How to Start a Business in New York

Starting your own business is exciting, but to launch a successful business, it’s important to get started in the right direction. Each state has its own unique regulations and requirements for businesses, especially those starting up. In this article, you will learn the steps to starting a business in New York.

14 Steps to Starting a Business in New York

To start a business in New York, you’ll need to follow the same steps as any other state. There are a few specific things you need to do to register your business in New York, and you’ll also need to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations that apply to businesses in the state.

 

1. Determine Your Business Name

Just like any other state, you’ll need to choose a name for your business. However, you may run into additional requirements with choosing the right name in New York. If your desired business name is already taken by another company or contains certain words that are restricted, you may need to alter the name slightly or pick another one entirely.

Use the New York Department of State Corporation and Business Entity Database to search for your desired name. This will ensure that there are no other businesses in New York with that business name or specific keywords.

 

2. Write a Business Plan

The next step in starting any business is to conduct thorough market research and write a business plan. This document will outline your business goals, strategies, and how you plan to achieve them. It’s important to be realistic in your planning and to include all the necessary information, including financial models. A well-written business plan can help you secure funding from investors or lenders, and it can also be used as a roadmap for your New York business. Our collection of sample business plan can help you determine the best type of business to start.

New York State offers a variety of helpful resources that you can use to conduct market research including:

• SizeUp – Map your competition, benchmark performance and find the best places to advertise
• NYS Department of Labor Data Center: Compare wages across the state and by industry
• NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services: Research local tax rates across New York

 

3. Choose a Business Structure

Before starting a business in New York State, it’s important to choose the legal structure that is right for your company. There are several different structures available, and each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

Each structure determines how profits are taxed, who can invest in the business, and how much control each owner has over their respective portion of the business. You should consider all of these factors when choosing a structure for your company.

The most common business entities are:

• Sole Proprietorship – An informal business entity where there is a single owner who owns and operates the business. Advantages of this structure are the ease of setup and flexibility, while disadvantages are that assets are held personally, all profits are taxed as personal income, and there is no separation between the owner’s assets and the business assets.
• General Partnership – A partnership is another informal business structure where two or more people own and operate the business. Advantages of this structure are that it’s easy to setup and there is no requirement to file any legal documents with the state, but disadvantages include that all partners share personal liability for company debts and decisions, profits are taxed as personal income, and each partner has unlimited liability (meaning they are personally responsible for all business debts).
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – An Limited Liability Company is a formal business structure where the owners of the company are referred to as “members.” An LLC offers its owners limited liability protection, meaning personal assets are protected from business debts and liabilities. Advantages of an LLC include that it offers tax advantages, managerial flexibility, protection from creditors, and ease of setup. The main disadvantage of a Limited Liability Company is that it requires filing articles of organization with the state, which entails paperwork and a filing fee.
• C Corporation – A corporation is considered a different legal entity, so like an LLC, you have personal asset protection from business debts and liabilities. Advantages of this company include limited liability for shareholders, separate taxation from the owners, and ease of setup. The main disadvantage of this type of corporation is double taxation for shareholders (dividends are taxed as personal income and then also as corporate income).
• S Corporation – An S corporation is a special type of corporation where the company meets certain requirements for tax elections. Advantages of an S corporation are similar to advantages of a C corporation, but the main disadvantage is that the shareholders must be US citizens.

Use the links below to apply online through the NYS Business Wizard for your chosen business entity.

• Sole proprietorships and general partnerships file with the County Clerk in the county where you’re located.
• Business Corporations file a Certificate of Incorporation with the New York Secretary of State.
• Limited Liability Companies file Articles of Organization with the New York Department of State.

 

4. Choose a Business Location

Once you’ve chosen a business structure, it’s time to choose a location. In general, the best place for a small business is near where its customers or employees live or work. A central location will make it easier to meet with your clients, and also be more convenient for your customers.

Small businesses can open in commercial office spaces, but they are usually very expensive. A better option is a retail space or shared office space that offers short-term leases or month-to-month leases. Make sure the space has the appropriate equipment and utility services for your business.

 

5. Licenses and Permits

Before you open your New York business, you need to obtain specific business licenses and permits to legally operate within the state.

If you haven’t already, you must first apply for your business license by choosing the most appropriate legal structure as noted in Step 3 above. Once your registration has been approved, you will then apply for a federal tax ID or Employer Identification Number (EIN) through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website.

Next, you will apply to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance for a sales tax Certificate of Authority which you can do here.

In New York State, you are required to obtain unemployment insurance through the NYS Department of Labor here, as well as workers’ compensation insurance from the NYS Insurance Fund (NYSIF) or a private carrier of your choice. We’ve included more information about business insurance below.

 

6. Open a Business Bank Account

Once your business is set up, you need to open a business bank account. Opening this type of account will help keep your personal finances separate from your business expenses. Keeping your funds separate also helps maintain good credit for the business’s financial needs, such as receiving accounts receivable or obtaining loans.

To open a business account, you will need to provide the required paperwork for your business structure, including articles of incorporation. The best option is usually to use an existing personal checking or savings account as the initial funding source for your new business account, so it’s important to choose a financial institution that provides accounts with low minimum balances and monthly fees.

 

7. Learn About Intellectual Property Ownership

Once your business is up and running, you may consider investing in intellectual property protection to protect your ideas, inventions, brand, etc.

First, determine if your idea is patentable and to whom you want to assign the rights. If you don’t file for a patent yourself, someone may steal your business idea and apply for one instead. You can file your own patent or hire an attorney or agent to assist you with this process.

Before filing a copyright for your creative work, ask yourself: “Is it original and am I the first person to create this?” You can file for a copyright online or by mail using an application available on the US Copyright Office website.

Trademarks are easier to obtain but they are limited to protecting words, phrases, symbols or designs used in connection with goods and services. This can include your company logo, your product’s name or even slogans. You can file an online application for a trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office, but it must also be filed in each individual state where you plan to use your mark.

 

8. Get Business Insurance

Before you launch your business, it’s important to get the right type of business insurance. It isn’t always easy to know which types of insurance you need and where to find them at affordable prices.

It’s very helpful to speak with an independent agent who specializes in small businesses. An independent agent can advise you on what types and amounts of insurance are best for your business.

The most common types of business insurance include:

• Property insurance: Covers damage to the property of others or your own business, such as fire and natural disasters
• Commercial Auto insurance: Helps cover vehicles used in the course of doing business, including cars and trucks
• Workers’ compensation insurance: Pays employees who are hurt on the job or have a work-related illness or injury
• General liability insurance: Helps pay for any injuries and property damage your business may cause to others

There are other types of insurance you may want to consider, including product liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and business interruption insurance. Be sure to discuss all your options with your insurance professional.

 

9. Establish Your Accounting and Tax Filing System

It’s important to make sure you are keeping accurate records of all the money you earn and spend in your business. This will help you keep track of your earnings and ensure that you’re meeting your tax obligations correctly. Keep the following types of information in an accounting system:

• Your business bank statements
• Receipts for expenses incurred for business use
• Logs of business income earned from various sources, including personal savings or loans

If you need help with setting up an effective accounting system, ask for assistance from a tax professional. It’s often best to hire a business accountant who is familiar with working with small businesses.

 

10. Create a Marketing Plan

It’s not enough to simply start a business – you also need to make sure you are getting the word out about your products or services. A marketing plan will help guide all your decisions related to promoting your new company, including what type of promotional tools to use and how much money should be spent on advertising.

The most basic steps in creating a marketing plan include:

• Deciding what you are trying to achieve
• Identifying your target audience
• Developing ways to reach your target market
• Creating a budget for advertising and other promotional tools, including the types of media to use when advertising (radio, television, print, digital)

 

11. Obtain Funding For Your New York State Business

One of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs face is raising enough money to get their businesses off the ground. While you can always bootstrap your business, borrowing money from friends and family, or even asking customers to pay early, often isn’t enough capital to grow a successful company.

If you need additional funds, there are a number of startup funding options available:

• Banks and credit unions: Look for small business loans, lines of credit, and/or a business credit card
• Venture capitalists or angel investors: Find investors who will give you an infusion of cash in exchange for partial business ownership
• Crowdfunding platforms: Make a pitch on online platforms such as Kickstarter or GoFundMe to raise small sums of money from many people

 

12. Recruit and Hire Employees

One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is finding and hiring employees. While you can do some tasks on your own as a new business owner, such as data entry and administrative tasks, other jobs require specialized knowledge or extensive training.

If you need to hire employees, your first step is determining how many workers you will need. You may want to consider the following factors:

• How quickly do you expect your business to grow?
• Is there a shortage of skilled workers in the region where your business is located?
• Do you need to hire staff in multiple locations?

Once you have an idea of how many workers you’ll need, your next step is finding them. Network with others in the same industry to get referrals and recommendations for job candidates. Also, consider advertising your openings on local Facebook groups, Craigslist, or even through a temporary staffing agency. The Department of Labor provides additional resources to help you recruit and hire workers.

Once you’ve hired employees, it’s important to take care of their needs, too. Employees need a safe work environment and want their ideas heard and respected. The Department of Labor has many useful resources for business owners related to protecting New York workers.

 

13. Stay Organized

One of the most important ways to succeed in business is by staying organized. Having an effective system for managing your money, marketing plan, and employees will help ensure that your small company continues to grow. We’ve outlined the essentials of staying organized below:

• Financial organization: Use an accounting system to keep track of your business expenditures, income, and tax records. Set up a separate bank account for your company so you can easily transfer funds between accounts. Keep an itemized list of all equipment purchased for the company in case it may need to be replaced or repaired at some point.
• Organization of your marketing plan: Create a document where you can keep track of all promotional tools being used to advertise your business, including details such as the date each item was purchased and its estimated lifespan. Having this information readily available makes it easier for you to budget for future advertising expenses or replacements.
• Employee organization: Create a file where you can keep track of all employees’ contact information, job descriptions, and training hours. This information will be helpful for recruiting new workers in the future or if any former employees need to be contacted.

 

14. Open for Business

Once you’ve created a solid business plan and obtained the proper permits, licenses, and funding for your business, you will be ready to open your doors.

For more information on starting a business in New York, visit the New York Department of State website. The New York Business Express website also includes several additional resources for new entrepreneurs and small business owners.