net income for C-corporations doing business in NYC (rates differ for financial corps).
• NYC General Corporation Tax (GCT): Since 2015 reform, applies only to S-corporations and qualified subchapter S subsidiaries doing business in NYC.
• NYC Commercial Rent Tax (CRT): 3.9% effective rate on annual base rent over $250,000 for commercial tenants south of 96th Street in Manhattan. Most small businesses below the threshold are exempt.

Step 3: Register for NY Unemployment Insurance and Paid Family Leave

NY Unemployment Insurance

Register for UI tax with the NY Department of Labor by filing form NYS-100 within 20 days of paying $300 or more in wages in any calendar quarter. The 2026 numbers:

• New employer combined rate: 4.1% (3.4% normal + 0.625% subsidiary + 0.075% Re-employment Service Fund)
• Experienced employer range: 2.1% to 9.9%, set annually based on your benefit charges
• Wage base: $17,600 per employee for 2026 (up from $12,800 in 2025). Beginning January 1, 2026, the wage base is permanently indexed to 18% of the state average annual wage and adjusts each January.

UI returns are filed quarterly on form NYS-45 together with state income tax withholding.

NY Paid Family Leave (PFL)

NY’s Paid Family Leave program is one of the most generous in the country and is funded entirely by an employee payroll deduction:

• 2026 contribution rate: 0.432% of gross wages, capped at a maximum employee contribution of $411.91 per year
• Benefit: Up to 12 weeks at 67% of average weekly wage, capped at 67% of the state average weekly wage. Maximum 2026 weekly benefit: $1,228.53.
• Coverage: All private employers with 1+ employee for 30 days. Public employers may opt in.
• Use: Bonding with a new child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or qualifying military exigency. Job protected.

PFL coverage is purchased through your existing NY Disability Benefits Law (DBL) carrier or through the NY State Insurance Fund. DBL itself is a separate mandate that covers non-occupational injuries and illnesses with up to 26 weeks at 50% of average weekly wage (capped at $170/week – the lowest non-occupational disability cap in the country).

New Hire Reporting

Report every new hire (and rehire after 60+ days separation) to the NY New Hire Online Reporting Center within 20 calendar days of the hire date. Penalty for failure: $20 per employee. The report includes whether the employee is eligible for dependent health insurance.

Step 4: Get NY Workers’ Compensation Insurance

New York Workers’ Compensation Law § 2 and § 3 require nearly every employer with one or more employees – full-time, part-time, family, or seasonal – to carry workers’ compensation insurance. The exemptions are narrow: certain sole proprietors with no employees, single-member LLCs with no employees, and corporate officers who own all stock (in 1- and 2-officer corporations only). Independent contractors must be genuinely independent under New York’s right-to-control test – misclassification is heavily audited.

Penalties for operating without coverage: criminal misdemeanor (up to $5,000 fine for the first offense; up to $50,000 plus jail for repeat offenses), $2,000 civil penalty for every 10-day period of non-compliance, and personal liability for the full cost of any work injury that occurs while uncovered.

Coverage is available through any private carrier authorized to write workers’ comp in New York, through the NY State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) – which is required by law to insure any eligible NY employer that applies – or, for very large employers, through approved self-insurance.

Step 5: Get State Industry Licenses and NYC Layered Permits

NY State professional and occupational licensing

Most state-licensed industries are administered through the NY DOS Division of Licensing Services:

• Cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nail specialty, natural hair styling, waxing
• Private investigators, watch/guard/patrol agencies, armored car companies
• Security guards, bail enforcement agents
• Real estate brokers and salespersons
• Apartment information vendors and apartment sharing agents
• Notaries public, athlete agents, telemarketing

The NY State Education Department (Office of the Professions) handles other regulated professions: medicine, accounting, engineering, architecture, dentistry, and roughly 50 others.

NYC layered regulation – the second moat for any NYC business

If you operate in any of the five NYC boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island), you face a second regulatory layer. The four NYC agencies that touch most small businesses:

• NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) licenses 45,000+ businesses across 45+ industries. The largest categories: Home Improvement Contractor (~27% of all DCWP licenses), Tobacco Retail Dealer (10%), Secondhand Dealer (8%). DCWP also enforces NYC’s worker protection laws (Earned Sick and Safe Time, Fair Workweek, Freelance Isn’t Free Act). DCWP is consolidating several license categories effective September 8, 2026 (Electronics Stores merging with Electronic & Home Appliance Service Dealer; Self-Storage Facilities adding licensing August 25, 2026).
• NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) handles construction permits, HVAC contractor licenses (Master Plumber, Refrigeration/Air Conditioning license), signage, and trade permits. The 2022 NYC Construction Codes apply.
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) handles food service establishment permits, mobile food vendor permits, child care licensing within NYC (in partnership with NY OCFS), personal service establishment permits (salons, body art), and pool/beach permits.
• NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) runs the NYC Business Express portal at nyc-business.nyc.gov, the Commercial Lease Assistance Program, the Industrial Business Zones program, and the NYC Business Solutions Centers throughout the boroughs. SBS does not issue business licenses but is the city’s primary front door for new businesses.

Many NYC industries also touch community boards – 59 community boards across the five boroughs review certain permits (sidewalk cafes, liquor licenses, certain construction projects) before they go to a citywide agency.

Major upstate cities

• Buffalo (Erie County): Buffalo Permit Office handles building, food, and trade permits. The city’s manufacturing rebound and Tesla Gigafactory proximity drive sustained construction, food service, and HVAC demand.
• Rochester (Monroe County): healthcare-driven economy (URMC, Rochester Regional, Eastman Institute), strong cleaning and daycare demand around hospital campuses.
• Syracuse (Onondaga County): the Micron semiconductor fab project (2027+ first chip production targeted) is driving construction, HVAC, and adjacent residential service demand through the late 2020s.
• Albany (Albany County): state-government anchored economy with stable demand for government adjacent services.
• Yonkers (Westchester County): separate city wage tax (resident 1.5% + non-resident 0.5% surcharge), separate sales tax overlay above county rate, and its own building permit office.

What Makes New York’s Tax and Payroll Structure Distinctive

1. The LLC Publication Requirement is unique to New York. No other state has a comparable requirement. It was originally adopted in 1923 to ensure local creditors could find LLCs through the local press; the requirement survived the 2006 Marketplace Fairness Act debate and a 2014 attempt to repeal it. Operators incorporating elsewhere (Delaware, Wyoming) and registering as foreign LLCs in NY do not escape – foreign LLCs face the same publication obligation under § 802 of the LLC Law. Plan and budget for it, or pick a low-cost county where you genuinely operate.

2. The three-tier minimum wage is rare. Effective January 1, 2026, NY runs a three-tier minimum wage: $17.00 in NYC, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk), and Westchester County, and $16.00 in the rest of the state. Tipped service rates are $14.15 / $13.30 with $2.85 / $2.70 tip credits, and tipped food service is $11.35 / $10.70 with $5.65 / $5.30 tip credits. The $17.00 / $16.00 rates hold on January 1, 2027; a proposed March 1, 2027 raise to $17.60 / $16.55 is pending legislative approval (NY.gov). Operators with locations in both NYC and upstate NY must run separate wage tables.

3. NY layers paid family leave on top of disability insurance. NY’s combined Disability Benefits Law (DBL) + Paid Family Leave (PFL) regime predates and expanded into the country’s most generous state paid leave program. The 0.432% PFL deduction is small per paycheck but produces real benefits – 12 weeks at 67% of wages, capped at $1,228.53 weekly in 2026. PFL has been called out as a competitive recruiting advantage for NY-based employers, particularly compared to states with no paid leave program.

4. NYC stacks a second regulatory layer on top of state. An NYC food truck operator deals with NY DOS (LLC), NY Tax & Finance (sales tax), NY DOL (UI), NY Workers’ Comp Board (insurance), NYC DCWP (vendor license), NYC DOHMH (mobile food permit), NYC DOB (commissary code), and the borough-level community board for any sidewalk operations. No other US city has this many agencies with overlapping jurisdiction over the same small business.

5. NYC UBT catches a lot of operators by surprise. The 4% NYC Unincorporated Business Tax applies to LLCs, partnerships, and sole proprietors doing business in NYC even when the owner lives in New Jersey, Connecticut, or upstate. It is calculated on net business income – not just NYC-source income – and only businesses whose tax comes to $3,400 or less owe nothing. A consultant living in Hoboken who works in midtown clients pays UBT.

New York Market Context: Where the Demand Is

New York is the third-largest state economy in the United States, behind only California and Texas, with a 2024 GDP exceeding $2.3 trillion – larger than every Canadian province combined and larger than Italy or Brazil’s national GDP. Roughly 19.5 million people live in NY State; 8.3 million in NYC alone.

• NYC and the broader metro: 8.3 million in the five boroughs; 19.5 million in the NY-Newark-Jersey City MSA. The world’s largest urban concentration of professional services, finance, media, fashion, and biotech. Sustained demand for cleaning, HVAC, food service, child care, and personal services across a population that skews higher-income, denser, and more service-purchasing than almost any other US market.
• Long Island (Nassau + Suffolk): 2.85 million people. Higher-income suburbs with strong demand for residential services (cleaning, landscaping, HVAC) and mature commercial corridors.
• Hudson Valley + Westchester: 2.3 million. Suburban-residential mix bordering NYC; strong child care, salon, and home service demand from a high-income, family-centric population.
• Capital Region (Albany + Saratoga): 1.1 million. State government anchor + Albany Nanotech / GlobalFoundries / Wolfspeed semiconductor cluster.
• Western NY (Buffalo + Rochester): 2.4 million combined metros. Manufacturing rebound (Tesla Gigafactory in Buffalo, Micron’s Syracuse fab to the east), university anchors (UB, Cornell, RIT, Eastman), and lower cost of operations than downstate.
• Central NY (Syracuse + Utica + Binghamton): 1.0 million. The Micron Foundry construction project (2027+ first chip production) is the largest single private capital project in NY history and is reshaping construction, HVAC, food service, and child care demand across central NY through the late 2020s.

Cost to Start a Business in New York (Estimate)

Cost Category	NYC LLC (lower bound)	Upstate LLC (lower bound)
NY DOS LLC Articles of Organization	$200	$200
Newspaper publication (LLC Law § 206)	$1,500-$2,500	$200-$800
NY DOS Certificate of Publication	$50	$50
Federal EIN	Free	Free
NY Sales Tax Certificate of Authority	Free	Free
NY Workers’ Comp + DBL/PFL (annual minimum)	$500-$1,500+	$500-$1,500+
Registered agent service (optional)	$50-$300/year	$50-$300/year
NYC DCWP license (if regulated industry)	$50-$1,500+	n/a
Approximate first-year minimum	$2,300-$5,000+	$1,000-$3,000

The cost spread between NYC and upstate is dominated by the LLC publication requirement and any DCWP-licensed industry overlay. After year one, recurring costs are largely the $9 biennial statement, workers’ comp / DBL / PFL premiums, any state professional license renewals, and NYC DCWP renewal if applicable.

New York Business Guides by Industry

New York plumbing business guide — local plumbing licensing, NYC master plumber rules, insurance and startup steps for plumbing companies.

New York electrical business guide — local licensing, NYC credentials, LLC publication and contractor tax decisions.

New York real estate agent guide — salesperson licensing steps, exam and license fees, broker activation and startup planning for new agents.

Ready to begin the education step? Compare New York real estate courses, Colibri packages and exam-prep options.

Every industry has different licensing, permit, and insurance requirements in New York – and most face the additional NYC layer if they operate in the five boroughs. Select your business type:

• How to Start a Cleaning Service in New York – SEIU 32BJ commercial dynamics, NY sales tax exemption for cleaning services, NYC Worker Bill of Rights, Domestic Worker Bill of Rights cleaning business insurance in New York
• How to Start a Food Truck in New York – NYC Mobile Food Vendor cap (~3,000 citywide), Local Law 18 phased expansion, Article 89 NYC Health Code, commissary requirement, upstate county-level licensing food truck insurance in New York
• How to Start a Daycare in New York – NY OCFS licensing under 18 NYCRR 413-418, NYC UPK + 3-K for All revenue model, CCAP subsidies, QUALITYstarsNY rating system daycare insurance in New York
• How to Start an HVAC Business in New York – no statewide HVAC license, NYC DOB Master Plumber/Refrigeration Engineer/Master Fire Suppression, Local Law 97 retrofit market, A2L refrigerant transition HVAC insurance in New York
• How to Start a Salon in New York – NY DOS Division of Licensing (Cosmetology/Esthetics/Nail Specialty/Natural Hair Styling), Appearance Enhancement Business License, NYC DOHMH Personal Service Establishment overlay
• How to Start a Landscaping Business in New York – NY DEC Commercial Pesticide Applicator under 6 NYCRR Part 325 (one of strictest in US), Suffolk County add-on restrictions, NYC Local Law 37, Dig Safely NY 811 landscaping insurance in New York
• How to Start a Private Investigation Business in New York – NY DOS Division of Licensing PI License under General Business Law Article 7 § 70-89, $10,000 surety bond, separate Watch/Guard/Patrol Agency license, NY one-party consent recording rule
• How to Get a New York Liquor License – an On-Premises Liquor license runs $1,792 to $4,352 for two years depending on county zone, plus a $200 filing fee; no bartender card, but the LLC must publish notice in two newspapers for six weeks
• How to Get a New York Massage Therapy License – NYSED Office of the Professions: 1,000 classroom hours including 150 hands-on, New York’s own exam twice a year (the MBLEx is not accepted), $108 to license, 36 CE hours every three years
• Do You Need an Arborist License in New York? – No state arborist license – but NYC street tree work needs a Parks permit and DPR-approved contractor status, and every NY LLC must publish in two newspapers for six weeks
• How to Get a Dealer License in New York: Cost & Requirements

Key New York Business Resources

Resource	What It Covers
NY Department of State	LLC and corporation formation, biennial statements, assumed names, professional licensing
NY Department of Taxation and Finance	Sales tax Certificate of Authority, income tax, NYS-45 quarterly returns, withholding
NY Department of Labor	Unemployment insurance registration (NYS-100), wage and hour laws, minimum wage tiers
NY State Workers’ Compensation Board	Workers’ comp coverage, Disability Benefits Law (DBL), Paid Family Leave (PFL)
NY Paid Family Leave	PFL benefit rates, employee notice posters, claim forms
NY New Hire Reporting Center	20-day new hire reports
NYC Business Express	NYC SBS unified portal for licensing, permits, and small business services
NYC DCWP Business Licenses	45+ regulated industries: HIC, electronics, secondhand dealer, locksmith, etc.
NYC Department of Buildings	Construction permits, HVAC contractor licensing, signs, Local Law 97
NYC DOHMH	Food service permits, mobile food vendor permits, daycare licensing within NYC, salon services

How Long Do New Businesses Last in New York?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics follows every private-sector establishment in New York from the year it opens. Of the businesses opened in March 2024, 79.6% were still operating one year later. Among those opened in March 2020, 51.9% reached the five-year mark — in line with the national rate — and 33.7% of the March 2015 cohort made it to ten years.

Two things keep those numbers from reading as grimly as they look. A closed establishment is not always a failed one: the BLS count includes owners who sold, merged, moved, or retired. And the businesses that last, grow — nationally, establishments reaching age ten average 11.7 employees, up from 4.4 when they opened. Rates for every state and 19 industries: business survival rates by state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in New York?

The Articles of Organization filing fee with the NY Department of State is $200. On top of that, every NY LLC must satisfy the LLC Publication Requirement under LLC Law § 206 – publishing in two newspapers for six consecutive weeks and filing a Certificate of Publication with NY DOS for an additional $50. Newspaper costs vary by county: typically $1,500-$2,500 in Manhattan, $1,200-$1,800 in the other NYC boroughs, and $200-$800 in upstate counties. Add the recurring $9 Biennial Statement filing every two years. A NYC LLC’s all-in first-year cost runs roughly $2,000-$3,000 just for state-level formation.

What is the LLC Publication Requirement and can I avoid it?

Under NY Limited Liability Company Law § 206, every domestic NY LLC must publish a notice of its formation in two newspapers (one daily, one weekly) designated by the county clerk where the LLC’s principal office is located. Publication runs for six consecutive weeks; afterward you file a Certificate of Publication with NY DOS for $50. The deadline is 120 days from formation. Missing it triggers suspension of your LLC’s authority to do business in New York – you cannot maintain a lawsuit or be in good standing until you cure the failure. NY is the only state with this requirement. You cannot avoid it by registering in Delaware: foreign LLCs authorized in NY face the same publication obligation under § 802. The most common cost-management strategy is to register the LLC’s principal office in a lower-cost county (such as Albany, Schenectady, or other upstate counties) where you genuinely have a presence.

Does the NY LLC Transparency Act apply to my domestic NY LLC?

Probably not. The NY LLC Transparency Act took effect January 1, 2026, but Governor Hochul vetoed proposed amendments in late 2025 that would have restored the law’s broader original scope. As enacted, the LLCTA now applies only to non-United States LLCs (foreign LLCs formed outside the US) authorized to do business in New York. Domestic NY LLCs and US-based foreign LLCs (e.g., Delaware LLCs registered in NY) are not subject to the state-level beneficial ownership disclosure. The filing fee for covered entities is $25 per filing. Separately, since August 2026, LLCs formed in the U.S. no longer have to file a federal beneficial ownership (BOI) report with FinCEN.

Does New York require workers’ compensation for one employee?

Yes. Under NY Workers’ Compensation Law § 2 and § 3, nearly every employer with one or more employees – full-time, part-time, family, or seasonal – must carry workers’ compensation insurance. The exemptions are narrow: certain sole proprietors with no employees, single-member LLCs with no employees, and corporate officers who own all stock in 1- or 2-officer corporations. Failure to carry coverage is a criminal misdemeanor (up to $5,000 first-offense fine; jail and $50,000 for repeats), plus a $2,000 civil penalty per 10-day non-compliance period and personal liability for any work injury that occurs while uncovered. Coverage is available through any NY-licensed private carrier or the NY State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), which is required to insure any eligible NY employer that applies.

What is NYC UBT and do I have to pay it?

The NYC Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT) is a 4% tax on the net business income of sole proprietors, partnerships, and most LLCs operating in any of the five NYC boroughs. The tax is 4%, but a business tax credit wipes out the tax entirely if it comes to $3,400 or less, gives a partial credit between $3,401 and $5,399, and gives no credit at $5,400 or more. UBT applies based on where the work is performed – a consultant living in New Jersey or Connecticut who serves NYC clients with NYC-based work owes UBT on that income. C-corporations doing business in NYC pay the NYC Business Corporation Tax (8.85%) instead, and S-corporations pay the NYC General Corporation Tax. NYC residents also pay the NYC Personal Income Tax (3.078% to 3.876%) on their personal returns.

What is New York’s minimum wage in 2026?

NY runs a three-tier minimum wage effective January 1, 2026: $17.00 per hour in New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), and Westchester County, and $16.00 per hour in the rest of New York State. Tipped service employees: $14.15 / $13.30 cash wage with $2.85 / $2.70 tip credit. Tipped food service: $11.35 / $10.70 cash wage with $5.65 / $5.30 tip credit. The $17.00 / $16.00 rates hold on January 1, 2027; a proposed March 1, 2027 raise to $17.60 / $16.55 is pending legislative approval.

What is NY Paid Family Leave and how is it funded?

NY Paid Family Leave (PFL) is one of the country’s most generous state paid leave programs. It provides up to 12 weeks at 67% of average weekly wage, with a maximum 2026 weekly benefit of $1,228.53. PFL is funded entirely by an employee payroll deduction of 0.432% of gross wages, capped at a maximum employee contribution of $411.91 per year. Employers do not pay any share. Coverage is required for nearly all private employers with 1+ employee for 30 days. PFL is purchased through your existing NY Disability Benefits Law (DBL) carrier or through NYSIF. Use cases: bonding with a new child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, qualifying military exigency. Job-protected.

Why is starting a business in NYC harder than upstate New York?

Two reasons. First, cost: the NYC LLC Publication Requirement runs $1,500-$2,500 versus $200-$800 upstate, and any NYC-located unincorporated business pays the NYC UBT (4%, with full credit only if the tax is $3,400 or less) on top of state tax. Second, regulatory layering: NYC adds a second full layer of agencies on top of state requirements – DCWP licenses 45+ industries, DOB controls construction and HVAC, DOHMH covers food/daycare/personal services, SBS provides commercial leasing assistance and small business support. A NYC food truck operator deals with seven distinct agencies plus the borough community board; an upstate food truck operator typically deals with a single county health department. NYC’s market opportunity is larger, but the cost of entry and ongoing compliance is several multiples higher than upstate.

Wondering whether New York is one of the states that requires a general business license? See how New York compares in our 51-state business license requirements table.