Depending on your legal structure, you will need to either register with New York State or your County Clerk. If your business will be a Corporation, Limited Liability Company, or Limited Partnership, you will need to register with New York State. If your business will be a General Partnership or Sole Proprietorship, you will need to register with your County Clerk. 

You can start your application here or at www.businessexpress.ny.gov/app/loginregister

More Tips:

• Click Register Here under “I Need a NY.GOV ID” to get started

• Need help or have questions? Call the NYS Business Information Center at 518-485-5000. 

If you are a resident of Bronx County, refer to the Bronx County Clerk’s Office here. This site will walk you through the steps of filing for a new business registration. Note that the net cost for filing for a business certificate through Bronx County will be $110. 

When you are registering your business, you will need to decide on a legal structure for the business. Common legal structures include sole proprietorships, partnerships, and Limited Liability Company (LLC). Visit this page published by the U.S. Small Business Administration for a breakdown of the different kinds of legal structures.   

Consult this NYC interactive resource to browse business violations (and how to avoid them!) for your type of business. On the drop-down menu on the site, you can select your business type, i.e. auto repair shop, grocery store, and salon. After doing so, the page will list all the fines and penalties associated with each policy violation.