September 2026

What better way to celebrate the end of one summer season than with a win for restaurants that better prepares them for the next! We’re happy to report that on August 31, Mayor Mamdani signed legislation establishing permanent year-round outdoor dining on NYC roadways. The NYC Department of Transportation will create rules in the coming months allowing restaurants to temporarily winterize outdoor dining setups. We will update you once these rules are finalized. 

For now, there’s plenty to do in preparation for the Fall season ahead. As we say every month, planning is key. Whether you’re just starting a food business, or have guided your business through many season changes, having set goals and a roadmap to follow always supports success. 

Wishing you all a smooth, profitable September!

Steven Picker & Rosanne Martino

NYC Food and Beverage Industry Partnership at SBS

Tools to Help Train and Retain Your Team

Want to Get an A on Your Next Next Health Department Inspection? 

NYC BEST Bootcamp

NYC BEST is partnering with various city agencies and community partners to help small business owners understand city rules and regulations through a series of webinars covering the following topics:

• Permits, licenses, and application processes 
• Government resources and incentives 
• Requirements for building out or renovating a storefront 
• Working with Con Edison & National Grid 
• Responding to violations or summonses 
• Outdoor vending 
• Waste management

Bring More Visitors to Your Restaurant

Most restaurants market directly to customers. But there’s another way to reach NYC visitors: the tour operators, travel advisors, and other tourism professionals who help travelers decide where to eat — often before they even arrive in New York. 

Join this upcoming informational webinar to learn about Tourism Ready, a free, four-part, in-person training program that will show you how to work with these partners and position your restaurant for the visitor market:

• how the travel trade works
• what tourism partners look for in restaurant experiences
• how to develop an offering they can sell
• how to build relationships that can bring new customers to your restaurant again and again

Date: Monday, September 14

Time: 3 - 4 p.m.

NYPL Bronx Job Fair & Expo: Hospitality & Service at the Bronx Library Center

The New York Public Library (NYPL) cordially invites actively hiring hospitality & foodservice employers to apply to participate in the 2026 Job Fair at the Bronx Library Center.

This year's theme is "Hospitality & Service."

Date: Friday, September 25

Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Could Language Barriers Be Holding Your Team Back? 

Miscommunication in a busy restaurant can mean mistakes, slower service, frustrated managers, and employees who struggle to advance. 

What if you could bring free, restaurant-focused English training directly to your employees — at your restaurant? 

Through English2Stay, participating NYC restaurants receive: 

• Free English classes at your restaurant 
• Lessons built around the language employees actually use on the job 
• Training designed with restaurant operators—not a generic ESL curriculum 
• Support that helps employees communicate with managers and coworkers and grow into greater responsibility 

Have employees who could benefit? Let us bring the training to you.

What Participating Business Owners are Saying

"Since the training began, employees are better able to communicate clearly during daily work tasks."

"The program has helped reduce misunderstandings in the workplace."

"I catch my employees quizzing each other on kitchen vocabulary."

Stay Up To Date

Business Owner Bill of Rights

As part of New York City's commitment to provide New Yorkers with excellent customer service, the Mayor's Office and the City Council created a Business Owner Bill of Rights.

Everything You Need To Know To Plan, Launch, and Operate a Successful NYC Restaurant

Whether you’re thinking about opening a restaurant or bakery, or have been operating a foodservice business for years, NYC Restaurant Academy has something for you and your managers. All webinar sessions are free. 

Prep School:  

• Overview 1. Plan & Finance Your Food Business  
• Overview 2. Launch & Operate Your Food Business 

Topic-Specific Sessions: 

• Creating an Effective Restaurant Business Plan 
• Food Service Financial Management 
• Company Culture & Leadership 
• Compliance:  
• Food Service Rules & Regulations 
• Employment Rules & HR Practices 

The NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene now sends restaurants two advance email notices before a routine sanitary inspection — but only to the email address DOHMH has on file.

Make sure your restaurant’s contact information is up to date. An outdated email address could mean missing valuable advance notice and resources to help you prepare for your inspection. Restaurants generally receive: 

• First notice: 1–5 months before the anticipated inspection window
• Second notice: 3–6 weeks before the inspection

New York City Council passed legislation allowing year-round roadway dining. Applications will open in early September 2026. New applicants can choose a year-round license with higher fees. Existing participants may upgrade their existing license or application by paying an additional fee. Check Dining Out NYC for more information.

The NYC Business Express Service Team (NYC BEST) can help you complete the application accurately so you can save time.

Avoid Fines and Violations

Effective December 13, 2026, employers in New York State are required to include an opioid antagonist (such as naloxone/Narcan®) where first aid kits are required by federal law.

This applies to virtually all restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and other hospitality-focused businesses in New York.

Upcoming Webinars

Unlock Free Advertising Secrets with LinkNYC

Learn the fundamentals of using this low-cost advertising platform for small businesses.

NYC Free Tax Prep for Self-Employed New Yorkers

Learn the key steps to launch a worker cooperative and build the shared ownership structure your group needs to get started.

Additional Resources

Business Owner Bill of Rights

Required Signs for NYC Restaurants

Restaurant Resource Guide

Latest news for restaurant owners.

Commercial Lease Assistance

Free legal services to help eligible businesses with signing a new commercial lease; amending, renewing, or terminating an existing commercial lease; or addressing a commercial lease-related issue.

Hiring, Onboarding & Training Playbook

Best practices guide for retaining employees

NYC Business Express Service Team (NYC BEST)

Get connected to a single point person to help you get licenses and permits faster and avoid/reduce fines and violations.

NYC Business Solutions Centers

Access free legal assistance, business courses, financing assistance, and more. Visit maps.nyc.gov/sbs to find an NYC Business Solutions Center in your borough.

NYC Field Guide

How to Start A Business in New York.

NYC Funds Finder

NYC's first-ever online funding marketplace for small businesses.

NYC Care

NYC CARE is a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services offered by NYC Health + Hospitals to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance.

NYC Free Tax Prep for Self-Employed Filers

NYS Restaurant Meals Program

allows some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to buy prepared meals at participating restaurants.

NYS Secure Choice Savings Program

A retirement savings program for private-sector employees who are not offered a retirement plan through their workplace.

NYC Small Business Services Hotline 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692)

Answers small business owners' most pressing questions and connects you to other SBS services. Services are available in multiple languages, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

SBS Social Media Toolkit

Approved language and graphics to share information about SBS programs and initiatives with your networks!

About the Food and Beverage Industry Partnership

The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)’s NYC Food and Beverage Industry Partnership team acts as a convener to drive alignment and collaboration among NYC foodservice industry stakeholders. With input from our advisory groups, we lead strategic thinking to guide city investment in industry-informed services and resources. We work to identify new, actionable ways the city can demonstrate its commitment to support NYC’s food and beverage businesses and workers.