April 2025 Newsletter

The NYC Business Express Service Team (BEST) serves as a single point of contact between city agencies and small businesses operating in the five boroughs to help:

• streamline interactions with city agencies
• navigate permit and licensing processes
• connect you to government resources
• educate you on city rules and regulations

NYC BEST in Your Community

Interagency Connections

Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) 

The Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) is the city’s central, independent administrative law court. OATH has three divisions that are responsible for adjudicating City matters: the OATH Trials Division, the OATH Hearings Division, and the OATH Special Education Hearings Division.

If you are a small business owner and do not have a lawyer or a paid, professional, registered representative:

• OATH will provide you with the opportunity to speak with an OATH Procedural Justice Coordinator who can provide you with legal information and resources to help you prepare for your case
• These individuals can provide you with information about the hearing process, the options available to you, and answer questions that you may have
• These individuals *cannot* provide you with legal advice
• Free foreign language services are available upon request

The OATH Help Center helps self-represented litigants understand the law, the hearing process, and other processes to correctly respond to and resolve summonses.

To schedule an appointment with the OATH Help Center, please complete the Online Contact Form or call (212) 436-0845.

NYC Restaurant Academy

Level 1 (Virtual)

How to Plan and Finance Your Business

Level 2 (Virtual)

How to Launch and Operate Your Business

Level 3 (In Person)

Create an Effective Business Plan

Upon completing the 3-course series, you'll receive free 1:1 assistance to help you create a tailored business plan for your restaurant concept.

Save the Date

NYC Small Business Month Expo

Thursday, May 29

Center415

415 5th Avenue

(between 37th & 38th streets)

Manhattan

Did You Know?

Dining Out NYC

Al Fresco is Back: Celebrating the Return of Outdoor Dining Season

Food establishments participating in ‘Dining Out NYC’ may now operate roadway dining set ups from April 1 through November 29. As outdoor dining seasons kicks off, nearly 2,450 roadway and sidewalk set ups across the city will give New Yorkers the opportunity to dine al fresco, with more expected to be added in the coming weeks and months. Applications are open year-round and interested businesses can apply and learn more on Dining Out NYC’s website. Currently, 80 percent of all sidewalk setups are allowed to operate (through “conditional approval”) as their applications are processed.

New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) 

Updated guidance to applicants and licensees regarding the use of outdoor space for the sale/service of alcoholic beverages as part of their licensed premises including outdoor municipal public space.

Licensees must comply by:

• 60 days from 12/11/2024 if the licensee had already been issued written municipal authorization/permit for use of municipal public space for outdoor dining as of that date OR 60 days from receipt of such written municipal authorization/permit.

Prepare Your Business for Unexpected Emergencies

From gas leaks and fires, to major storms and cyber threats, NYC business owners face a variety of unexpected emergencies. SBS offers free emergency preparedness workshops and webinars for businesses across New York City.

Building Your Business Resilience Webinar

It's Tax Time!

💵 Accurate tax filing.

💵 Full credits.

💵 Your small business deserves it.

💵 Get it back.

If you earn $93,000 or less (families) or $65,000 or less (single filers) with business expenses of $250,000 or less, file for FREE!

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) 

If information on your license (e.g., name, address, officer information, etc.) has changed, you must inform DCWP of those changes

NYC BEST Stories

After Hours in Bayside, Queens

The inaugural NYC BEST in Your Community After Hours Event was held in Bayside, Queens, on March 20 from 5 - 7 p.m.

NYC BEST representatives Tynisha Sykes and Sun Kim joined the Bayside Village BID to visit 13 local businesses, ranging from retail stores to a gymnasium and restaurants.

NYC BEST shared information about free services provided by SBS and addressed business owners’ concerns such as NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) regulations for A-frame signs and NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) violations encountered during inspections. 

Connect with Us

A Message From the Mayor

Week in Review

April 5 - 11, 2025

The NYC Week In Review videos are available weekly on the Mayor's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!

Sign up to "Hear From Eric" and get direct messages from City Hall, tailored to your interests and neighborhood, sent directly to you – at nyc.gov/hearfromeric!