Small Business & Economic Development

Are you trying to get a small business, nonprofit, or worker cooperative off the ground and need help incorporating or with tax exemptions? Are you a community land trust trying to preserve affordable housing and need legal advice? Are you a small business owner looking for help with licensing, trademark, and contracts? 

Legal Services NYC provides FREE legal help to worker cooperatives, non-profits, community-based organizations, self-employed individuals, and small businesses to build and retain wealth and reinvest in the community. We do this by providing free legal support and connections to organizations assisting communities of color and low-income communities in developing the necessary skills to build their own organizations.

For free legal help, call Legal Services NYC at 917-661-4500 Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more about our intake process here.

* The information does not constitute legal advice. You should always consult an attorney regarding your matter. Legal help subject to capacity and location.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How can I fight a commercial eviction? 

If you’ve received court papers from the landlord of your commercial space trying to evict you, they have taken one of two types of legal actions to quickly recover possession of a property – a holdover proceeding or a nonpayment eviction proceeding. These types of cases are called “summary proceedings.” A landlord can bring a summary proceeding if a tenant continues in possession of a property after the expiration of a lease term or fails to timely pay rent or other charges, among other reasons.

Commercial landlord-tenant cases are handled in the Civil Part of New York City Civil Court. If your business was sued, you need legal representation in court. In New York, an individual cannot appear “pro se” (for oneself) on behalf of their business.

Learn more here.

I want to start a small business. What should I do first?

When you are starting your own business, there are many decisions that you will need to make. For example, you will need to choose a legal structure for your business: sole proprietorship, partnership (general or limited), corporation, or limited liability company. This decision can then impact your business’s liability (as well as your personal liability), operations, and taxes. Your business may also need a license in order to operate. For these reasons, we recommend speaking with an attorney when you are first starting your small business and before you make these important decisions about your business. 

I’m a nonprofit and need tax exemption.

Before applying for federal tax exemptions for your nonprofit organization, there are steps that should be taken, including incorporation, adopting by-laws, adopting a conflict of interest policy, and obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your organization. Once your organization is ready to apply for tax exempt status, there are different processes and forms for federal and state tax exemptions. An attorney can help your nonprofit organization with these issues and advise your organization on its ongoing compliance obligations.

Can you help our Community Land Trust?

Community Land Trusts are an exciting tool gaining traction in New York City to make more land and housing affordable and democratically controlled by the people living on it. LSNYC is a part of CLT Coalition groups that can provide assistance with the technical and legal aspects of acquiring land, creating a CLT, and, eventually, democratic ownership of the property. We recommend speaking with an attorney at LSNYC to get advice and get connected to the appropriate resources.

Learn more here.

I want to start a Worker Cooperative, what should I do? 

Similar to starting a small business, there are important decisions you will need to make regarding the appropriate legal structure for your worker cooperative. We recommend having a group of at least three people as you begin this process to create a democratic workplace. An attorney can work with you to determine which corporate or limited liability company form would best protect your group and allow you the flexibility to build your internal democracy. Call us at the number above to speak to an advocate or find help here.