Resources for Businesses
Here are some free resources to help you start, maintain or grow your business. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Email us info@evimanyc.org for help.
EVIMA’s Social Media and Digital Marketing Guide
EVIMA has a handy guide to up your social media and digital marketing game. Download the guide here.
Small Business and Educational Resources
NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) The NYC Department of Small Business Services has a wealth of free resources to help NYC businesses thrive including financial assistance for tax, debt and utility relief, marketing support and regulatory information. Visit the SBS website or call 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692) to learn more.
SBS also offers NYC Business Express, an online tool that consolidates many of the license, permit, and tax applications required to do business in New York City. The NYC Business Express Incentives Estimator can even provide a customized list of city, state, and federal incentives your business may qualify for. Visit the NYC Business Express website for more information
SBS NYC Business Express Service Team (BEST) is a one-stop resource for complying with NYC permitting, licensing, and agency rules. The team will come to your business or meet with you virtually and provide a customized compliance checklist. They will not issue violations or fines - their role is to help you understand the rules.
New York State Small Business Development Centers provide small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York with confidential business consulting, training, and business research at no cost to you. Pace University Small Business Development Center serves Lower Manhattan.
The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Help Desk will connect you with experts to find solutions that can help your business. Email helpdesk@manhattancc.org or call 212-473-7875.
Bars, Restaurants and Nightlife Businesses can find free and for (paid) members only information and resources from the New York Hospitality Alliance. Visit their website to learn more.
The Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network helps traditionally underserved low and moderate income entrepreneurs with funding, business planning, technical assistance and more through individualized services, webinars and trainings, and free online materials. Visit the BOC website for more information.
Start Small Think Big connects eligible small business owners with their network of over 2,600 skilled professionals to receive legal, finance, and business growth expertise — all for free.
Google Grow offers free training, tools, and resources to help you grow your skills, career, or business. Check out these offerings on the Google Grow website.
SCORE offers everything from free mentoring to online webinars, and FAQs for just about every business operation question you can think of. Visit their website to apply for a mentor to help you grow your business or register for any of their online webinars.
NYC Small Business Services offers courses both online and in-person to help you start, grow, manage, and finance your business. Visit their website to learn more and sign up for a course.
For technological support for small business, The Open for Business Hub lists technology companies that are helping small businesses to work remotely. Visit their website for a list of software and technology that may be helpful to you.
WE NYC offers free services to women-owned businesses in New York City. Visit their website to learn more.
Women NYC offers financial, educational, legal, and workforce development resources for women-owned businesses in NYC. Check out their website to learn more about their programs and services.
Legal Advice City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) offers legal services for low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs starting businesses, including free 45 minute legal clinics for micro-entrepreneurs. Visit the NELP website, call 212-382-6633 or email nelp@nycbar.org to learn more.
Commercial Lease Assistance
If your business needs help with a commercial lease issue in New York City, you may be eligible for free legal services. Cooper Square Committee works with residential and commercial tenants in need of lease assistance. Email Cooper Square Committee at csc@coopersquare.org or visit their website to learn more.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance
NYC offers this website of resources for small businesses including requirements for using portable ramps to make entrances to storefronts physically accessible. Be sure to consult your commercial lease to understand your responsibilities for ADA compliance. For help reviewing your commercial lease, register online for the Commercial Lease Assistance Program at https://nyc.gov/commlease or call 888-SBS-4NYC and ask for "Commercial Lease Assistance".
Neighborhood and City Agency Resources
Licenses, Permits and Regulations
Find City, State and Federal regulations, including licenses and permits needed to start, run and grow a business in New York City on the NYC Business License and Permit Index webpage.
Sanitation Information
East Village commercial tenants are required to have their waste and recycling removed by a licensed carting company. Visit the NYC Business License for Waste Removal webpage to apply for a license or view a list of approved waste removal vendors on the City’s Open Data website.
Tree Planting
The NYC Department of Parks Recreation will plant a free street tree in front of your business or home. To request a tree and for more information, visit the Parks Department website.
Violations
NYC Businesses provides resources for business to understand how to avoid violations on their website. Existing violations can be paid using their online form.
Police Support and Crime Prevention
The East Village from Houston to 14th Street between Broadway and the East River is part of the 9th Precinct.
Crime Prevention Officer, 9th Precinct:
Michael Ranieri
Phone: 212-477-7835
Email: michael.ranieri@nypd.org
Domestic Violence Officer, 9th Precinct
Phone: 212-477-7839
Email: 9pctdvo@nypd.org
Find your Neighborhood Coordination Officer on the 9th Precinct website.
NYC Comptroller’s Office
Visit the Comptroller’s Office website to learn more about city financing.
NYC Department of Health
Visit the Department of Health’s COVID-19 website to learn more citywide COVID-19 response initiatives and resources.
COVID Information
To get text updates from the City, text COVID to 692-692. To learn more about New York State COVID-19 resources visit the NYS COVID-19 website.