Select Page


Open your business in New York might be difficult. To pursue your business aspirations successfully, you need appropriate funds, time, personal support, and professional help.

Understanding business market of New York

Business owners in New York City have to deal with steep tax rates and a tangle of rules and regulations.
Being so close to Big apple means having easy access to capital and highly trained workers.
More than 2 million small enterprises employ four million individuals in New York. More than half of the people working in the state are employed by these small firms, which account for 99.8% of all businesses in the state. At 4.7%, New York’s unemployment rate was slightly over the national average, but it remained favourable for the state. Small enterprises significantly impact the state’s economy, as evidenced by employing more than half of all state workers (113,528).

Statewide, New York had a GDP of $1.676 trillion in 2018, enough for third place in the US. A 2.1 percent increase in the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018 was slightly lower than the national rate of 2.9% growth. Financing and insurance; real estate; rental/lease; professional and commercial services; public/government enterprise; educational services; healthcare and social assistance; and information are the top five industries in New York City.
Small businesses across the state have been affected by this economic climate.

Understanding New York regulations to optimize business success

New York state offers a diverse set of generally progressive policies to benefit employees. While not necessarily bad, increased restrictions necessitate greater preparation on the side of businesses, which frequently results in additional legal expenditures.
Several business owners have discovered that working with state agencies helps light the way to compliance, lowering the regulatory load. When setting up business in New York, it is critical to building solid relationships with various regulatory bodies.

Understanding New York taxation system

The relatively high taxes in New York state were mentioned as a major challenge by several companies we spoke with. While taxes are an unavoidable expense of doing business anyplace, New York state has a tax law that frequently favours the most relevant calculation to enterprises. It also includes various variables that a corporation must use to compute its tax obligation, making the process complicated.
New York has a corporate franchise tax for C-Corps and S-Corps and an LLC registration fee. LLCs are “pass-through entities,” which means that any revenue generated by an LLC “passes through” to the owner and is reported on their income tax return.
The state of New York’s business income base tax is 6.5 percent, while certain enterprises may qualify for a lower rate of 5.5 percent. Businesses may also be subject to a capital base tax or a set dollar minimum tax. Generally, corporations are required by state law to pay the greatest amount.

Labor market competition

New York is a populous east-coast state recognized for its cities and commercial activities. As a result, many companies are looking for talented employees. The unemployment rate is not particularly low, but it maintains below 5%, creating a competitive environment for the best job prospects. To face this problem, small businesses are generating more appealing salary packages and other employee benefits to attract, recruit, and retain top personnel.
Fortunately, New York has several great institutions and a diversified population of competent workers, so while skilled labor is in high demand, there is a huge pool of potential employees from whom to recruit.

New York City’s proximity

The proximity to New York City is a significant advantage of setup a business in New York state, particularly for enterprises in the state’s southern region. The economic activity generated by the world’s business capital typically spills over into nearby areas, providing opportunities for businesses to find more consumers and provide services that support city-based operations.

Living expenses

The cost of living is often high in New York state. Hence employees require greater pay to live. It also means that doing business will be more expensive, as goods and services are substantially more expensive than elsewhere. Nowhere is the expense of living higher than in New York City; yet, New York is more expensive than the national average in groceries, housing, transit, and healthcare.
The level of the minimum wage in New York was raised. $11.10 per hour on December 31, 2018. On December 31, 2019, the rate rise again to $11.80. The state minimum wage will be raised to $12.50 per hour by 2020. The minimum wage is higher in various towns and cities. For example, New York City recently increased its minimum wage to $13.50 per hour for enterprises with ten or fewer employees and $15 per hour for businesses with eleven or more employees. On December 31, 2019, all businesses in New York City will be forced to pay employees a minimum wage of $15 per hour.

Commonly Asked Questions

These are often asked questions when opening a business in New York. These answers will assist you in filing the necessary forms, paying the necessary fees, and understanding the fundamentals of starting a business in New York.
Why should you start a business in New York?
Despite taxing and regulatory compliance hurdles, New York state provides access to a large consumer base with high disposable cash. Furthermore, several lenders and investors are available to assist entrepreneurs in starting and growing their enterprises.

What steps do you need to take to incorporate in New York City?

A Certificate of Incorporation must then be filed with the New York Secretary of State to complete the process. Alternatively, this certificate can be submitted online or via mail. There is a $125 fee for submitting the Certificate of Incorporation, plus any relevant share taxes.

What is the total number of businesses in New York?

In New York, there are almost 2 million small enterprises that employ 4 million people. Small enterprises account for nearly all of the state’s businesses. There are 200,000 enterprises in New York City alone.

How much does a company license in New York cost?

To open your business in New York, the cost of your company license can vary substantially depending on the type of business you run. Some licenses cost as little as $25, while others cost hundreds of dollars.

When must New York sales tax returns be filed?

Annual filers in New York must file their sales and use tax returns by March 1. However, some firms, such as those with taxable receipts, purchases subject to use tax, and rentals and amusement charges totalling less than $300,000 in the previous quarter, must file quarterly forms. Quarterly returns are due March 1 through May 31, June 1 through August 31, September 1 through November 30, and December 1 through February 28 or 29.

What are the criteria for New York small business insurance?

Any small business with employees in New York is obliged to carry workers’ compensation and disability benefits insurance. If your employer has a vehicle for business purposes, you must also get auto insurance.
Aside from these regulatory requirements, various types of insurance may be required to keep operations running. Landlords, for example, may require liability insurance or tenants’ insurance. Lenders may demand that you purchase life insurance, business interruption insurance, or other types of protection.

Can you deduct company insurance?

Insurance and other business expenses can be deducted from taxes if they are both “ordinary” and “necessary.” Businesses that must carry insurance due to state rules and regulations will almost certainly be able to deduct the mandatory insurance cost from their tax bill.

Is your company eligible for a health tax credit?

The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is available to small firms that provide healthcare coverage to their employees. Businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 are eligible.
Part of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the healthcare tax credit provides a maximum credit of 50% of qualified small business healthcare premiums paid or 35% for tax-exempt organizations.

Damalion is an independent consulting firm that provides comprehensive company formation services. We have a vast global service network made up of experienced service providers such as attorneys, accountants, auditors, and business consultants who will assist you in navigating the process of company registration in New York. Our Damalion experts can help you with numerous tasks, including company formation, management, accounting, bookkeeping, bank account establishing, taxes consulting, etc. Contact a Damalion expert right away if you want additional information on how to be successful in opening a business in the United States.