The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) said on Nov. 5 that it has expanded its permit guidance team, NYC BEST, to 30 members and has helped more than 3,000 businesses with licensing and permit processes. The city also recommended more than 50 reforms to eliminate unnecessary regulations.
New York City has more than doubled the staff dedicated to helping small businesses navigate permitting. On Thursday, Nov. 5, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that since this administration took office, the city's Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has helped more than 3,000 small businesses with licensing and permit processes, and that 97 of them opened for the first time.
SBS added 17 new small business support specialists to its permit guidance unit, the NYC Business Express Service Team (NYC BEST), bringing the team to 30 members. The specialists help owners avoid fines for violations of city rules they were unaware of, and they have also been trained on the requirements of major enforcement agencies.
More Than 50 Reforms Recommended to Clean Up Unnecessary Regulations
SBS recommended more than 50 reforms to eliminate outdated permit categories, duplicate paperwork and unnecessary fines. Under Executive Order 18, signed by Mayor Mamdani, city agencies held their first quarterly meeting, attended by Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su and SBS Commissioner Kenny Minaya, to address issues that span multiple agencies.
SBS also provided more than $8.4 million in grants to community organizations, helping more than 20,000 small businesses across the five boroughs, and hand-delivered the revised Business Owners' Bill of Rights to more than 4,000 businesses. Its mobile consultation vehicles visited 40 events and reached more than 1,300 New Yorkers. Under a law passed by the City Council (Int. 0655), roadway outdoor dining is permitted year-round.