To register your business in New York, you must first file for a business certificate at the office of the County Clerk. You can use this link to access the Certificate of Assumed Name form online. You can also conduct a search to make sure that your business name is available here. There is a corresponding filing fee for this and it may vary depending on your location ($120 for Brooklyn and Staten Island, and $100 for Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens).
The next step is to choose your business structure. There are different forms and requirements that you must complete for each type. You can access these forms from the New York Department of State office or website. Again, there are different costs associated with each type of business structure.
You can now proceed to get your Federal Employer Identification Number. Sole proprietors with no employees need not get one. For the others, you must fill up the IRS Form SS4 and submit it online or mail it to the IRS office. You can also register for other types of tax depending on the type of business you wish to open. You can visit the New York State Tax Department for more information.
The same goes with the licenses and permits. The need for additional licenses or permits will vary depending on the local regulations. If you need to secure a license and/or permit, you can do this at the NYC Business Express online.
New York State is made up of 57 counties, 616 municipalities, and 929 townships. The constitution of the state endorses the home rule principle, meaning it recognizes different levels of local government.
Cities belong with counties, with the exception of New York City. New York City itself is made up of five counties, one for each borough in the city. Traditionally, counties in this state are administered by the elected board supervisors or county legislature. More and more counties, however, have given increased powers to a single elected county executive (again, with the exception of counties inside New York City). Each county has a district and county attorney, treasurer (fiscal officer), county clerk, sheriff, and social services, commissioner.
Town boards, which is made up of town supervisor (presiding officer of the board and town treasurer) run the towns. Some towns incorporate themselves into a village, and have their own elected board of trustees and mayor. Village members are town members and must pay their taxes to both jurisdictions. The constitution decides which taxes the local government may charge and how much debt they may get.
The city of New York is administered by the mayor and city council. Much of the practical power, however, is in the Board of Estimate.
There are also 683 public school districts and 1,135 special districts in the state of New York.
See the main New York Page for county links.© State & Local 2023